For Applicants

Anyone may be designated as the Principal Investigator (PI). The PI does not need to hold an advanced degree nor does (s)he need to be one of the researchers for the project, provided the research team as a whole has the capacity to complete the proposed research. Two PIs may be listed in the LOI, but the team is not limited to these two individuals.

Lead applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories. However, submissions from teams that include both US and international members (PIs, Co-PIs included) are eligible. It is preferable, but not required, for the PI to be based at the lead organization.

A variety of research designs that attempt to assess causal relationships between interventions and health outcomes can help improve the evidence base for a Culture of Health. Researchers might focus on: independent evaluations of program or policy implementation, randomized trials, quasi- or natural experiments, secondary analyses of existing data, qualitative or mixed methods, network or systems analyses, or other study designs and methods. In most cases an appropriate comparison group should be included in the study design. While randomization may be ideal, we recognize that randomized controlled trials are not always feasible. Other methods of comparison such as a wait list control or various matching techniques may also be acceptable. 

• Rigor – presence of a clear, data-driven research question; designed in such a manner that either positive or null findings will provide useful information; inclusion of an appropriate comparison group;
• Actionability – findings can be translated to practice through programs, initiatives, or policies that influence individual or institutional decision-making and behavior;
• Relevance – clarity and importance of the research aims, hypothesis, and study population to the Culture of Health framework and goals; 
• Contribution to the evidence base - potential to address key knowledge gaps and contribute to scientific advancement;
• Inclusion of health outcome measure(s) – studies must include measures of health outcomes, which may represent diverse dimensions of physical and mental health, or behaviors known to influence health; “health care access” alone is not considered a sufficient health outcome measure. For projects focused on Making Health a Shared Value (Action Area 1 of the Culture of Health Action Framework) consideration will be given to projects that measure changes in the “drivers” of shared values as primary outcomes with health measures as secondary outcomes;
• Feasibility – access to study populations or needed data, qualifications of the team to carry out the proposed research, and appropriateness of budget and project timeline.

There are no rigid restrictions against multiple awards to the same researcher or applicant organization. However, RWJF values supporting a diverse grantee pool with a wide range of innovative ideas. E4A will prioritize new research over subsequent funding to extend a study after an initial award has ended. In some cases, a compelling rationale might be made for the importance of additional information that could be gained by extending research on a previously funded project, which could warrant successive funding. 

Successful LOIs adhere to the template in the application system, My.RWJF.org, to address three major questions:

• Rationale - Describe the intervention being evaluated and why the research (not the issue) is important. (Less than 1/2 page)
• Research approach and activities - What are the specific research question(s) or hypotheses that will be examined and how will this be accomplished? Specify the health outcome(s) and any other primary or secondary outcomes being measured. (>1 pg)
• Research Team - Describe any unique partnerships or characteristics of the research team. (3-4 sentences)

LOIs should focus primarily on outlining the research approach, describing the rigor of the design, and demonstrating the importance and actionability of the outcomes. Only applicants who present clear, compelling, and innovative connections between their proposed research and creating a national Culture of Health will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.

No, approximately 8% of applicants are invited to submit a Full Proposal. Only LOIs that meet the review criteria are invited to submit Full Proposals.

Due to significant interest in the program we are only able to advance a small proportion of LOIs we receive to the full proposal stage. LOIs are turned down for a variety of reasons: lack of a clear research question or hypothesis; inclusion of research questions that will not yield actionable outcomes; insufficient or unclear explanation of the intervention being evaluated; lack of appropriate health or other outcomes; study populations or topics that are unlikely to produce results that are broadly applicable to population health outcomes; and insufficient rigor of the proposed research design.

Promising projects that meet all criteria except rigor or feasibility may be referred to Technical Assistance. If you have specific questions about why your LOI was turned down you may contact the NPO.

There is no deadline for submission. The program operates on a rolling acceptance basis, so LOIs may be submitted at any time.  

Yes, watch our archived informational webinars and other programmatic webinars on our Videos & Archived Webinars page for more information on the E4A LOI submission process.

Funds may be used for personnel, consultant fees, data collection & analysis, meetings, supplies, project-related travel, other direct expenses, and up to 12% in overhead or indirect costs. In general, it is not appropriate to buy office equipment or office software with program funds. However, if office equipment or software essential for conducting research (i.e., collecting or analyzing data) is needed and justified in the budget narrative, and the cost does not exceed five percent of the total direct costs in the budget, it is acceptable to include such items.

You should request the amount of funding you will need to complete your proposed research project.  In the case of multi-year proposals, budget requests should reflect the entire grant period (up to 48 months, with a strong preference for grants 36 months or shorter), as opposed to an annual amount. Please do not provide a detailed budget breakdown at the LOI stage. When entering the budget request at the LOI stage, round up to the nearest $10,000.

Budget requests should be inclusive of both direct and indirect costs. The Foundation’s maximum approved rate for indirect costs is 12% of all project costs (Personnel, Other Direct Costs, and Purchased Services). More detailed guidance and exceptions are provided in the Budget Preparation Guidelines available at the Full Proposal stage. For further detail about permissible uses of grant funds please see the related FAQ.

No, matching funds are not required, but supplemental funding is welcomed and encouraged. The ability to leverage other funding for the proposed research project is not a criterion for awarding grants, but it may be a consideration in the decision-making process.

http://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/funding-opportunities.html