Rapid Response Research Awards

Rapid Response Research funding is exclusively available to applicants whose federally funded racial or Indigenous health equity research has been interrupted due to federal funding shifts. 

While people of all personal and professional backgrounds are eligible to apply, we have a strong preference for funding early- to mid-career Indigenous researchers and researchers of color with a track record of conducting antiracist and anticolonial health equity research, who are not currently a project director on or receiving greater than 25% of their salary from an RWJF funded grant. Researchers whose backgrounds and work align with the stated preferences will receive priority consideration.

Researchers who have not already received funding from a federal source (including those who have been notified that their application for federal funding will no longer be reviewed) are NOT eligible for Rapid Response Research funding.

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, early-to-mid-career is defined as within 10 years of completion of the highest earned degree for non-tenured track or non-academic positions, or pre-tenure through up to two years post-tenure for tenure-track faculty positions.

Yes. You do not need to have been the original Project Director on the grant to apply for this funding; it is sufficient to have been a member of the original research team.

While we will not re-scrutinize the research design and approach for Rapid Response Research applications, we are interested in funding projects that align with the spirit and values of E4A. Applicants should be involved in and exhibit a track record of conducting community-centered, action-oriented research focused on structural solutions to advance racial and Indigenous health equity.

No. Grants are restricted to one award per previously funded project. Therefore, we encourage teams to apply collaboratively rather than submitting multiple applications for the same project and work together to determine the most pressing needs to include in the application.

Any organization based in the United States or its occupied territories is eligible for funding. Submissions from teams that include both U.S. and international members are eligible, but the lead applicant organization must be based in the United States or its occupied territories.

People who are project directors on currently active RWJF grants or who are currently receiving greater than 25% of their salary from an RWJF funded grant are NOT eligible to apply. Former RWJF grantees and people currently receiving less than 25% of their salary from RWJF may apply.

Grant durations up to 24 months are permitted.

Awards may range from $50,000 to $200,000. We ask that applicants request only what is needed to allow for maximizing support for as many recipients as possible. We expect larger awards to correspond with more distributed funding (e.g., multiple people’s salaries or multiple activities).

Our goal is to support as many early- to mid-career, antiracist, anticolonial health equity researchers as possible with the available funding. The exact number of grants depends on the size of the grants awarded, but we anticipate funding between 10 and 40 projects.

Applications must be submitted by 3pm EDT on May 28, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted. We recommend that you plan to submit your brief proposal ahead of the due date to avoid any technical issues or other delays.

Appropriate documentation includes cease and desist letters, stop work orders, emails or other communications directly from the federal funding agency, and any other official letters or communications regarding termination or discontinuation of federal research funding. If your work was interrupted due to a non-responsive federal program officer, you may submit email chains and/or a “log” of attempted contacts. If you have questions about appropriate verification, please contact the program office (evidenceforaction@ucsf.edu).

Reviewers will use the below selection criteria when evaluating Rapid Response Research Brief Proposal applications. Our goal is to fund all eligible projects that meet or exceed the criteria outlined below; however, final funding decisions will depend on the volume of applications received. 

• Commitment to racial and Indigenous equity: The applicant should demonstrate their track record of conducting antiracist and/or anticolonial racial and Indigenous health equity research through responses to the Project Information Questions, submitted CVs (i.e., publications, conference presentations, prior funding, advocacy efforts, and related research activities), and the interrupted federally funded project documentation provided (research aims, budget, timeline); Applicants should be able to describe their career path and body of work in advancing racial and/or Indigenous health equity, as well as detail their past achievements, ongoing efforts, and future vision / career goals in this area.
• Alignment with E4A program values: E4A’s organizational mission is to advance action-oriented racial and Indigenous health equity research; practicing an approach that is intentionally antiracist, anticolonial, and focused on solutions that are innovative, push beyond the status quo, and focus on root causes. Applicants should demonstrate their alignment with these values when responding to Project Information Questions, and as evidenced by past and ongoing works submitted in CVs (i.e., publications, conference presentations, prior funding, advocacy efforts, and related research activities) and the interrupted federally funded project documentation provided (research aims, budget, timeline);
• Sustainability of impact and vision: Reviewers will carefully scrutinize the related Project Information Question to understand how applicants envision their racial and Indigenous health equity research career path and how Rapid Response Research funding will contribute to preserving or advancing that vision; we will prioritize funding to support and advance the careers of early-to mid-career Indigenous researchers and Black, Latine, and researchers from racial and ethnic backgrounds that are underrepresented in receipt of federal research funding.
• Timeliness: Applicants should be able to receive and allocate funding for the stated purpose(s) within a timely manner (i.e. ability to spend grant funds should not be contingent on other institutional factors aside from normal administrative processes); and must be able to carry out the project as originally intended, to the greatest extent possible (e.g. necessary data is still available and accessible). Applicants should be able to explain why/how these funds will be especially impactful now, given the current sociopolitical context.

Applicants will be notified of funding decisions the week of July 14, 2025. Grants are anticipated to begin on September 1, 2025. However, we will attempt to disburse funds as early as possible, potentially prior to that date. During the submission process, applicants will indicate the level of urgency with which the funds are needed. Be discerning in your response, as we will prioritize processing fund disbursements to those that need funding more immediately (e.g., to avoid a job termination).

If you are awarded a Rapid Response Research grant and your original funding is subsequently resumed, you will be required to reallocate the RWJF funds for purposes consistent with the spirit and values of E4A and RWJF.

All RWJF grantees are required to submit annual budget reports. Grantees will be welcome, but not required, to participate in interactive training opportunities and workshops, in-person and virtual networking events, and other E4A- and RWJF-sponsored events.