Dear Colleagues,

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is soliciting concept proposals for the Pioneering Ideas for an Equitable Future program, which has been renamed as “Exploring Equitable Futures” in February 2025. This program aims to advance health equity through innovative and unconventional thinking.

RWJF recognizes that current systems of generating evidence often overlook the wisdom of communities—especially those historically ignored or undervalued​. The Foundation welcomes ideas that explore transforming this knowledge ecosystem so that it is more inclusive, just, and community-rooted.

Program Priorities:

The Exploring Equitable Futures program is designed to support projects that explore bold, future-oriented ideas to advance health equity. The emphasis is on ideas that challenge conventional approaches and imagine new possibilities for a more equitable future.

In particular, the Foundation aims to fund projects that:

• Pioneer “ahead of the curve” concepts: Research or experiment with ideas at the edge of our collective imagination, looking beyond traditional solutions
• Address emerging trends: Shine a light on new social, technological, or economic forces shaping health, and suggest ways to harness these forces to mitigate harm and promote equity
• Challenge structural injustices: “Dream big” to uncover novel paths for dismantling structural racism and building a more equitable society for the future

The program also has a special interest in projects that reimagine the Health Science Knowledge System​.

Key Details

A brief proposal should be submitted as the first step of the application process, which will be evaluated on the novelty and the potential impact to health equity. Selected candidates will then be invited to submit a full proposal.

• Brief Proposal Deadline: Rolling Basis till October 15, 2025, 3 PM ET
• Full Proposal Deadline: TBA. 1-6 Months from brief proposal submission
• Grant Duration: 12-36 Months
• Typical Award Maximum: No hard maximum or minimum defined. Typical awards are between $250,000-$500,000.

Please see the Exploring Equitable Futures Website for the Call for Proposals (CFP) and additional information. 

Thank you,

Kendra Rose Associate Director, Proposal Development Services