New Research Support Eligibility

Yes! There is no requirement for CBOs to partner with institutions of higher education, government agencies, or any other organization type.

Yes, if the CBO has autonomous decision-making power including budget management, and if all indirect funds are solely held by the CBO for its own purposes. 

Anyone may be designated as the Project Director (PD). The PD does not need to hold an advanced degree nor are there other educational or professional stipulations. However, the PD is responsible for ensuring the expectations and deliverables of the award are met. Two PDs may be listed in the letter of intent application, but the team is not limited to these two individuals and additional co-PDs and other team members may be included at the Full Proposal stage. For ease of administration, it is preferable, but not required, for the PD to be based at the lead organization.

The lead applicant organization must be a community-based organization (CBO) with a strong track record of racial and/or Indigenous health equity work. CBOs eligible to serve as applicant organizations include Section 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, certain for-profit organizations, local and state government agencies, and tribal organizations. Learn more about this requirement.

The lead application organization is responsible for signing the grant agreement with the Foundation, receiving the grant funds directly from the Foundation, administering funds, and ensuring the project stays on track through completion. This requirement is not intended to exclude academic institutions or contract research organizations from participating in New Research Support projects. We encourage CBOs to partner with research organizations as needed to support any aspects of the project, including preparing application materials, and designing, conducting, and disseminating the research. Grant funds may be allocated to compensate academic organizations and other research organizations for their time, effort, and deliverables. Any funding that leaves the lead organization (i.e., to partner organizations) is reflected in the contract/consultant category of the budget, regardless of the terminology or process used by the receiving organization. Learn more about the CBO acting as lead.

Yes, if necessary, the applicant organization may utilize the services of a fiscal sponsor to support the project’s financial management, administration, and reporting activities. However, while fiscal sponsors are allowed, most RWJF grantees do not have a fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors are typically involved only when the grantee organization does not have the capacity to administer the grant. If the lead applicant will both conduct the work and be responsible for administering the funds, then applicants should select “No” in response to the question about whether they are serving as a fiscal sponsor.

No, research institutions such as universities and contract research organizations are not eligible to serve as lead applicant organizations for New Research Support awards. However, they may serve as subcontractors or fiscal sponsors for eligible applicant organizations.

There are a plethora of reasons E4A is requiring that the lead organization is a community-based organization. There is a long history of academic institutions holding the power in research partnerships with community, and this is an attempt to shift that balance to: 

• Empower community-based organizations to set research priorities, authentically share decision-making, own the data, etc.;
• Enhance the actionability of the research findings by ensuring research questions and aims are priorities for the communities meant to be served, findings will be applicable to and actionable for community members and leadership; and
• Ensure transparency around the budget and financial information and that community-based organizations are appropriately compensated for their contributions to the work, which may not always happen when research institutions are developing funding application budgets and administering the awarded grants.

We strongly recommend submitting as part of a team. It is our experience that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve both the level of rigor and actionability that we expect without engaging multiple different perspectives and expertise in the project. We look for teams that have not only methodological expertise, but subject matter and practical expertise - including lived personal or professional experiences - as well, to help ensure that the research is not only theoretically grounded, but also reflects real world conditions and dynamics.

Not through this CFP. Research must be focused on U.S. settings, populations, and communities in alignment with RWJF’s mission to improve racial and Indigenous health equity in the U.S. While research findings and implications can also apply to other countries, the project must be focused in the U.S. (including U.S.-occupied territories).

Yes. There are no rigid restrictions against awarding funds to existing or previous E4A or RWJF grantees. However, these applicants may be more heavily scrutinized in the review process.

Yes, applicants may submit a proposal that is being considered by other funding organizations. If you ultimately receive funding for the same purpose from other sources besides RWJF you will be required to report this to the Foundation and adjust the activities and budget as appropriate so there is no duplication of funding. You are allowed to expand your project’s scope of work with funding from other sources, as long as you complete the research RWJF funded you to conduct.

Yes, interested applicants may apply to other RWJF funding opportunities. Each funding program of RWJF has distinct objectives, funding guidelines, and criteria. To learn more about other funding programs and initiatives at RWJF, visit https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/active-funding-opportunities.html.