Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $725 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Highly competitive (specific rate not publicly disclosed)
• Decision Time: 6-9 weeks for initial review; 2 months for full proposal; 8 weeks for funding decision
• Grant Range: $3,000 - $23,000,000 (typically $100,000 - $300,000)
• Geographic Focus: National (United States)
• Total Assets: $13.7 billion (2023)

Contact Details

Website: www.rwjf.org Phone: 877-843-7953 Location: Princeton, NJ EIN: 23-7093598

Grant Support: Each grant program has a dedicated program officer available to answer questions and assist with applications. Contact information is provided on individual funding opportunity pages.

Overview

Founded in 1972, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. With assets of approximately $13.7 billion and annual grant disbursements of $725 million (2023), RWJF works to build a Culture of Health that provides everyone in America a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. In 2024, RWJF pledged that dismantling structural racism—one of the biggest barriers to health in America—would sit at the center of its mission. The Foundation received the 2025 NCRP Impact Award in recognition of its commitment to advancing racial equity and transformative change. Under the leadership of President and CEO Richard E. Besser, MD (appointed 2017), RWJF is intentionally rebalancing priorities and funding toward community-led power-building organizations, especially those doing grassroots organizing. The Foundation works side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions through funding, convening, advocacy, and evidence-building.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Exploring Equitable Futures (formerly Pioneering Ideas)

• Amount: Varies
• Description: Supports projects that seed new and unconventional ideas that could radically advance health equity for generations to come
• Application: Rolling basis through October 15, 2025 at 3 p.m. ET

Addressing Childhood Obesity and Health Inequities

• Amount: Up to $22 million total; minimum $1,000,000 per award (up to 6 awards)
• Description: Supports initiatives addressing childhood obesity and health inequities
• Timeline: Awards begin March 2025

Research to Advance Racial and Indigenous Health Equity (Evidence for Action)

• Amount: Up to $4 million total for Indigenous-led solutions
• Description: Funds rigorous research that expands evidence needed to build a Culture of Health, with explicit emphasis on advancing racial equity
• Application: Rolling basis; 6-9 week initial review

Local Data for Equitable Communities

• Amount: $50,000 each (up to 30 grants expected)
• Description: Supports data-driven community initiatives
• Timeline: Applications due March 18, 2025; awards announced May 23, 2025; grant start July 15, 2025

Systems for Action (S4A)

• Amount: Varies
• Description: Based at Colorado School of Public Health, rigorously tests new ways of connecting fragmented medical, social, and public health systems
• Note: Winding down by end of 2026 to make way for new health equity research initiative

Health Policy Fellows Program

• Amount: Fellowship funding
• Description: Supports mid-career health professionals to gain policy experience
• Application: Annual application cycle

Research on Diet-Related Health

• Amount: Data access awards (up to 8 awards)
• Description: Partnership with Komodo Health, managed by Mathematica

Priority Areas

RWJF prioritizes projects that address:

• Structural and Systemic Racism: Interventions that counteract harms of structural racism and improve health, well-being, and equity outcomes
• Social Determinants of Health: Housing, transportation, education, employment, food and nutrition assistance, child and family support, criminal and juvenile justice, economic and community development
• Health Equity: Particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations, including communities of color, Indigenous communities, and older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Community-Led Solutions: Grassroots organizing and power-building in communities historically excluded from opportunity
• Innovative Research: Evidence-based interventions and policy solutions that can be scaled nationally
• Public Health Systems: Connecting fragmented medical, social, and public health systems

What They Don't Fund

RWJF maintains a long-standing policy of precluding support for:

• General operating expenses
• Endowment funds
• Capital costs (buildings, equipment purchases)
• Biomedical research
• Direct support to individuals

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

President and CEO: Richard E. Besser, MD (April 2017 - present)

• Former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Obama administration
• Previously served as chief health and medical editor at ABC News

Board Chair: Starsky D. Wilson, DMin, MDiv (January 2025 - present)

• First Black person and faith leader to chair the Board in RWJF's 52-year history
• President and CEO of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and CDF Action Council
• Serving on RWJF board since 2022

