The Nazareth Association was founded in 1992, although planning began in 1991, was dedicated to charitable, religious, and educational purposes, members primarily came from Nazareth institutions or the Sisters of St. Joseph, but membership was open to similarly minded community members. It aimed to continue the legacy of the educational institutes founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The Sisters of St. Joseph is a Catholic organization for women that is devoted to charity and religious activities. The first sisters came to Kalamazoo to start the Borgess Medical Center in 1889. They proceeded to open orphanages and educational establishments throughout Kalamazoo.

These establishments included St. Camillus/Borgess School of Nursing (1895-1972), Nazareth Academy (1897-1964), Barbour Hall (1902-1979), Nazareth College (1924-1992), and St. Joseph/Flint School of Nursing (1950-1972). Each of these institutions served a different educational purpose. Nazareth Academy served as a high school for young women, and Nazareth College was its higher education counterpart. Barbour Hall, on the other hand, was a military school for boys. the Borgess School of Nursing and the St. Joseph/ Flint School of Nursing, both dedicated to medical training, combined in 1972, becoming the Nazareth College Department of Nursing Education. The Nazareth Association continued to operate within the community, assisting alumni, and hosting various community events, for almost thirty years. In 2021 the Association voted to shut down operations permanently.