New York, NY (September 22, 2026) — The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation (RAHF) today announced eleven grants to support innovative, early-stage interventions that seek to improve the provision of care for the seriously ill and those at the end of life.
The $550,000 in funding, part of a collaborative effort with The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (AVDF), will advance nursing-driven initiatives addressing a variety of health issues.
“How we care for people experiencing serious illness or at end of life is a bellwether for the strength and integrity of our society,” said Ahrin Mishan, Executive Director of The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation. “By investing in bold, nursing-driven models of care, we can ensure that all people, including marginalized communities, receive the trustworthy and high-quality care they deserve.”
Launched in 2018, the Hillman Emergent Innovation: Serious Illness and End of Life (HSEI) program was created to address a critical gap in funding for pre-evidence, nursing-driven interventions. In 2021, an innovative co-funding partnership with The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, significantly expanded the program's reach. Today, the HSEI program has funded a total of 69 bold, early-stage interventions—backed by $4.2 million in funding.
“We are proud of our longstanding collaboration with The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation,” said Michael Murray, President of The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. “Our partnership has expanded the evidence base for dignified, culturally competent care for people our healthcare system too often overlooks — evidence that can carry promising pilot projects into lasting, scalable change for the communities that need it most.”
This year’s grants demonstrate a commitment to the design, development, and delivery of better and more accessible care. The 2026 HSEI grant recipients are:
About The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation
The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation advances bold, nursing-driven innovations that promote equitable, person-centered, and trustworthy care. It is committed to helping ignite and develop game changing interventions and cultivating a vibrant ecosystem of nurse innovators, grantees, and partners dedicated to building a healthier future for all.
For more information, please visit www.rahf.org.
About The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations were organized in 1952 and are supported by two trusts established by Mr. Arthur Vining Davis. The Foundations aim to bear witness to Mr. Davis’ successful corporate leadership and his ambitious philanthropic vision. Since their inception, the Foundations have given over 3,800 grants totaling more than $300 million to colleges and universities, hospitals, medical schools, and divinity schools.
For more information, please visit www.avdf.org.
Media Contact
Takouhi Mosoian, The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation (press@rahf.org)
To help us in the evaluation and analysis of projects, all proposals, documents, communications, and associated materials submitted to The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation (collectively, “Submission Materials”) will become the property of the Foundation and will be shared with other members of the Advisory Committee, Board of Directors, and other funding partners or potential funding partners. We will report publicly on the number of applications received.
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