Holly Wilcox, Professor, Department of Mental Health, Keshia Pollack Porter, Professor and Department Chair, Health Policy and Management, and Melissa Walls, Bloomberg Associate Professor of American Health and Co-Director of the Center for Indigenous Health (International Health), shared insights into their experiences securing funding with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and strategies to consider during your application process.
Since 2014-2015, the RWJF vision has focused on a “culture of health.” Post-George Floyd, the organization shifted to address racism specifically.
RWJF focuses on domestic U.S. funding.
There are 4 broad areas of funding within RWJF’s culture of health:
Health Systems - We help hospitals, health departments, insurers, community groups, and others work together to better understand and improve health equity and achieve better health for all.
Healthcare Quality and Value
Healthcare Coverage and Access
Public and Community Health
Better Data for Better Health
Healthy Communities - We support those working to create communities where the physical, economic, and social conditions ensure all residents have a fair opportunity to thrive and live their healthiest life.
Equitable Community Development
Health Disparities
Social Determinants of Health
Building Community Power to Advance Health Equity
Housing Policy and Practice
Infrastructure is Public Health
Healthy Communities Program
RWJF Culture of Health Prize
Healthy Children and Families - We work to ensure that all parents and caregivers have the resources they need to ensure their children and families can thrive.
Economic Inclusion for Family Wellbeing
Valuing Caregivers and Families
Leadership for Better Health - Through our RWJF leadership development programs, we support and connect change leaders nationwide who are working toward building a Culture of Health.
Health Leadership Development
Nurses and Nursing
Leadership Programs Funded by RWJF:
Clinical Scholars
Culture of Health Leaders
Health Policy Research Scholars (run by BSPH)
Interdisciplinary Research Leaders
Summer Health Professions Education Program
Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program
RWJF partners with external program offices to manage funding.
Keshia Pollack Porter manages the Health Policy Research Scholars program on behalf of RWJF under BSPH's Health Policy and Management Department, and the recipients are doctoral students across the U.S.
RWJF is a big organization, and there are lots of ways to get funding.
Calls for Proposals are listed on the Foundation’s website.
Reach out to program staff to pitch ideas and get feedback.
Sign up for the RWJF email list to stay informed on upcoming convenings. Building relationships and networking will spur invitations to smaller meetings.
If you’re interested in funding from a program run by a national program office, reach out to them directly rather than the RWJF offices in Princeton. The national program office will be able to speak on behalf of the specific programs they run.
Grants can open doors to new opportunities with RWJF, such as requests to scope new work, consulting contracts or providing technical assistance to the Foundation.
The duration of funding awarded varies from 1 to 3 years.
The funding is focused on supporting activities that are not generally funded by the federal government.
Planning grants, which allocate time for relationship-building, showcase RWJF’s forward-thinking approach on project development.
RWJF often uses a multi-stage process: a short letter of intent to be reviewed by a program officer, often followed by interaction between the PI and program officer before a full proposal is submitted. This can take 6-8 months, but submitting the initial letter of intent is not overly demanding on a PI’s time.
Between each stage of the application process, RWJF staff communicate feedback, clarifications, and adjustments to cultivate a partnership with the applicant.
Letter of Interest: 7,500 character or 1-2 page proposal. In the past, RWJF has expressed interest within two months of the submission.
Invited Full Proposal: A comprehensive application is submitted.
Outside Review: Application sent to external reviewers and partners
Occasionally, RWJF has adjusted the originally proposed budget to increase slightly if they are asking that you include more activities within the project.
At all phases of the application process, the goal should be to demonstrate impact. At RWJF, the impact on the culture of health and health equity is most important.
RWJF only allows 12% of budget to be allotted to IDC, which is typical for Foundation funders. Work with your administrators to include administrative cost recovery items in the direct budget. The IDC will come out of the total awarded, not as separate amount added on top of the direct costs.
RWJF intentionally minimizes red tape and paperwork, allowing researchers to focus on impactful work.
Applicants have seen the Foundation be accommodating throughout the entire grant period. Program officers are supportive and seek to uplift awardees.
RWJF sends out a newsletter and hosts a monthly forum with a rotating topic. Awardees had the opportunity to attend in search of advice or host the forum. Topics have included multidisciplinary or timely issues, such as AI. Participation in the forum isn’t required, but is a great way to build relationships with program officers and it is a bonus to connect with others in the portfolio.
Reporting on grant utilization, including budget details, has become simpler, with a shift towards narrative reporting during the pandemic.
Cecilia Meisner (BSPH Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations) and Laura Runyan (central JHU Foundation Relations) would be happy to work with you to support your fundraising from RWJH.