What Kentucky Nurses Association does

The Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA) is a nonprofit professional nursing association founded in 1906 and headquartered in Kentucky. It functions as the sole full-service professional organization for the state's nurses, serving an addressable population of approximately 93,000 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing students across the Commonwealth. KNA delivers advocacy, continuing education, networking, and professional development services to individual members and, increasingly, to healthcare employers through its Group Membership Program.

KNA's product surface centers on continuing education, events, advocacy, and member community. Core offerings include a CE On-Demand portal for online continuing education, the KNA365 mobile application for member engagement, and an annual conference program that anchors in-person professional networking. The association is a constituent/state affiliate of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and coordinates with the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN), the Kentucky Nurses Foundation (KNF), the Kentucky Nurses Action Coalition (KNAC), and the Kentucky Organization of Nurse Leaders (KONL), embedding it in the state's nursing policy and workforce infrastructure.

KNA's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix of individual membership dues, conference and event registration fees, paid continuing education courses, corporate sponsorships, and donations. The organization operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees and supplements capacity through volunteer leadership and partner organizations. Recent strategic activity includes legislative wins such as HB159, expansion of institutional membership through the Group Membership Program, and milestone programming for its 120th anniversary in 2026.

Name

Kentucky Nurses Association

Legal name

Kentucky Nurses Association

Website

https://kentucky-nurses.nursingnetwork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Kentucky Nurses Association is a 501(c)-style professional nursing association founded in 1906 that serves Kentucky's approximately 93,000 nurses through continuing education, advocacy, conferences, the KNA365 app, and a Group Membership Program for healthcare employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Nursing Association Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Professional nursing association
• Continuing education
• Nursing advocacy
• Healthcare workforce
• Membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to KNA and ANA benefits, CE resources, advocacy representation, and member discounts. Includes individual RN/LPN memberships, student memberships, and group/organizational memberships for healthcare employers.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from annual conferences, leadership academies, advocacy events, galas, and the 5K fun run/walk. Includes sponsor fees at various levels (Visionary, Star, Alexandrite, Malachite, Silver, Bronze, Iron levels).
3. Continuing Education Courses: Fees for on-demand CE courses including Implicit Bias ($25 member/$45 non-member), Nurse Suicide Prevention ($10 member/student pricing available), and other professional development offerings.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from healthcare organizations, hospitals, universities, and companies at various sponsorship tiers for conferences, events, and programs.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Donations to Kentucky Nurses Foundation supporting scholarships, grants, disaster relief, and the KNA/KNF Pantry. Includes raffle fundraising like the Log Still Distillery Experience Package.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Kentucky Nurses Association is a full-service professional membership organization for nurses in Kentucky, offering individual and group memberships, accredited on-demand continuing education, leadership development through the Leadership & Advocacy Academy, annual conferences and galas, a career center for job placement, and legislative advocacy including full-time lobbying representation in Frankfort and Washington, D.C.

