The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), a leading national philanthropy committed to improving health equity in the United States, has announced its 2025 Call for Proposals under its Evidence for Action (E4A) program. This grant opportunity seeks to support research that addresses racial and Indigenous health equity through two funding streams: Rapid Response Research and New Research Support. RWJF’s efforts are centered on the belief that health should be a right, not a privilege, and it invests in upstream solutions that tackle the root causes of health inequities across societal systems including housing, education, food access, employment, and healthcare.

Rapid Response Research funding aims to address gaps caused by the loss of federal funding for ongoing health equity research. This stream is available only to applicants whose federally funded projects were interrupted or canceled due to administrative actions. Applicants must provide documentation of such funding rescindments. The purpose is to maintain momentum for critical research projects and ensure continuity in the generation of evidence to support health equity.

The New Research Support stream targets action-oriented research initiatives that are community-driven and focused on structural solutions to systemic inequities. Only community-based organizations (CBOs) with a strong track record in racial and/or Indigenous health equity are eligible as lead applicants, though they may collaborate with research institutions in supporting roles. This stream supports research grounded in lived experiences and culturally appropriate methodologies, ensuring that community voices lead the investigation of upstream solutions.

Applicants must submit proposals through RWJF’s online system. For Rapid Response Research, only one phase of application is required—a brief proposal due by May 28, 2025. For New Research Support, a two-phase process begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI) due by July 16, 2025, followed by invitations for full proposals. Both funding opportunities will support a variety of research-related expenses but exclude support for clinical trials of unapproved drugs or devices, facility construction, and political activities.

Evaluation criteria for both streams include commitment to racial and Indigenous equity, alignment with E4A’s mission, sustainability, methodological soundness, actionability, and feasibility. Funded projects must have a clear connection to health equity and potential for real-world impact. The review process includes input from RWJF staff, E4A's national program office, and expert reviewers, with decisions finalized by RWJF leadership.

Interested applicants can access support through an optional webinar on May 2, 2025, and ongoing weekly office hours. For inquiries, contact the Evidence for Action National Program Office at evidenceforaction@ucsf.edu or (415) 502-3490. The grant start dates are September 1, 2025, for Rapid Response and April 15, 2026, for New Research Support. RWJF emphasizes open access publication for all funded research and mandates that funded outputs be made available in accessible formats.