Executive Vice President of Programs: Dr. Camille M. Busette, PhD (August 2025)

Board of Trustees (2024-2025)

Notable current trustees include:

• Richard E. Besser, MD (President and CEO)
• Ryan P. Haygood, JD (joined October 2024)
• Daniel E. Dawes, JD (effective April 2025)
• Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd (effective April 2025)
• Vicki L. Fuller, MBA
• Ruth S. Shim, MD, MPH
• Edgar Villanueva, MHA
• Julio Frenk, MD, MPH, PhD (former Dean, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
• Patricia A. Gabow, MD
• W. Louise Mehrotra, CPA, CMA
• Michael E. Sneed, MBA

Leadership Quotes

On Structural Racism: "In 2024, RWJF pledged that dismantling structural racism—one of the biggest barriers to health in America—would sit at the center of its mission, while maintaining its goal of building a future where health is a right, not a privilege."

On Community Power: "RWJF is intentionally rebalancing priorities and funding to community-led power-building organizations, especially those doing grassroots organizing."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

1. Review Active Funding Opportunities: Visit www.rwjf.org/en/grants to view current calls for proposals
2. Contact Program Officer: Each grant has a program officer available to answer questions and assist with application completion
3. Submit Through MyRWJF Portal: All proposals must be submitted through the online MyRWJF application system
4. Application Types: Most programs require a brief initial proposal or letter of intent, followed by invitation to submit full proposal

Decision Timeline

Initial Screening:

• All proposals go through initial screening to determine if selection criteria are met
• Typically 6-9 weeks for initial review and notification

Full Proposal:

• Invited applicants have 2 months from notification date to submit full proposal
• Full proposals reviewed by team of internal RWJF and external reviewers
• Program Finance performs financial review of organization's statements, tax forms, audits

Funding Decision:

• Funding recommendations generally made within 8 weeks of receipt of full proposal
• Total process varies by program; typically 4-8 months from initial submission to award

Grant Duration: Generally 1-3 years, though flexible based on project needs

Success Rates

RWJF does not publicly disclose specific acceptance rates or success percentages. However:

• Competition is described as "rigorous"
• Foundation made 2,745 awards in 2021; 5,114 awards in 2020; 3,285 awards in 2019
• Median grant size: $137,600
• Strategic alignment with foundation goals is essential

Reapplication Policy

• Unsuccessful applicants may reapply to future funding opportunities
• No specific waiting period mentioned
• Foundation encourages applicants to contact program officers for feedback and guidance on strengthening future applications

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from RWJF

Strategic Alignment: "Successful applications require strategic alignment with foundation goals, innovative approaches to health challenges, and community engagement in grant development. Applicants should carefully align their proposals with RWJF's strategic priorities to maximize their chances of securing funding."

Strong Needs Statement: "Start with a strong needs statement that clearly articulates the problem or issue your project aims to address, and provide evidence of its significance and relevance to the foundation's priorities."

Clear Outcomes: "Develop a strong proposal that outlines your project's goals, objectives, and anticipated outcomes, and be sure to address the foundation's priorities and focus areas."

Submit Early: "It is highly recommended that you plan to submit your brief proposal well ahead of the deadline to avoid any technical issues or other delays. Late submissions will not be accepted for any reason."

Recent Funded Projects (2024 Examples)

• Gun Violence Research: $3 million to Black & Brown Collective (UC Davis, University of Maryland) to study gun violence in racially and ethnically marginalized communities
• Healthcare Equity for Older Adults: $397,500 across four organizations supporting healthcare equity in communities of color for older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Urban Health Equity: $1.5 million to Urban Land Institute to advance understanding of health and equity among members
• Indigenous Health Equity: Up to $4 million for Indigenous-led solutions through Evidence for Action program

Key Success Factors

1. Focus on Health Equity: Center racial equity and address structural racism in your proposal
2. Community Engagement: Demonstrate authentic community engagement and leadership, especially from communities most affected
3. Evidence-Based Approach: Use rigorous research methods and data-driven strategies
4. Innovation: Present novel, unconventional ideas that could radically advance health equity
5. Scalability: Show potential for intervention to be scaled or replicated nationally
6. Systems Thinking: Address social determinants of health and connections between systems
7. Organizational Capacity: Strong financial health and demonstrated capacity to manage large grants

