Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)

Request Ticket // Limit: Each research center may appear on one LOI/Proposal

G. Coronado (Health Equity Research Center)

Limiting Language
Centers may be included in only one application. Duplicate applications will be marked as ineligible.

Purpose
Through this CFP, RWJF will expand its efforts to transform deeply rooted beliefs about which data and research methods are valued, whose perspectives are prioritized, and which populations deserve resources. This CFP works to achieve transformation by incorporating a holistic funding approach that focuses on the infrastructure and capacity support that research centers need to meaningfully engage in research in the first place. RWJF understands that no single philanthropy can completely fill the gap left by ongoing federal funding cuts; however, this CFP demonstrates strong support for research, researchers, and research centers that are well positioned to pave the way toward a future where health is not a privilege, but a right.  

RWJF believes in health equity research that is grounded in systems thinking; supports and disseminates evidence identifying and implementing structural solutions to racial and health inequities; and increases power, representation, and agency among historically underrepresented researchers. By supporting the infrastructure and capacity-building needs of MSIs, this opportunity strengthens their ability to generate critical evidence and to cultivate transformative, actionable solutions toward health equity.  

This CFP seeks mission-aligned institutions interested in participating in cohort-style peer learning to advance their ability to engage in health equity research and apply for competitive funding opportunities in the future.  

No applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1 

UArizona may only submit one proposal as the lead organization

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), its grantees, and partners have demonstrated the impact of using data to communicate and increase understanding of how the conditions of place impact community health. Structural racism produces a complex set of barriers (often invisible) that undermines opportunities for health and wellbeing for many communities. Yet researchers and data producers—especially those with vital comprehensive, nationwide data that include findings at smaller state and local levels—often struggle to communicate their findings in ways that resonate for policymakers, community partners, and others who are best positioned to make decisions informed by this information. Data visualization, or tools that make it easy to visualize complex measures, can be a powerful means to communicate data showing structural racism’s impact on communities and to contextualize the legacy of racism.

This Call for Proposals will fund up to eight interdisciplinary teams that each consist of researchers/data producers, data scientists, communications experts, designers, and national social change networks/alliances or national-level social change organizations. Funding will support the creation of data visualizations as tools to provide an understanding of structural racism’s impact on place, health, and wellbeing.

Because organizations in individual sectors may find it difficult on their own to communicate an effective understanding of the impact of structural racism to diverse audiences (e.g., policymakers, advocates, funders and investors, or the media), collaboration is needed across organizations and/or disciplines such as academia, design, media, policy, public health, and social services. Together, these sectors can combine their relevant expertise to design new ways to understand and communicate the impacts of structural racism.