RWJF Call for Proposals 2026: Up to $500K for Health Equity Projects
Are you looking for funding to advance health equity in the U.S.? The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Call for Proposals 2026 offers a chance to secure up to $500,000 for projects that draw lessons from global experiences. This opportunity focuses on building a stronger health knowledge system right here at home.
What Is the RWJF Call for Proposals 2026?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) wants to break down structural racism and remove barriers to health equity. They partner with communities, practitioners, and institutions to make this happen. This call for proposals supports projects that use ideas from outside the U.S. to improve health knowledge systems in America.
The goal is clear: create action-oriented work that boosts health equity, justice, and wellbeing. Projects should center on community-driven efforts to generate, preserve, and share knowledge. This helps build systems that stay strong during crises and support everyone fairly.
RWJF plans to fund up to 15 awards. Each one can reach $500,000, but applicants should request only what they need. This allows more groups to get support. Larger grants might cover multiple salaries or activities spread across teams.
Who Can Apply?
U.S.-based organizations and those in U.S. territories can apply. Teams with both U.S. and international members are welcome, as long as the work targets health equity in the U.S. Projects focused only on other countries do not qualify.
RWJF encourages applications from diverse leaders. They seek project directors and teams from Indigenous, Black, Latino, and other communities of color. LGBTQ+ members, immigrants, and other marginalized groups are also urged to apply. Selections will not favor or exclude based on race, ethnicity, gender, or other protected traits.
A key rule applies: organizations new to RWJF get priority. If your group received RWJF funds since January 1, 2021—directly, through a sponsor, or as a grant—you are not eligible. Fiscal sponsors from that time should check the FAQs. Biomedical, clinical, or lab-based science projects are off-limits. Medicinal remedies also do not qualify.
If needed, use a fiscal sponsor for money management, reporting, and grants handling.
Award Details and Funding Focus
Awards go up to $500,000 per project. RWJF expects to pick up to 15 winners. Ask for the right amount to help them support more applicants. Bigger budgets should link to wider impact, like paying several people or funding various tasks.
Projects must learn from abroad to reshape U.S. health knowledge. This means gathering stories and data in ways that include communities. The result? A system that preserves knowledge and tells narratives for equity. It prepares for tough times and builds resilience.
How to Apply
Start by reviewing the full details on the RWJF site: RWJF Call for Proposals.
The application portal is here: Click here to apply.
Submit by the deadline: April 13, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. GMT+1. Plan ahead to meet this date.
Tips for a Strong Application
Focus on real action. Show how your project uses global lessons for U.S. health equity. Highlight community involvement in knowledge creation. Explain your budget clearly and tie it to impact.
Build a diverse team if possible. Share your unique background and why it fits the work. Avoid ineligible topics like lab research. Check your organization’s RWJF history before applying.
For international applicants selected, RWJF may route funds through the Global Ideas Fund at CAF America.
This opportunity from RWJF opens doors for fresh ideas in health equity. Act fast to meet the April 13 deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for the RWJF Call for Proposals 2026?
Applications must be submitted by April 13, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. GMT+1. Plan ahead to meet this date.
Who can apply for RWJF funding?
U.S.-based organizations and those in U.S. territories can apply, including teams with international members as long as the work targets U.S. health equity. New organizations since January 1, 2021, get priority.
How much funding is available through this call?
Awards go up to $500,000 per project, with RWJF planning to fund up to 15 winners. Request only what you need to allow more support.
What should projects focus on?
Projects must use lessons from global experiences to improve U.S. health knowledge systems, centering community efforts for equity, justice, and wellbeing.