RWJ Foundation Launches Community Health Grants Program

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched a new community grants program called Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health (MATCH) to jumpstart community efforts to address the many factors that influence health.

According to the press release, the new initiative is designed to help communities work together to translate the Community Health Rankings into action, and to implement policies and practices proven to improve the factors that most affect health outcomes. The program is based on the understanding that social and economic factors such as education and employment can affect health directly and indirectly, and that those negative effects may accumulate over individuals' lifetimes and continue unbroken through generations. The community grants program will engage local funders and build case examples of communities translating the Community Health Rankings into evidence-informed policies and systems change efforts that address the factors that affect health outcomes in communities.

Communities that already have a history of working to address the social and economic factors that affect health will be well positioned to apply for this opportunity. Applicants must address one of the following social and economic factors that affect health: education; income and employment; family and social connectedness; and community safety. RWJ also seeks applicants that can demonstrate the ability to engage with a wide range of community stakeholders.

To be eligible for RWJF funding, applicant organizations must be located in the United States or its territories and have nonprofit 501(c)(3) certification; tribal group recognized by the U.S. federal government; or state or local agency. The program will award up to fourteen grants of up to $200,000 for up to 24 months to support the implementation of recipients' proposed policy or systems change strategy.

Deadline: April 27, 2011—(3 p.m. ET)