Product overview

The Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA), established in 1906, is a professional membership organization serving Kentucky's nursing workforce. It is not a technology product company; its portfolio consists of membership services, professional development programs, advocacy, and career resources. The core offering is multi-tiered membership (individual RN, LPN, student, and group/organizational) providing access to advocacy representation, accredited continuing education (via an on-demand portal), leadership development (via the Leadership & Advocacy Academy), career services (via a job board), and annual conferences. Supporting entities include the Kentucky Nurses Foundation (KNF) for scholarships and disaster relief, and the Kentucky Nurses Action Coalition (KNAC) for health equity and suicide prevention initiatives. KNA also operates a legislative advocacy program with lobbying representation, a nurse-legislator engagement pairing program, and a digital resource directory. The organization hosts annual conferences and the KNA 5K Fun Run/Walk fundraising event, and provides member benefits including insurance programs, travel discounts, and fitness memberships through ANA partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KNA Membership Programs (Individual RN/LPN/Student) Multi-tier individual membership programs for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and pre-licensure/graduate nursing students providing access to advocacy representation, continuing education, networking, leadership development, scholarships, member discounts on insurance and professional liability, and legislative representation at state and federal levels.
• Group Membership Program B2B program allowing healthcare organizations such as hospitals and healthcare systems to purchase KNA/ANA memberships for their registered nurses at discounted rates, supporting workforce development, professional development, CE access, and retention.
• KNA Leadership & Advocacy Academy A structured multi-week leadership development program covering political engagement, legislative processes, strategic planning, change theory, communication skills, and advocacy, designed to equip nurse members with skills for policy influence and leadership roles.
• KNA On-Demand Continuing Education (CE) Portal Online learning portal offering accredited continuing education activities for nurses with credits issued through the Kentucky Board of Nursing, including courses on nurse suicide prevention, implicit bias, and professional nursing organizations.
• Nurse Suicide Prevention CE A 2-hour 15-minute accredited CE activity addressing chronic toxic stress, suicide prevention pathways, ethical and legal considerations, and evidence-based approaches to reduce suicide rates among nurses, awarding 2.4 CE credits. Free for KNA members.
• Implicit Bias CE A 1-hour 15-minute accredited CE course exploring structural racism in healthcare, the history of racism in nursing, and practical tools for recognizing and reducing implicit bias in clinical practice, awarding 1.5 CE credits. Priced at $25 for KNA members and $45 for non-members.
• KNA Career Center Job search and posting platform connecting nurses with healthcare employers across Kentucky, offering resume uploads, job alerts, and employer recruitment tools.
• KNA Annual Conference & Events Annual conferences including the KNA Annual Education Conference and Legacy & Leadership Gala, featuring podium presentations, poster sessions, awards, and networking opportunities for nurses across Kentucky.
• KNA Legislative Advocacy Program Comprehensive advocacy services including full-time lobbying representation in Frankfort and Washington, D.C., the Nurse Legislator Engagement Program pairing members with state legislators, the Pay It Forward initiative for grassroots advocacy, Nurses Day at the Capitol, and bill tracking through Kentucky Bill Watch.

Quantifiable outcome

• 240+ nurses and nursing students participated in Nurses Day at the Capitol 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• American Nurses Association (ANA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNA is the state-level member organization affiliated with ANA, providing members with access to national-level benefits, federal lobbying, ANCC certification discounts, ANA Periodicals, professional development resources, Career Center, and CE modules. Dual membership structure with state and national benefits.
• Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBN is the state regulatory body for nursing; KNA is a KBN approved provider of continuing nursing education (Provider Number 1-0001). KNA collaborates on nurse survey results, position statements, and regulatory matters.
• Kentucky Nurses Foundation (KNF)Strategic or Co-development PartnerKNF is the philanthropic arm supporting KNA through scholarships, research grants, disaster relief fund, and the KNA/KNF Pantry. Joint initiatives include the Legacy & Leadership Gala fundraising.
• Kentucky Nurses Action Coalition (KNAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNAC (Kentucky Nurses Action Coalition) focuses on nurse suicide prevention, implicit bias training, and health equity initiatives. Won National Nursing Innovation Fund Award for work on health equity.
• Kentucky Organization of Nurse Leaders (KONL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKONL is a chapter of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) and allied society of Kentucky Hospital Association. Serves nurse administrators and executives.
• Kentucky Hospital AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level healthcare association partnering on advocacy, workforce initiatives, and conference sponsorship. Endorsed Juul settlement redirect efforts for tobacco prevention.
• Baptist HealthmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor ($5,000) of 2024 Legislative Conference; Silver Sponsor for 2025 Leadership & Advocacy Conference. Major healthcare system supporting nursing events and advocacy.
• Norton HealthcaremajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlexandrite Level Sponsor ($5,000) for 2025 Annual Conference; Visionary Level Gala Sponsor ($10,000) for 2024 Legacy & Leadership Gala. Major healthcare system supporting nursing programs.
• Galen College of NursingmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMalachite Level Conference Sponsor ($2,500) for multiple years; Preparing next generation of nurses. Acquired by HCA Healthcare in 2020.
• Spalding UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMalachite Level ($2,500) and 5K Sponsors ($2,500). Educational institution supporting nursing profession.
• University of Louisville School of NursingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStar Level Sponsor ($2,500) for 2024 Annual Conference & Gala; U of L Positive Leadership Bronze Level Sponsor. Academic nursing partner.
• Emergency Nurses Association - Kentucky ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization for emergency nursing specialty.
• Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners & Nurse MidwivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization for APRN specialty; KNAC board representation.
• Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family ServicescoreOthersKNA CEO Delanor Manson served as deputy secretary for the Kentucky Cabinet for Healthcare Services; ongoing government health policy collaboration.
• Kentucky Legislative Research CommissioncoreOthersPartnership through Kentucky Bill Watch enabling unlimited tracking of legislation during sessions.
• Nursing NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party platform provider hosting KNA website, membership management, CE courses, job board, event registration, and mobile app.
• Hosparus HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMalachite Level Conference Sponsor ($2,500); Star Level Gala Sponsor ($5,000). Hospice/palliative care organization.
• AARP KentuckyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStar Level Gala Sponsor ($5,000); Bronze Sponsor ($1,500); supporting nurse advocacy and older adult care.
• HumanaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStar Level Sponsor ($5,000) for 2025 Legacy & Leadership; Silver Sponsor ($5,000) for 2025 Leadership & Advocacy. Healthcare insurance partner.
• Republic BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeadership Level Sponsor ($10,000) for 2025 Gala; Gala Star Level ($5,000) and Malachite Level ($2,500) for 2024. Financial services supporter.
• Brightspring Health ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Level Sponsor ($15,000) for 2025 Legacy & Leadership Gala. Behavioral health and home health services provider.
• American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Juul settlement redirect efforts for tobacco and e-cigarette prevention and cessation programs alongside Kentucky Hospital Association and 24+ health organizations.
• Healthy KentuckyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization promoting health across Kentucky.
• Kentucky Health CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare improvement and collaboration organization serving Kentucky communities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• American Organization for Nursing Leadership:

