From Insight to Action: Health Equity Research that Meets This Moment
This grant funds community-led research addressing structural discrimination and systems change to advance health equity in the U.S., emphasizing real-world, action-oriented solutions and equitable partnerships.
Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Due Dates: May 14, 2026 (Letter of Intent, 3:00 p.m. ET) | July 27, 2026 (Full Proposal, 3:00 p.m. ET)
Funding Amounts: Up to $500,000 per project (up to 36 months); total program funding up to $8 million; ~20 grants expected.
Summary: Supports community-led, action-oriented health equity research addressing structural discrimination and systems change in the U.S.
Key Information: Requires a 2+ year authentic community partnership; U.S.-based organizations only; two-phase application.
Description
This funding opportunity from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), part of the Health Equity Research for Action (HERA) initiative, seeks to support community-rooted, action-oriented research that advances health equity in the United States. The program is designed to fund research projects that address the root causes of structural discrimination, challenge harmful narratives, and counter mis- and disinformation undermining health and wellbeing. Projects must be grounded in real-world conditions, conducted in equitable partnership with communities, and focused on generating actionable solutions that inform systems change across legal, political, economic, and health-related systems.
The initiative is administered in collaboration with national coordinating centers at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and Morehouse School of Medicine.
