The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is intensifying its commitment to advancing health equity by addressing structural racism, which it identifies as the core barrier to health in the United States. Through its national program, Evidence for Action (E4A), RWJF funds action-oriented research that elevates community knowledge and supports governance models rooted in community power and ownership. E4A is focused on upstream solutions that address systemic inequities in areas such as housing, education, healthcare, employment, and food access. RWJF believes that communities most affected by these issues possess the cultural assets and leadership necessary for driving lasting change.
This call for proposals supports two main goals: first, to provide funding for community-centered health equity research disrupted by changes in federal funding, and second, to uplift community-driven projects that empower historically marginalized racial and Indigenous communities. RWJF aims to correct power imbalances in the research landscape by funding initiatives that prioritize community voice and knowledge. Grants are available for both Rapid Response Research and New Research Support, encouraging projects that build evidence to inform fair systems—laws, policies, practices, and norms—that shape health outcomes and resource distribution in society.
Eligibility for New Research Support is limited to community-based organizations (CBOs) with a demonstrated history of advancing racial or Indigenous health equity. While research institutions cannot serve as lead applicants, they may collaborate in supportive roles. The program emphasizes the inclusion of underrepresented researchers and encourages participation from early to midcareer antiracist or anticolonial scholars. All research must be conducted within the United States or its territories, aligning with RWJF’s mission to foster equity within the U.S. context.