A young boy goes down a curved slide at a playground.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

How our communities are planned, designed, and built can have a major influence on health equity. RWJF funds research and initiatives that advance equity in the development of housing, transportation, parks and open space, and other critical community areas.

Related News and Insights

Read expert perspectives and the latest research from RWJF to explore the opportunities and complexities of this topic.

Grantee Story
Retro Report, Water

The Gift of Water: How Communities Are Sharing Traditional Techniques to Combat Drought

In drought-prone areas, communities are incorporating green infrastructure to harvest and reuse scarce water, often drawing on the ancient knowledge and wisdom of indigenous practices.

4-min read

Built Environment and Health Air and Water Quality
Blog Post
Three children playing in park illustration.

How Kids, Communities, and the Environment Benefit from Green and Natural School Grounds

How Kids, Communities, and the Environment Benefit from Green and Natural School Grounds

6-min read

Built Environment and Health Family and Social Environment
Blog Post
Climate change and unjust policies.

How Unjust Policies Influence Who Experiences the Harms of Climate Change First

Research reveals how discriminatory policies like redlining have made many communities more vulnerable to the harms of climate change. Fortunately, solutions exist.

4-min read

Built Environment and Health Climate Change & Climate Action
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Featured Initiatives

RWJF funds many initiatives in support of our vision for a Culture of Health. For this focus area, these initiatives were selected to demonstrate grantmaking that is helping us achieve the greatest impact.  

A group of young people working together in an office setting at a table.

Build Healthy Places Network

The Build Healthy Places Network leads collaborative work with experts in health and community development to strengthen low-income communities.

A mother holds her young daughter's hand while walking on a city sidewalk.

Strong, Prosperous, And Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC)

SPARCC is a collaborative effort in six regions working together to make sure all the major new investments in infrastructure, transit, housing, and health systems lead to equitable and healthy opportunities for everyone.

People enjoying their meal at the community food bank

Invest Health

Invest Health connects leaders from mid-sized cities who are working to impact investing that improves health in low-income neighborhoods.

Female chef reviewing orders with kitchen staff in restaurant kitchen

Center for Community Investment

The Center for Community Investment works to ensure all communities can unlock the capital they need to thrive.

Women commuting on bike share bikes during rush hour

Healthy Corridors Project

The Healthy Corridors Project explores how commercial corridors can be transformed to become safe, healthy, vibrant, mixed-use places with next-generation infrastructure.

Men look at phone outside.

Green Health Partnership (GHP)

GHP works to integrate a health perspective into building design, construction, and operation. Also, considering health and wellbeing as the next area of focus for high-performing real estate companies and investors.

Current Grant Opportunities

We realize that building a Culture of Health will take unprecedented collaboration and a deeper understanding of where barriers exist and how to overcome them.

We have previously funded opportunities in this area of focus with the goal to strengthen and advance health equity, and we have more work to do.   

Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Open

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Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Open

Apply Now