Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program

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Description

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Evidence for Action (E4A) program offers funding to support research that advances racial and Indigenous health equity in the United States. This initiative prioritizes community knowledge and partnerships to address structural racism and systemic inequities that affect health outcomes. The program aims to build an actionable evidence base to reform systems—such as laws, policies, and power dynamics—that influence resource distribution and health equity.

There are two distinct funding opportunities under this call:

• Rapid Response Research Grants: Designed to support health equity research projects that have lost federal funding. These grants help sustain ongoing research efforts that were interrupted due to shifts in federal support.

• New Research Support Grants: Targeted at community-based organizations (CBOs) with a strong track record in racial and Indigenous health equity work. These grants fund new, action-oriented research projects that develop or test solutions to improve health equity.

Both tracks emphasize research that is community-centered and action-oriented, focusing on upstream determinants of health such as housing, education, food access, employment, and healthcare.

Due Dates

• May 2, 2025: Optional applicant webinar (2–3:30 p.m. ET) – Registration required

• May 28, 2025 (3 p.m. ET): Deadline for Rapid Response brief proposals

• Week of July 14, 2025: Notification of Rapid Response review decisions

• September 1, 2025: Rapid Response grant start date

• July 16, 2025 (3 p.m. ET): Deadline for New Research letters of intent

• Week of August 25, 2025: Notification of invitation to submit full proposals

• December 17, 2025 (3 p.m. ET): Deadline for full proposals (by invitation only)

• Week of February 16, 2026: Notification of New Research review decisions

• April 15, 2026: New Research grant start date

Weekly office hours are available for applicants during the submission periods. Details can be found on the E4A funding page.

Funding Amount

• Rapid Response Research:

  • Award range: $50,000 to $200,000
  • Duration: Up to 24 months
  • Funds cover research staff salaries, community partner support, data collection, analysis, dissemination, indirect costs, and other research-related expenses.

• New Research Support:

  • Approximately eight grants expected: four at $250,000 and four at $500,000
  • Duration: Up to 36 months
  • Funds cover comprehensive research costs including staff, participant involvement, consultants, travel, dissemination, indirect costs, and capacity-building.

Funds may not be used for clinical trials of unapproved drugs/devices, construction/renovation, lobbying, or non-research activities such as program implementation.

Eligibility

Rapid Response Research

• Applicants must have health equity research projects that lost federal funding (documentation required).
• Open to organizations based in the U.S. or its territories.
• Project Directors from diverse backgrounds, especially Indigenous, Black, Latino, and other persons of color, are encouraged.
• Priority given to early to midcareer antiracist or anticolonial researchers within 10 years of highest degree or up to 2 years post-tenure.
• Project Directors cannot be currently funded by RWJF for more than 25% of their salary.

New Research Support

• Lead applicant must be a community-based organization (CBO) with a strong track record in racial and/or Indigenous health equity.
• Eligible CBOs include 501(c)(3) organizations, certain for-profits, local/state government agencies, and tribal organizations.
• Universities and research institutions cannot be lead applicants but may partner as contractors or fiscal sponsors.
• Lead organization must be U.S.-based; research must focus on U.S. racial and Indigenous health equity.

Application Process

• Submit brief proposals for Rapid Response or letters of intent for New Research by respective deadlines.
• Selected applicants for New Research will be invited to submit full proposals.
• Applications require detailed budgets aligned with RWJF guidelines.
• Payment is milestone or budget-spending based, not invoice-based.
• Applicants are encouraged to attend webinars and office hours for guidance.

Additional Information

• The program emphasizes research that is community-partnered and addresses root causes of health inequities.
• Research should be action-oriented, aiming to influence policies, systems, and practices.
• Indirect costs are allowed to support organizational operations.
• RWJF provides sample proposals and detailed budget guidelines on their website.

External Links

• Research to Advance Racial and Indigenous Health Equity | RWJF
• E4A Funding and Office Hours
• Rapid Response Brief Proposal Sample (PDF)
• New Research Letter of Intent Sample (PDF)
• RWJF FAQs for Applicants
• RWJF Grant Process Overview

Contact Information