Society of Internationally Educated Nurses in North America

What Society of Internationally Educated Nurses in North America does

SIENNA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association founded in 2023 and headquartered in Austin, Texas (re-registered there in February 2026 after operating from Barrington, New Jersey). It serves internationally educated nurses (IENs) — nurses trained outside North America who have migrated or plan to migrate to practice in the U.S. and beyond — along with a secondary segment of nursing allies (educators, healthcare leaders, policymakers). The organization's purpose is to provide community, continuing education, credentialing, scholarly publishing, and policy advocacy to a profession-specific population facing credential recognition, licensure, acculturation, and leadership-underrepresentation challenges.

The core product set comprises the FSIEN Fellowship (the society's highest honor recognizing leadership, education, advocacy, JEDI, and scholarship), the DAISY Award for IENs (in partnership with the DAISY Foundation), the peer-reviewed Journal of the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses (JSIEN), the global Ambassadors Program, an annual IEN Global Convention, and quarterly virtual townhalls. Underlying technology is modest: a Wix-hosted website (siennanursingsociety.org), an online Ambassadors Hub, and partner-delivered CE infrastructure via the Sigma Nurse Learning Exchange (50+ free CPD contact hours) and WCEA. SIENNA also holds Alabama Board of Nursing CE provider approval. Distribution runs primarily through digital self-service, complemented by in-person events and co-marketing via Sigma Nursing and the DAISY Foundation.

The business model is a non-profit membership-and-event model. Recurring membership dues are the backbone but are not publicly priced; tickets to the annual IEN Global Convention are priced at $100 (general) and $60 (virtual), with a 20% membership discount. Other revenue signals are limited: SIENNA has disclosed only $9,500 in cumulative grant receipts from Sigma Nursing ($5,000 engagement award + $4,500 course-publication grant) and reports no traditional equity funding. The organization grew to 150+ ambassadors across 20+ countries at its November 2025 inaugural convention and rebranded in February 2026 from a North America-focused association to the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses and Nursing Allies to reflect global reach.

Name

Society of Internationally Educated Nurses in North America

Legal name

Society of Internationally Educated Nurses and Nursing Allies

Website

https://siennanursingsociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SIENNA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association founded in 2023 that supports internationally educated nurses and their allies worldwide through membership, continuing education, the FSIEN Fellowship, the JSIEN journal, advocacy, and an annual IEN Global Convention.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SIENNA operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with membership programs. Members receive access to the Ambassadors Hub, free continuing education through Sigma Nursing and WCEA, fellowship pathways, award programs, networking events, and the JSIEN journal. The organization also sells tickets to its annual IEN Global Convention ($100 general admission, $60 virtual access) with membership discounts of up to 20%.
2. Event Ticketing: SIENNA generates revenue through ticket sales for its annual IEN Global Convention. General admission tickets are priced at $100 (+ $2.50 service fee) and virtual access at $60 (+ $1.50 service fee). The 1st IEN Global Convention was held November 15, 2025, at Orlando Health in Orlando, FL.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SIENNA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional membership association that delivers community, education, credentialing, and advocacy services to internationally educated nurses (IENs) and their allies. Its core offerings include the FSIEN Fellowship credential, the peer-reviewed JSIEN journal, the DAISY Award for IENs, free continuing education via Sigma Nursing and WCEA, an annual IEN Global Convention, the SIENNA Ambassadors Program, and policy advocacy.

