Learning from Abroad to Reimagine Health Knowledge Systems for Equity and Wellbeing Grant

Learning from Abroad to Reimagine Health Knowledge Systems for Equity and Wellbeing Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Amount: Up to US $500,000
Last Updated: March 19, 2026

Summary

Overview

Learning from Abroad to Reimagine Health Knowledge Systems for Equity and Wellbeing Grant The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to dismantling structural racism and eliminating barriers to health equity by working alongside communities, practitioners, and institutions. One way we support this mission is by investing in the knowledge of historically marginalized communities and deepening the relationships that build community power, evidence, and systems of change. Another way we do this is by looking beyond the U.S. borders. The Global Ideas for U.S. Solutions team looks abroad for ideas to improve health equity, justice, and wellbeing in the U.S. This funding opportunity invites organizations to learn and produce solutions to build a more inclusive and equitable health knowledge system, inspired by other countries that have faced or are currently facing similar health equity challenges. It allows organizations to learn from efforts outside of the U.S. to reimagine and rebuild the health knowledge system in ways that can withstand systemic threats while advancing health equity and wellbeing for the future. Among many other characteristics yet to be identified, our learnings to date suggest that the following contribute to this reimagined version of the health knowledge system: The experience of people most affected by health inequities is centered in the generation of data and evidence and in policymaking;Health is more than the absence of disease. It is about individual and collective healing and wellbeing;Mis- and disinformation are eliminated and public trust in science and evidence is restored;History, culture, and language are preserved and protected, and ecological and biomedical sciences are braided with Indigenous, traditional, holistic, and community frameworks; andCross-sector approaches and global learning networks break down siloes and allow for more effective and equitable solutions. They leverage lessons from resistance movements and connect artists, researchers, public health, and civil society. The purpose of this CFP is to support organizations in pursuing action-oriented projects that leverage learning from outside the U.S. to create a more durable and equitable health knowledge system in the U.S. These efforts will advance health equity, justice, and wellbeing through community-driven knowledge generation, preservation, and narrative. Together, these actions lay the foundation for a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient health knowledge system in times of crisis and beyond. Total Awards Type of Award: Awards will be structured as grants and will be made to organizations, not to individuals. Number of Awards: Up to 15 awards will be funded.  Amount of Award: Awards will be up to $500,000 each. Please request only what is necessary to allow us to fund as many recipients as possible. We expect larger awards to correspond with more distributed funding (e.g., multiple people’s salaries or multiple activities). See more information on RWJF budget categories and allowable costs here.  Award Duration: Awards will be up to 36 months.

Eligibility

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