The Office of Foundations Relations is pleased to share this open call for funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
UCSC Contact: Sarah Carle | sacarle@ucsc.edu
Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Opportunity: Health Equity Scholars for Action (HES4A)
LOI Deadline: November 6, 2025, 12pm PT
Optional Webinar: October 10, 2025 (10-11am PT) Registration is required through this link.
Overview
The Health Equity Scholars for Action (HES4A) program aims to support early-career researchers who are systemically underrepresented in health sciences and related fields. HES4A was designed to support research, mentorship, and connection with a community of support, to help participants thrive personally and professionally. In turn, scholars are better positioned to promote and expand health equity-related research and evidence aimed at dismantling systemic barriers to health and wellbeing, thus enhancing the lives of all Americans.
The goal of HES4A is to support the career development and academic progress of faculty conducting health equity research. Grants will be awarded to address the challenges that historically marginalized faculty typically experience and help them overcome obstacles to earning tenure. HES4A projects focus on transformative, action-oriented evidence addressing structural barriers and are aligned with RWJF’s mission to achieve equity. The program welcomes applications that apply an intersectional approach, with the aim of improving social, political, and economic conditions that support health and health equity.
Please find the complete funding opportunity guidelines here.
Award Amount & Terms
- up to $260,000
- 24 months in duration
- 12% Indirect costs
- up to 15 awards funded
Eligibility
- Be from a systematically marginalized group that has historically been underrepresented in research disciplines. The term “systematically marginalized” refers to the challenges facing individuals because of their race, ethnicity, gender expression or sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or similar factors.
- Have completed a terminal degree within the last five years. The degree can be in any field and is not limited to public health or health sciences.
- Be a junior faculty member in an accredited school in the U.S. or its territories (“home institution”), with a full-time academic position that could lead to tenure, or a postdoctoral fellow poised to be in such a position by the start of the grant.
- Have never served as a project director or principal investigator on any grant since receiving their doctoral degree. Not have received support from other post-graduate research fellowships/traineeships (e.g., research career development award or equivalent). Investigators are not discouraged or prevented from applying to other fellowships/traineeships while participating in the program.
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
- See frequently asked questions for further clarification.
Timeline
- October 10, 2025 (10-11am PT) Optional applicant webinar. Register here.
- October 15, 2025 (10-11 am PT) Virtual office hours
- October 21, 2025 (11-12 noon PT) Virtual office hours
- November 6, 2025 (12 noon PT) Deadline for receipt of letters of intent
- January 6, 2026 Invitation to select applicants to submit full proposals
- March 12, 2026 (12 noon PT) Deadline for receipt of full proposals
- April 2026 Semifinalist interviews via web conference
- May 2026 Notification of finalists
- July 15, 2026 Grant start; program begins
Special Instructions
Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (fr@ucsc.edu). For support developing your LOI, please contact a Research Development Specialist or send a request to resdev@ucsc.edu. Within the Division of Social Sciences, please contact Ashlee Tews (ashleeac@ucsc.edu) to initiate notification and proposal support.
Call sent: October 2, 2025
The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Advancement. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate foundation meetings and campus visits.
For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website: FR Calls for Funding.