Evidence & Data
Our efforts to improve health, equity, and social justice rely on evidence and data. We believe deeply in the importance of research, evaluation, and learning with the end goal of building an evidence base made from many disciplines.
Signature Research Programs
Over the past decade, we have invested in research that helps build a community where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their best health and wellbeing.
We did this through several signature research grantmaking programs, some of which (Evidence for Action, Health Data for Action, Policies for Action, and Systems for Action) will wind down by the end of 2026 to make way for a new health equity research initiative launching in 2026. Our new research program will focus on shifting how we understand, create, share, and use research-generated information to catalyze changes for a healthier, more just society.
To learn more about this transition, visit our FAQs.
FAQs
Exciting changes are coming to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research-Evaluation-Learning program!
Over the past decade, we have invested in research that helps build a community where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their best health and wellbeing. We did this through several signature research grantmaking programs, including Evidence for Action, Health Data for Action, Policies for Action, and Systems for Action. More than ever, we are committed to research and evidence generation based largely on what we have learned from these programs about what is needed to advance racial and Indigenous health equity. Building on those lessons, the Foundation will close these programs by the end of 2026 to make way for a new health equity research initiative launching in 2026.
We are deeply grateful for the decade of work of Evidence for Action, Health Data for Action, Policies for Action, and Systems for Action. Collectively, we supported over 300 research grants and provided strong evidence to advance health, racial, and Indigenous equity. An important aspect of this work has been assisting grantees with broad and creative dissemination of their work including through journal articles, infographics, policy briefs, events, podcasts, and more. The work is influencing policy and institutional change across the country via hundreds of journal articles and citings in national and local media. There will be two final calls for proposals in early 2025, one from Evidence for Action and another from Systems for Action.
In 2026 RWJF will launch a new research program focused on shifting how we understand, create, share, and use information to catalyze changes for a healthier, more just society. Our vision is to reshape health research so it values not just academic and scientific insights, but also cultural and community knowledge as equally important for making decisions. This research, aligned with the needs of the teams across the Foundation, can identify transformative solutions that will help achieve our generational goals. Plus, we’ll support a new generation of researchers who are passionate about health equity,"
What will happen to current grants?
Why is the Foundation transitioning to a new research program?
Will I be eligible to apply for future funding?
Will the research products developed by grantees funded by these programs be archived?
When can grantees expect further communications?
What if I have questions about my grant or the new research program?
1. What will happen to current grants?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation remains committed to all existing grants and the funding is secure.
Between now and the end of 2026, projects will remain with the program that funded them. This includes helping to facilitate the broad dissemination of your work for maximum impact, offering collaboration opportunities, providing feedback throughout your project, and helping you share research with those who can act on it.
By 12/31/2026, we will transfer any active grants to a Program Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Foundation will provide support and guidance throughout the remainder of these grants, including assistance with reporting requirements, research dissemination, and other logistical and substantial matters related to the award.
Grantees can request a no-cost extension if needed. If these extend beyond 12/31/2026, the grants will be transferred to a Program Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Even if a grant is no longer “active,” the Foundation would appreciate hearing from grantees about publications and outcomes relevant to its grants so that we can continue to amplify your work.
2. Why is the Foundation transitioning to a new research program?
Several important factors led us to revamp the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s research program, including an analysis of our history of supporting research, examining relevant grantmaking models, consulting with diverse voices in the field of health equity research, and a desire to welcome new voices into our research program. We, and many others, recognize racism as a public health crisis, largely because race is treated as a biological difference rather than a social issue. This bias has resulted in fewer marginalized voices in research and policy, limiting knowledge and solutions that could better address community needs.
To create the level of change required to achieve health equity as quickly as possible, we needed to build a new research initiative rather than reshape our existing programs. Research and evidence remain at the heart of our mission and are vital for achieving our goal: a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.
To keep up with how we're changing our approach to health equity research, subscribe to our Research newsletter.
