The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Equity Research for Action (HERA) grant supports community-rooted, action-oriented research that responds to immediate and long-term health equity needs across the United States. The programme aims to maintain access to evidence, support accountability, and inform efforts to build more equitable systems that shape people’s health and wellbeing.
About the Health Equity Research for Action Grant
HERA is a new RWJF research funding programme administered in partnership with three National Coordinating Centers at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and Morehouse School of Medicine. It funds research that identifies root causes of structural discrimination, challenges harmful health narratives, and counters misinformation at a time of significant policy shifts undermining health equity progress.
Funding Size
- Total funding available: up to $8,000,000
- Maximum award per project: $500,000
- Expected number of grants: approximately 20
- Award duration: up to 36 months
Who Can Apply
- Organisations based in the United States or its territories
- Public entities or nonprofits tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), excluding private foundations and Type III supporting organisations
- Applicants must demonstrate a community partnership of at least two years
- One co-principal investigator must be from a community-based organisation
- Current and former RWJF grantees are eligible
- One lead applicant organisation per submission; awards are made to organisations, not individuals
Geographic Eligibility
- United States and its territories only
Sector or Thematic Focus
- Community-rooted health equity research
- Root causes of structural discrimination
- Countering health-related misinformation and disinformation
- Systems change across RWJF’s seven Prioritised Systems
Application Process
Applicants submit a letter of intent, then await an invitation to submit a full proposal. A pre-recorded webinar is available to guide applicants through the process. Successful applicants are notified ahead of a Fall 2026 grant start date.
Read Also: U.S. Embassy Small Grant Program 2026 – Apply Now
Required Materials
- Letter of intent
- Full proposal by invitation only
- Evidence of a minimum two-year community partnership
- Budget aligned to project scope
- Tax-exempt status documentation if applicable
Key Dates
- 14 May 2026: Letter of intent deadline, 3:00 p.m. ET
- 29 June 2026: Invitations to submit full proposals issued
- 27 July 2026: Full proposal deadline, 3:00 p.m. ET
- 21 August 2026: Review committee decisions communicated
- Fall 2026: Grant start date
Read Also: Homeland Security BioWatch Program 2026 – Apply Now
Selection Notes
- Applications from researchers with diverse lived experiences and backgrounds historically underrepresented in research are strongly encouraged
- Number of grants awarded depends on the size and scope of proposals received
- Funding is not guaranteed even where eligibility criteria are met