Broad incumbents

• American Nurses Association: The national professional association for all registered nurses in the United States and KNA's direct federation counterpart. Operates the same membership, advocacy, and CE model at the national level, providing both reciprocal benefits and the structural umbrella under which KNA operates as a state constituent.
• National League for Nursing: Nursing education-focused association representing nurse educators, schools, and programs nationally. Comparable to KNA in being a membership-based nursing organization, though its educator-centric focus differentiates it from KNA's practicing-nurse constituency.

Direct peers

• Ohio Nurses Association: A fellow state-level ANA constituent association serving Ohio nurses with membership, advocacy, CE, and collective bargaining. Directly comparable in structure, member segments, and revenue model to KNA, providing a tight geographic and functional peer benchmark.
• Tennessee Nurses Association: State-level professional nursing association serving Tennessee nurses with advocacy, continuing education, and annual conference programming. Closely mirrors KNA in mission, ANA affiliation, and member service mix.
• Indiana State Nurses Association: Adjacent state-level ANA constituent serving Indiana nurses with membership, lobbying, and CE offerings. Operates the same constituent-state model and competes for nurses in the Ohio Valley labor market that overlaps with Kentucky.
• Florida Nurses Association: Large state-level ANA constituent serving Florida's nursing workforce with advocacy, CE, and conferences. Comparable in mission and product mix, illustrating how a state association scales membership, events, and legislative programming across a much larger nurse population than Kentucky.

Emerging players

• Emergency Nurses Association: Specialty nursing association focused on emergency nursing with a Kentucky State Council that is a KNA affiliate. Represents a competing membership draw for emergency nurses and a parallel CE/advocacy offering that could fragment KNA's broad-based dues.
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Specialty association for acute and critical-care nurses offering certification, CE, and advocacy. Comparable as a competing dues-based organization for a high-value nursing subset, illustrating the specialty-association pressure on broad-based state associations like KNA.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KYNursesAssoc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxmK66krr_YsMKO_UU9GSug
• Facebookfacebook.com/kentuckynurses
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kentucky-nurses-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/kentuckynursesassociation
• TikToktiktok.com/@kynursesassociation?lang=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Nurses Association