Product overview

SIENNA is a professional nursing association organized as a platform of interconnected member services for internationally educated nurses and nursing allies. The core offerings include the FSIEN Fellowship (the society's highest professional distinction), the DAISY Award for IENs (in partnership with the DAISY Foundation), and the JSIEN peer-reviewed journal. Supporting services include webinars on JEDI and leadership topics, free continuing education through Sigma Nurse Learning Exchange and WCEA, a global Ambassadors Program, and annual IEN Global Conventions. The organization also facilitates quarterly townhall meetings and advocacy initiatives. All programs work together to advance the integration, recognition, and leadership of internationally educated nurses in healthcare systems worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FSIEN Fellowship (Fellowship of the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses) The FSIEN Fellowship is SIENNA's highest honor, recognizing internationally educated nurses and allies who demonstrate sustained excellence and measurable impact across Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Justice, and Scholarship (LEADS). Fellows earn the post-nominal title FSIEN and gain access to exclusive leadership, policy, and networking forums.
• DAISY Award for Internationally Educated Nurses An award delivered in partnership with the DAISY Foundation to recognize internationally educated nurses who demonstrate extraordinary compassion, clinical excellence, and commitment to supporting patients, colleagues, and communities.
• JSIEN Journal (Journal of the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses) A peer-reviewed, open-access international journal that publishes scholarly work on nursing practice, education, leadership, research, migration, and global health as it relates to internationally educated nurses.
• SIENNA Ambassadors Program A global network of SIENNA Ambassadors who serve as local leaders, advocates, and representatives for internationally educated nurses. Includes access to the online Ambassadors Hub, volunteer leadership opportunities, and committee participation.
• IEN Global Convention (Annual Conference) SIENNA's flagship annual convention combining in-person and virtual programming for internationally educated nurses, allies, healthcare leaders, and advocates. Features keynotes, TED-style talks, panels, award ceremonies, and FSIEN Fellowship inductions.
• Free CE via WCEA (World Continuing Education Alliance) Free continuing education courses provided through partnership with WCEA (World Continuing Education Alliance) as a membership benefit for SIENNA members.
• Free CE via Sigma Nurse Learning Exchange Free access to the Sigma Nursing Nurse Learning Exchange platform providing 50+ CPD contact hours across nursing leadership, education, research, clinical practice, and professional development, delivered through SIENNA's strategic MOU with Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
• SIENNA Educational Webinars Educational webinars on topics including Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), nursing leadership, professional development, and advocacy for internationally educated nurses.
• SIENNA Quarterly Townhall Meetings Quarterly virtual townhall meetings connecting ambassadors and members globally for organizational updates, professional development opportunities, open forums, and community building.
• Scholarship and Advocacy Programs Scholarship opportunities and advocacy initiatives supporting internationally educated nurses' professional advancement, policy engagement, leadership development, and Capitol Hill representation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ SIENNA Ambassadors representing 20+ countries engaged at the 1st IEN Global Convention
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• Alabama Board of NursingsupportingOthers · 3 October 2025SIENNA was officially approved as a Continuing Education (CE) provider by the Alabama Board of Nursing. This regulatory approval enables SIENNA to offer state-approved CE courses to nurses and healthcare professionals, enhancing the organization's educational credibility and member value.
• Sigma Nursing (Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2025SIENNA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sigma Nursing, the world's largest international honor society for nurses, to provide SIENNA members with free access to the Sigma Nurse Learning Exchange platform. This partnership gives members access to 50+ free CPD contact hours across nursing leadership, education, research, clinical practice, and professional development. As a result of strong member engagement, SIENNA was named the Most Engaged Organization in the engagement contest and received $5,000, plus an additional $4,500 grant for publishing three courses authored by SIENNA ambassadors.
• DAISY FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIENNA partnered with the DAISY Foundation to create the DAISY Award for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs), recognizing IENs who demonstrate extraordinary compassion, clinical excellence, and commitment to supporting patients, colleagues, and communities. The award is unique to SIENNA and honors the specific contributions and resilience of internationally educated nurses. The 2026 award will be presented at SIENNA's 2nd IEN Global Conference in October 2026.
• WCEA (World Continuing Education Alliance)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSIENNA partners with WCEA to provide free continuing education courses to its members through the WCEA platform. This partnership complements the Sigma Nursing partnership by offering additional CE options for SIENNA members seeking professional development.
• FIND NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFIND Network is listed as a SIENNA partner on the organization's website, indicating a collaborative relationship to support the network and resources available to SIENNA members.
• FilnanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilnan is listed as a SIENNA partner on the organization's website, representing a collaborative partnership to support SIENNA's mission and member resources.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Nurses Association (ANA): ANA is the largest U.S. professional association for registered nurses, providing advocacy, CE, and credentialing. It is comparable because it competes for the same nurse membership and policy-advocacy mindshare, though its scope is generic rather than IEN-focused.
• International Council of Nurses (ICN): ICN is the global federation of national nursing associations. It is comparable because it represents nurses worldwide, including internationally educated ones, and overlaps with SIENNA's global advocacy positioning following its 2026 rebrand.
• Sigma Nursing (Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing): Sigma Nursing is the world's largest nursing honor society and a direct strategic partner of SIENNA. It is comparable because it provides continuing education, credentialing, and a global nurse community that overlaps with SIENNA's offerings, though its scope is much broader and not IEN-specific.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): NCSBN regulates U.S. nursing licensure, including the NCLEX that IENs must pass. It is comparable to SIENNA because its licensure and credentialing decisions directly shape IEN integration outcomes and intersect with SIENNA's policy advocacy.

Direct peers

• CGFNS International (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools): CGFNS International evaluates credentials of internationally educated nurses seeking U.S. licensure. It is comparable to SIENNA because it serves the same IEN population and addresses credential recognition barriers, but operates as an assessment/certification body rather than a membership association.
• Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA): PNAA is a U.S.-based association for Filipino-American nurses, a major subset of the IEN population SIENNA serves. It is comparable because it provides community, advocacy, and continuing education for a specific IEN heritage community, overlapping with SIENNA's IEN focus.
• National Black Nurses Association (NBNA): NBNA is a U.S. professional association representing African-American nurses with community, advocacy, and scholarship programs. It is comparable because it pursues the same membership-association model for a specific nurse demographic, paralleling SIENNA's IEN-specific focus.

Emerging players

• DAISY Foundation: The DAISY Foundation partners with SIENNA on the DAISY Award for IENs and broadly recognizes extraordinary nurses. It is comparable because it operates in the nursing recognition/awards space adjacent to SIENNA's flagship credentialing programs.
• Worldwide Nursing Inc. Founded by SIENNA Board Director Olivia Li, Worldwide Nursing Inc. is an adjacent nurse support organization. It is comparable because it serves internationally educated nurses with community and professional development resources that overlap with SIENNA's mission.

Regional players

• Filipino Nurses Association (PNA): PNA serves Filipino nurses with chapters in the Philippines and abroad. It is comparable to SIENNA because it supports a major IEN source-country demographic, but its primary geographic focus is the Philippines rather than North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Society-of-Internationally-Educated-Nurses-in-North-America-100091997465595
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/siennanursingsociety

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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