3. What will replace Evidence for Action, Health Data for Action, Policies for Action, and Systems for Action?
Our new research program is all about changing how we understand, create, share, and use research-generated information to catalyze changes for a healthier, more just society. We are currently in the process of finalizing the details. Our vision is to reshape health research so it incorporates not just academic and scientific insights, but also cultural and community knowledge as critically important for building actionable evidence that informs policy and practice. This research, aligned with the commitment to health equity across all of the work in the Foundation, will identify transformative solutions that, with our grantees and partners, will advance our collective health goals. Plus, we will support a new generation of researchers who are developing innovative approaches to improving health equity and population health.
To hear about the new research program when it is announced be sure to subscribe to RWJF Funding Alerts.
4. Will I be eligible to apply for future funding?
Current grantees are eligible to apply for other RWJF funding opportunities.
There will be two final calls for proposals in early 2025, one from Evidence for Action and another from Systems for Action. Check those for eligibility and selection criteria.
We plan to continue open calls for proposals with the new program. Please check future calls for proposals for details.
Keep an eye out for future calls for proposals, as well as the announcement of the new program. Subscribe to RWJF Funding Alerts.
Will the research products developed by grantees funded by these programs be archived?
Any of your research products or publications will be added to your program website through 12/31/2026. After that time, these websites will be archived to ensure these products are available for future reference. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will include publications released after 12/31/2026 on the new research program site.
When can grantees expect further communications?
To keep up with how we're changing our approach to health equity research, subscribe to our Research newsletter.
We expect to announce the new research program in late 2025/early 2026. To stay informed of future calls for proposals, as well as the announcement of the new program, subscribe to RWJF Funding Alert.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will contact current grantees in late 2026 about transitioning their grant from the respective “For Action” program to a Foundation program officer.
What if I have questions about my grant or the new research program?
If you have any questions about this transition, feel free to contact Brian Quinn, associate vice president, Research-Evaluation-Learning (bquinn@rwjf.org), or Mona Shah, director, Research (mshah@rwjf.org).
Mona and Brian will also host informal “office hours” each quarter. Look for an invitation to the first session in January 2025.
There will be two final calls for proposals in early 2025, one from Evidence for Action and another from Systems for Action. Subscribe to our Research newsletter and Funding Alerts to keep up with how we're changing our approach to health equity research, to be the first to know about the new research program, and to hear about new calls for proposals.
For more information, visit each RWJF signature program and discover which research opportunity interests you most.
Evidence for Action
Evidence for Action (E4A) funds research examining the impact of policies, programs, and partnerships on health, wellbeing, and equity.
Health Data for Action
Access to rich data is a cornerstone of producing timely and objective research. Health Data for Action (HD4A) links researchers with valuable health data and funding research to help answer important, policy-relevant questions.
Health Equity Scholars for Action
Health Equity Scholars for Action (HES4A) offers funding and mentorship to early career researchers from underrepresented backgrounds.
Policies for Action
Policies for Action (P4A) funds research that identifies policies, laws, and other regulatory tools that can be leveraged to build a Culture of Health. The goal is to generate actionable evidence about how, and how well, laws and policies work to promote population health, wellbeing, and equity.
Systems for Action
Systems for Action (S4A) funds research to discover and help apply new evidence on ways of aligning financing and service delivery across America's systems of healthcare, public health, and social services.
Reporting & Assessment
Across our funding interest areas, we support program evaluations that assess the impact of our individual grants and long-term investments, and capture key insights and lessons learned. We also support the evaluation of national and local systems that relate to our grant programs.
Our evaluations, conducted by independent evaluators, are designed to offer insight into both our successes and failures and help us refine our current funding strategies and identify new opportunities moving forward. In addition to informing our grantmaking, our evaluations also are designed to support broader health policy and practice, by contributing to the evidence base about what works when it comes to improving the nation's health. As they are completed, we share our evaluation findings to foster learning that can help advance positive change nationwide.
Another form of evaluation is retrospective reports, which look back over an entire body of work—for example, two decades tackling tobacco addiction as a public health concern. Looking back helps us find better ways forward.
Evaluations and Assessments
1-min read
Leadership for Better Health: Evaluation of the RWJF Change Leadership Initiative
3-min read
Spreading Community Accelerators through Learning and Evaluation - Program Evaluation
3-min read