Deadline: 13-Apr-2026
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is inviting U.S.-based organizations to apply for grants that adapt global ideas and approaches to strengthen a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient health knowledge system in the United States. The program will award up to 15 grants of up to $500,000 each for projects lasting up to 36 months.
Overview
This funding opportunity supports action-oriented projects that use international ideas to improve how health knowledge is created, shared, preserved, and used in the United States.
The goal is to build a health knowledge system that is:
- Community-driven
- Inclusive and equitable
- Culturally grounded
- Better able to advance health equity and wellbeing
The program especially values projects led by or centered on communities most affected by health inequities.
Focus Areas
The opportunity has two main focus areas:
Knowledge generation and preservation
This area supports projects that improve how health knowledge is produced, protected, and shared.
Examples include:
- Participatory and citizen science
- Combining Indigenous and holistic knowledge systems with scientific methods
- Community-led or cross-border knowledge networks
- Preserving science, data, and cultural knowledge relevant to health equity
Knowledge activation
This area supports projects that help communities use knowledge in meaningful and accessible ways.
Examples include:
- Creative and narrative strategies
- Reclaiming erased histories
- Amplifying marginalized voices
- Sharing stories of resilience and resistance
- Building connections between U.S. groups and global partners
Funding Information
- Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
- Number of Grants: Up to 15
- Grant Amount: Up to $500,000 each
- Project Period: Up to 36 months
What the Funding Supports
Funding may support:
- Personnel
- Direct project costs
- Indirect costs for eligible public charities
Projects should be focused on:
- Reimagining health knowledge systems
- Strengthening trust in knowledge
- Addressing misinformation
- Preserving cultural and historical narratives
- Advancing health equity in the U.S.
Ineligible Uses
Funding does not support:
- Clinical trials of unapproved drugs
- Construction
- Political lobbying
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Organizations based in the United States and its territories
Important notes
- Organizations may collaborate with international partners
- The project’s primary focus must be improving health equity in the U.S.
- The opportunity especially encourages applications from historically marginalized communities
- Priority may be given to organizations that have not received RWJF funding since January 1, 2021
Why This Grant Matters
This grant is notable because it goes beyond traditional public health funding.
It supports projects that:
- Value community knowledge
- Use global learning for U.S. health equity
- Protect cultural and historical narratives
- Counter misinformation
- Strengthen trust in health-related knowledge systems
It is especially relevant for organizations working at the intersection of health equity, community storytelling, public knowledge, and social justice.
How to Apply
- Confirm your organization is based in the U.S. or its territories
- Design a project focused on health equity in the U.S.
- Choose one or both focus areas:
- Knowledge generation and preservation
- Knowledge activation
- Show how the project draws from global approaches or international examples
- Center the voices of communities most affected by health inequities
- Prepare a budget of up to $500,000 for a project of up to 36 months
- Explain expected outcomes and community impact
Tips for Applicants
- Make the project clearly community-led or community-centered
- Show a strong connection between global learning and U.S. application
- Include marginalized voices in leadership and design
- Use practical strategies for knowledge sharing and trust-building
- Avoid overly academic proposals without a clear action component
FAQ
Who is offering this funding?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
How much funding is available?
Up to 15 grants will be awarded, with up to $500,000 per grant.
How long can projects last?
Projects can run for up to 36 months.
Can international partners be involved?
Yes. U.S.-based organizations can collaborate with international partners, but the project must primarily improve health equity in the U.S.
What kinds of projects are encouraged?
Projects that:
- Improve how health knowledge is created or preserved
- Use storytelling or creative methods to activate knowledge
- Address misinformation
- Preserve cultural and historical narratives
- Center communities affected by health inequities
Who is prioritized?
The opportunity especially encourages:
- Historically marginalized communities
- Organizations that have not received RWJF funding since January 1, 2021
Conclusion
The RWJF Global Ideas for U.S. Health Equity opportunity is a strong fit for U.S.-based nonprofits, community organizations, and public-interest institutions working to reimagine how health knowledge is built and used.
With up to $500,000 over 36 months, it supports bold, community-driven projects that apply global ideas to create a more trusted, inclusive, and equitable health knowledge system in the United States.
For more information, visit RWJF.