Language and Terminology

RWJF uses specific terminology that applicants should mirror:

• "Culture of Health"
• "Health equity" (not just "health equality")
• "Structural racism" and "systemic racism"
• "Social determinants of health"
• "Community-led" or "community-driven"
• "Upstream solutions"
• "Historically excluded communities"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Center Racial Equity: RWJF has explicitly placed dismantling structural racism at the center of its mission. Proposals must clearly address how they advance racial and health equity, particularly for marginalized communities.

2. Prioritize Community Leadership: The Foundation is intentionally shifting funding toward community-led, grassroots organizations. Demonstrate authentic community engagement and leadership from affected populations.

3. Use Evidence and Data: RWJF values rigorous research and data-driven approaches. Include clear methodology, evaluation plans, and evidence of your intervention's potential impact.

4. Connect to Social Determinants: Strong proposals address upstream factors affecting health—housing, education, economic opportunity, etc.—not just healthcare services.

5. Engage Program Officers Early: Contact the program officer for your area of interest. They can provide valuable guidance on application development and set expectations for the process.

6. Allow Sufficient Time: Plan for a 4-8 month process from initial submission to funding decision. Submit well ahead of deadlines to avoid technical issues.

7. Demonstrate Financial Capacity: RWJF conducts thorough financial reviews. Ensure your organization has strong financial statements, clean audits, and demonstrated capacity to manage grants of the size you're requesting.

8. Think Beyond Traditional Healthcare: RWJF funds work in diverse sectors that affect health, including criminal justice, housing, transportation, education, and community development.

References

1. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Official Website. "Grants and Funding Opportunities." Accessed November 2024. https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants.html

2. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "The Grant Funding Process & What You Should Expect." Accessed November 2024. https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/grant-process.html

3. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "About RWJF: Achieving Health Equity—Faster and Together." Accessed November 2024. https://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf.html

4. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Our Financial Statements." Accessed November 2024. https://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/how-we-work/financials.html

5. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Leadership, Staff, and Trustees." Accessed November 2024. https://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/staff-and-trustees.html

6. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Robert Wood Johnson Foundation." Form 990 Filings. Accessed November 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/226029397

7. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Exploring Equitable Futures." Accessed November 2024. https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/active-funding-opportunities/2025/exploring-equitable-futures.html

8. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Addressing Childhood Obesity and Health Inequities." Accessed November 2024. https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/active-funding-opportunities/2024/addressing-childhood-obesity-and-health-inequities.html

9. Evidence for Action. "New E4A Funding Opportunity: Indigenous-Led Solutions to Advance Health Equity and Wellbeing." Accessed November 2024. https://evidenceforaction.org/funding/new-e4a-funding-opportunity-indigenous-led-solutions-advance-health-equity-and-wellbeing

10. National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. "The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - 2025 NCRP Impact Award Winner." Accessed November 2024. https://ncrp.org/ncrp-impact-awards/rwjf/

11. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "RWJF Board Elects Starsky Wilson, DMin, MDiv, as Next Chair of the Board of Trustees." July 2024. https://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/2024/07/rwjf-board-elects-rev-dr-starsky-wilson-as-next-chair-of-the-board-of-trustees.html

12. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "RWJF Board Elects Daniel Dawes and Barbara Ferrer as New Trustees." February 2025. https://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/2025/02/rwjf-board-elects-daniel-dawes-and-barbara-ferrer-as-new-trustees.html

13. Instrumentl. "Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Should You Pursue Their Grants?" Accessed November 2024. https://www.instrumentl.com/blog/robert-wood-johnson-foundation-grants-guide

14. Wikipedia. "Robert Wood Johnson Foundation." Accessed November 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wood_Johnson_Foundation

15. Inside Philanthropy. "The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Has High Hopes for Its Program-Related Investment Arm." May 2024. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2024-5-30-the-robert-wood-johnson-foundation-has-high-hopes-for-its-program-related-investment-arm