The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is a private foundation based in Princeton, New Jersey. It supports work to improve health and health equity in the United States, including efforts to address structural barriers to health and wellbeing.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation gave $622.6M across 3,093 grants in 2024 (avg $201K), top state District of Columbia. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $622,577,112
- +14.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3,093
- +5.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $201,286
- +9.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $13,417,636,452
- -1.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (708 of 1,938, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation says most grants are made through targeted grant programs and funding partnerships. Its website describes competitive calls for proposals as a typical starting point for grantmaking, and also identifies open calls for ideas, challenges and prize competitions, and direct solicitations for specific program objectives. Applicants should review the foundation’s funding opportunities for eligibility, application instructions, and program-specific materials. The foundation’s stated grantmaking focus is transformative systems change addressing structural racism, other forms of discrimination, and social conditions that affect health.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that there are no deadlines except when the foundation issues a call for proposals or request for proposals.
- Deadline
- The filing states that there are no deadlines except when the foundation issues a call for proposals or request for…
- Contact
Application contact: Grants Management
Mailing address: 50 College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08543
Phone: (877) 843-7953
Website: https://rwjf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
13 open opportunities from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity Grant Program
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Exploring Equitable Futures Grant Program
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Grant Program
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Amount
Up to US $420,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Center on Budget and Policy Priorities ($16.9M across 10 grants). Together the top 10 received $99.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($463,356), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
18,289 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11,480 grants of 18,289 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as national and focused on the United States. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Washington, DC (24%), California (15%), New York (9%), Massachusetts (7%), and New Jersey (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3,093 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 708 of 1,938 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $282K; repeat grants $332K. How we count
Medians: $54K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $532.0M (2020) to $622.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 3,093 grants totaling $622.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Washington, DC | 79658 advancing racially equitable economic, tax, and social policy in states and growing essential state policy infrastructure | $12,152,000 |
| Community Catalyst Boston, MA | 80588 serving as the national coordinating/program office for rwjf's voices for health justice authorization | $8,620,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute Madison, WI | 80417 continuing the county health rankings & roadmaps' path in developing narratives to address the structural drivers of health inequities | $7,437,248 |
| Vose River Charitable Fund Bethesda, MD | 78878 transforming local data environments through principles of health equity and justice to enable a better use of local data infrastructure and systems | $5,817,555 |
| Economic Policy Institute Washington, DC | 81568 anchoring work to make families an economic priority through the support of a new policy ecosystem -- economic policy institute | $5,220,000 |
| Family Values Work a Multi State Consortium Inc Milwaukee, WI | 81571 anchoring work to make families an economic priority through the support of a new policy ecosystem -- family values @ work | $5,220,000 |
| Borealis Philanthropy Minneapolis, MN | 82080 supporting the black-led movement fund and disability inclusion fund in catalyzing investments in the racial justice and disability justice movements | $4,500,000 |
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 81812 continuing direct technical assistance to states, including promoting community leadership in policymaking and advancing health equity, 2024-2025 | $4,242,404 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | 82057 supporting johns hopkins bloomberg school of public health as national program center for rwjf's health policy research scholars program, 2024-2026 | $4,094,899 |
| Center for Black Health and Equity Durham, NC | 81364 supporting the center for black health and equity as regional hub to advance equitable commercial tobacco control in the south and midwest | $4,000,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation reported 3,093 grants in 2024, 2,943 in 2023, and 4,142 in 2022.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,417,636,452 | $855,259,092 | $966,690,739 | $622,577,112 | 3,093 | $849,218,846 | $954,793,932 | $642,024,042 |
| 2023 | $13,678,252,785 | $898,458,824 | $830,837,905 | $543,575,302 | 2,943 | $745,812,237 | $1,029,983,199 | $645,951,613 |
| 2022 | $13,832,302,736 | $1,119,236,534 | $877,646,664 | $570,006,415 | 4,142 | $724,773,538 | $789,784,296 | $677,665,962 |
| 2021 | $14,837,880,900 | $1,125,174,588 | $873,752,406 | $607,948,030 | 3,978 | $738,287,306 | $1,058,858,262 | $701,215,567 |
| 2020 | $13,220,198,571 | $728,272,220 | $819,393,718 | $531,952,564 | 4,133 | — | $729,695,185 | $570,242,510 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $642.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve health and health equity in the United States and help provide every individual with a fair and just opportunity to thrive. Its website identifies four grantmaking priority areas: Health Systems, Healthy Children and Families, Healthy Communities, and Leadership for Better Health. It also describes work across seven systems affecting health: community development, economic inclusion for families, government, health science knowledge, healthcare, media, and public health.
The 2024 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities received funding for work on racially equitable economic, tax, and social policy; Community Catalyst received funding related to the foundation’s Voices for Health Justice authorization; and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute received funding for County Health Rankings & Roadmaps work addressing structural drivers of health inequities.
The grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says it promotes public understanding and analyzes government programs and policies affecting low- and moderate-income families. Community Catalyst says it works to build people’s power to create a health system rooted in race equity and health justice. Vose River Charitable Fund says it promotes public health through tools and collaborations with nonprofits and government health departments. These are grantees’ descriptions, not statements of the foundation’s own mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 3,093 grants totaling $622,577,112. Grant amounts ranged from $125 to $12,152,000, with a median of $40,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $12,152,000 to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for state policy work; $8,620,000 to Community Catalyst for its role as national coordinating/program office for Voices for Health Justice; $7,437,248 to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute for County Health Rankings & Roadmaps; and $5,817,555 to Vose River Charitable Fund for work on local data environments. Other large awards included $5,220,000 each to the Economic Policy Institute and Family Values @ Work, and $4,500,000 to Borealis Philanthropy for support of the Black-Led Movement Fund and Disability Inclusion Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kathryn S. Fuller as trustee chair. Listed trustees are Azita Emami, David Williams, Edgar Villanueva, Jing Wang, Julio Frenk, and Leah McCall Devlin. The filing lists Julie Morita as executive vice president until August 2024, May Ng as chief investment officer, and Melvin Galloway as chief operating officer.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is led by Richard E. Besser, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; all 22 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard E. Besser
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$851K (2020) → $1M (2024)
Kathryn S. Fuller
Trustee Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Chair, 2021
Trustee & Chair → Trustee Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $65K (2024)
David Williams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $17K (2024)
Julio Frenk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $26K (2024)
Leah McCall Devlin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$14K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Ruth S. Shim
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$31K (2020) → $15K (2024)
W. Louise Mehrotra
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$32K (2020) → $17K (2024)
Azita Emami
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3.5 hrs/week
$16K (2022) → $36K (2024)
Edgar Villanueva
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3.5 hrs/week
$30K (2022) → $29K (2024)
Jing Wang
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3.5 hrs/week
$16K (2022) → $30K (2024)
Michael E. Sneed
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3.5 hrs/week
$9K (2022) → $32K (2024)
Starsky D. Wilson
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3.5 hrs/week
$29K (2022) → $34K (2024)
Vicki L. Fuller
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3.5 hrs/week
$24K (2023) → $33K (2024)
Ryan P. Haygood
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
3.5 hrs/week
$8K (2024)
Julie Morita
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$486K (2020) → $474K (2024)
Melvin Galloway
COO
COO → Chief Operating Officer, 2021
Chief Operating Officer → COO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$107K (2020) → $661K (2024)
Patricia A. Gabow
Trustee Emerita
Trustee → Trustee Emerita, 2024
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$32K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Phyllis Wise
Trustee Emerita
Trustee → Trustee Emerita, 2024
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$14K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Robert B. Litterman
Trustee Emeritus
Trustee → Trustee Emeritus, 2024
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$17K (2020) → $1K (2024)
William Roell
Vice President, CFO & Treasurer
CFO & Treasurer → Vice President, CFO & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$319K (2020) → $501K (2024)
Ricardo Castro
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Vice President, Genl Counsel & Secretary → Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$455K (2022) → $545K (2024)
May Ng
CIO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$597K (2023) → $2.1M (2024)
Former officers (12)
- Former: Brenda S. Davis (2020–2023) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Brian S. O'Neil (2020–2023) — CIO Emeritus
- Former: William H. Frist (2020–2023) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Katherine Hatton (2020–2022) — Vice President, Genl Counsel & Secretary
- Former: Linda Burnes Bolton (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jo Ann Heffernan Heisen (2020–2021) — Trustee Emeritus Effective1
- Former: Margaret H Einhorn (2020–2021) — Special Adivisor
- Former: Roger Fine (2020–2021) — Trustee Emeritus Effective1
- Former: Willard Nielsen (2020–2021) — Trustee Emeritus Effective1
- Former: Jeffrey Koplan (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Prabhjot Singh (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Robin Mockenhaupt (2020) — Senior Vice President Strategic Initiatives
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $2.1M, to May NG (CIO). 22 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
How much does The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation give each year?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation gave $622.6M across 3,093 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $543.6M across 2,943 grants.
What is The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $201,286, across 3,093 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that year got $282K on average.
Where does The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation give grants?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (15%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (466 grants), New York, NY (257 grants), Chicago, IL (102 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (99 grants).
Does The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (217 of 3,093) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Matching Gifts" (1008 grants).
Who are The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Center on Budget and Policy Priorities ($16,911,250 across 10 grants), Community Catalyst ($15,324,688 across 7 grants) and New Venture Fund ($14,207,186 across 29 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($463,356), which are not listed by name. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reported $13.4B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $849.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $642.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve health and health equity in the United States and help provide every individual with a fair and just opportunity to thrive. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation?
The foundation says most grants are made through targeted grant programs and funding partnerships. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's EIN?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6029397. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-wood-johnson-foundation-morg_37b790c6ad1149d88f8b2db0399f4106
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_226029397_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-wood-johnson-foundation-morg_37b790c6ad1149d88f8b2db0399f4106},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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