Call for Proposals

Policies to Build and Sustain Economic Security and Wealth for Families and Communities of Color

The racial wealth gap is a direct result of structural racism in America and is a root cause of other disparities in health, well-being, and survival. Any systematic approach to eliminating the racial wealth gap requires transformative policies focused on bolstering long-term family and community income streams and building and sustaining generational family and community wealth in communities of color.

Policies for Action has issued a call for proposals (CFP) to build the evidence base on how national, state, local, tribal, or private-sector policies can reduce large and growing levels of racial inequality in wealth and significantly improve the financial well-being and economic security of families and communities who have been systematically marginalized.

We are particularly interested in research that explores the impact or potential impact of policies or policy proposals that could close the racial wealth gap for families and communities who have been negatively affected by structural racism.

Up to $2.5 million will be awarded through this CFP. Though there is not an explicit range for allowable budget requests, we recommend applicants request the amount of funding that will be needed to complete the proposed project and to translate and disseminate results. The duration of awards is typically 24 months and grants cannot exceed 36 months. Eligible applicant organizations include (but are not limited to) academic institutions; public entities; nonprofit organizations; tribal, state, and local government agencies; and for-profit organizations. Applicants also may represent partnerships between service providers or practitioners and researchers and must be based in the United States.

We strongly encourage applications that include researchers from groups underrepresented in policy research and/or who are affiliated with institutions that serve underrepresented groups.

An informational webinar was held on July 26, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET for interested researchers to learn more about this funding opportunity and ask questions. The webinar recording can be accessed with this link.

Proposals for this solicitation must be submitted via the RWJF online system. Visit here  and click “apply online.” If you have not already done so, you will be required to register before you begin the proposal process.

1. Letters of intent are due September 7, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. ET.
2. Candidates selected to submit a full proposal will be notified in mid-November 2022.
3. Full proposals from selected candidates will be accepted through February 1, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. ET.
4. Finalists will be notified in mid-March 2023.
5. Grants will begin June 1, 2023.

• Call for proposals

Policies for Action, a signature research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, funds investigator-initiated research through its annual CFP. The solicitations are intended to foster high-impact policy research from a wide range of disciplines and focus areas. Past successful proposals have investigated the health-related impacts of housing vouchers and other forms of assistance, access to contraception, universal prekindergarten programs, declarations of racism as a public health issue, federal food assistance programs, paid family leave policies, and more.

Our 2022 CFP on research into policies that build and sustain economic security and wealth for families and communities of color is now open. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates!