National Association of Social Workers Foundation

Social Workers Across Nations NASW initiated SWAN to provide a mechanism for social workers to offer their expertise and skills to serve humanitarian needs within the international community on a voluntary basis and to develop collaborative linkages with other countries around the world. Donate to SWAN SWAN Donor Roll

• The Profession – by honoring and investing in social workers past, current and future
• The Practitioner – by enhancing social workers’ knowledge and skills, and
• The Public – by providing information and resources to help individuals, families and communities

Founded in 2001, the Foundation's goals are to:  

• identify, develop and respond to social work policy and practice issues.
• assist with rapid response to social crises.
• support practice-based research, so that practice and research are directly linked.
• raise the visibility of social work and enhance public esteem for the profession.
• support the development of cutting edge continuing education that addresses critical issues.
• promote the appropriate application of new technology to the practice of social work.

The NASW Foundation is managed by a nine-member Board of Directors that comprises the current NASW President, three NASW members, and three individuals involved in professions other than social work. Nonvoting members of the board include the NASW Executive Director who serves as President of the Foundation and the NASW President-Elect.

The Foundation administers a wide variety of educational and research programs in an effort to fulfill its core mission of enhancing the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through the advancement of social work policy and practice. Foundation assets total more than $3.1 million, including the NASW Foundation Endowment, which is funded by voluntary contributions from NASW members and other supporters.