Open call: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Health Equity Research That Meets This Moment

May 4, 2026 | Awards & Funding, Faculty, Research

To: Science Faculty and Researchers
From: Office of Foundation Relations
Subject: Funding Opportunity

The Office of Foundation Relations is pleased to share this open call for Letters of Intent from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  

 

Overview 

The current challenging political environment underscores the value of timely, credible research that is grounded in real‑world conditions—the type of research that has propelled the progress toward health equity our society has made. That is why RWJF is launching this CFP as part of a new research funding program, Health Equity Research for Action (HERA). HERA is being developed and will be administered by three national coordinating centers (NCCs) based at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and the Morehouse School of Medicine. HERA will support community-rooted, action-oriented health equity research that reflects lived realities and responds to immediate and long-term needs. 

RWJF and the NCCs are interested in research that identifies the root causes of structural discrimination, challenges harmful narratives that undermine individual and community health and wellbeing, and disrupts growing mis- and disinformation. Proposals submitted under this first CFP must include research that is conducted in equitable community partnership; focuses on at least one of RWJF’s seven Prioritized Systems; informs systems change; and leads to actionable solutions.

Please see the full program guidelines here. 

 

Award Amount & Terms

  • Grants to organizations, not individuals
  • 20 grants are expected to be awarded, in a range of sizes
  • Awards of up to $500,000 per project
  • Awards may be up to 36 months
  • IDC up to 15%

 

Eligibility 

  • Applicants must demonstrate an existing, authentic, and accountable community partnership of at least two years (with more time preferred). One of the co-principal investigators must be a representative or leadership from community-based organizations.
  • Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories.
  • Consistent with our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commitment, we particularly encourage applications that include project directors or team members from backgrounds historically underrepresented in research disciplines or with diverse lived experiences, including diversity of lived experiences related to race, ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation, immigration, religion, and seniority. 
  • Applicants who have been or are currently RWJF grantees are eligible to apply. 
  • Only one organization may serve as the lead applicant. 

 

See a sample proposal here and a list of FAQs here.

 

Timeline

  • April 27, 2026 A pre-recorded applicant webinar will be made available
  • May 14, 2026 (12 p.m. PT) Deadline for receipt of letters of intent
  • June 29, 2026 Applicants are notified whether they are invited to submit full proposals
  • July 27, 2026 (12 p.m. PT) Deadline for receipt of full proposals
  • August 21, 2026 Applicants are notified of review committee decisions
  • Fall 2026 Grant start date.

 

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 proposal, please send a request to the Office of Research Development, resdev@ucsc.edu. Within the Division of Social Sciences, please contact Ashlee Tews (ashleeac@ucsc.edu), and within the Arts, please contact Hannah Jasper (hannahjasper@ucsc.edu) to initiate notification and proposal support.

 

Call sent: May 4, 2026

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 and corporations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits. For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website:  FR Calls for Funding.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact sacarle@ucsc.edu
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