What Robert Wood Johnson Foundation does
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a U.S. private foundation dedicated to improving health and health equity through grantmaking, research, and fellowships. Guided by its long-running emphasis on a “Culture of Health” and an evolving focus on structural racism as a major barrier to health, RWJF’s grantmaking and learning activities aim to change policies and systems—especially where communities face inequitable conditions that affect health outcomes.
RWJF operates as both a funder and a knowledge institution: it convenes researchers and policymakers, publishes evidence and policy-oriented analyses, and supports action-oriented research initiatives. Its signature research program structure is currently transitioning—several prior signature programs are set to wind down between the end of 2026 and early 2028 to make way for a new initiative, Health Equity Research for Action.
In addition to research and funding, RWJF runs major nationally recognized platforms and professional development programs. These include County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, which provides data and guidance used by leaders to address drivers of health and health equity, and the Health Policy Fellows program, a midcareer learning experience in Washington, D.C. at the intersection of health, science, and policy. RWJF also supports community-led change through the RWJF Culture of Health Prize (including a described closing timeframe for the program) and supports early-career investigators through Health Equity Scholars for Action.