Private foundation · Princeton, NJ (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Takes applications. See how to apply below.
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 19 totaling $2.6 million
- Typical grant
- $25,256 to $200,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask
- About $98,264, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Davidson County, Shelby County, Knox County, Jefferson County, Washington County · plus 3074 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups?
- 80% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2024 were new (not funded in 2023): 8 of 10.
- Total giving that year
- $622.6 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $622.6M | $2.6M | 19 |
| 2023 | $543.6M | $1.1M | 12 |
How to apply
- Contact
- Grants management · princeton · 8778437953
- What to send
- Most of rwjf's grants are made through targeted grant programs and funding partnerships. Rwjf's funding priorities and calls for proposals are described on www.rwjf.org.
- Deadlines
- No deadlines, except when foundation issues a call for proposal (cfp) or request for proposal (rfp).
- Limits
- Rwjf is dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We are a national philanthropy that advances transformative systems change by identifying and confronting structural barriers to health and wellbeing. Our grantmaking takes a comprehensive approach to health, one rooted in equity and focused on addressing barriers to health caused by the intersection of structural racism, other forms of discrimination and social conditions that impact health. Through funding, convening, advocacy, and evidence-building, we work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to get to health equity faster.
As the foundation reported to the IRS for tax year 2024. Check its website or call before sending anything, because contacts and deadlines change.
Board and officers
Does your board know anyone here?
Checked in your browser only. The names are kept on this device for other foundation pages and are never sent to GrantMe.
- Azita EmamiTrustee
- David WilliamsTrustee
- Edgar VillanuevaTrustee
- Jing WangTrustee
- Julie MoritaEvp until aug 2024
- Julio FrenkTrustee
- Kathryn S FullerTrustee chair
- Leah Mccall DevlinTrustee
- May NgCio
- Melvin GallowayCoo
- Michael E SneedTrustee
- Patricia A GabowTrustee emerita effective jan 2024
- Phyllis WiseTrustee emerita effective jan 2024
- Ricardo CastroVp, general counsel, secretary
- Richard E BesserPresident & ceo
- Robert B LittermanTrustee emeritus effective jan 2024
- Ruth S ShimTrustee
- Ryan P HaygoodTrustee effective oct 2024
- Starsky D WilsonTrustee
- Vicki L FullerTrustee
- W Louise MehrotraTrustee
- William RoellVp, cfo & treasurer
As listed in its 2024 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.
What it funds most often
- 82000 rwjf healthy communities -- site visit grant
- 82534 advancing economic inclusion and family wellbeing across Appalachia
- 80655 using measuring love to train leaders in hard-to-reach communities as qualitative researchers to...
- 80902 general operating support for the coalition for home repair, 2023-2025
- 79928 health policy research scholars cohort six - 2022
- 79130 interdisciplinary research leaders cohort six - 2021
- 82725 donation grant honoring the highlander research and education center
- 82417 strengthening southern families and advancing philanthropic investment in rural communities
Tennessee organizations it funded
Largest first. Past winners are good people to ask what the foundation looks for. Select a group to see who else funds it.
| Past winner | Where | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | 82540 training and placing climate and health fellows in city government to... | $390K |
| Appalachian Community Fund | Knoxville, Knox County | 82534 advancing economic inclusion and family wellbeing across Appalachia | $360K |
| Center for Transforming Communities | Memphis, Shelby County | 80655 using measuring love to train leaders in hard-to-reach communities as... | $338K |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | 80938 advancing a decolonizing agenda to address health inequities and help... | $333K |
| Coalition for Home Repair | Jonesborough, Washington County | 80902 general operating support for the coalition for home repair, 2023-2025 | $200K |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | 81477 informing systems-level policy solutions to reduce racial disparities... | $200K |
| Highlander Research and Education Center | New Market, Jefferson County | 82417 strengthening southern families and advancing philanthropic investment... | $198K |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | 81774 understanding how anti-displacement housing redevelopment impacts the... | $158K |
| University of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | 81576 recruiting and mentoring underrepresented and prospective doctoral... | $158K |
| University of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | 81683 examining the impact on health and racial equity of states' preemption... | $98K |
| Highlander Research and Education Center | New Market, Jefferson County | 82725 donation grant honoring the highlander research and education center | $50K |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | 80516 providing critical data to inform key stakeholders in nutrition policy... | $40K |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | Matching gifts | $25K |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | 76902 integrating cultural contexts of health into public policy and health... | $17K |
| Appalachian Community Fund | Knoxville, Knox County | 82000 rwjf healthy communities -- site visit grant | $10K |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | 79531 guiding states in promoting greater equity in adoption and... | $7,737 |
| University of Memphis School of Public Health | Memphis, Shelby County | 79471 collaborating with rwjf's transforming academia for equity initiative... | $609 |
It also made 2 grants to individual people. We don't list their names.
Grants approved for future years
In its tax-year 2024 IRS Form 990-PF the foundation listed grants it had approved but not yet paid: 8 to Tennessee groups totaling $1.7 million. These are multi-year commitments, so they show what it has promised to keep funding. Some may have been paid since.
| Recipient | Where | Purpose | Amount | Tax year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | 81774 understanding how anti-displacement housing redevelopment impacts the... | $474K | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | 81477 informing systems-level policy solutions to reduce racial disparities... | $400K | 2024 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | 82540 training and placing climate and health fellows in city government to... | $390K | 2024 |
| Highlander Research and Education Center | New Market, Jefferson County | 82417 strengthening southern families and advancing philanthropic investment... | $202K | 2024 |
| University of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | 81683 examining the impact on health and racial equity of states' preemption... | $138K | 2024 |
| Appalachian Community Fund | Knoxville, Knox County | 82534 advancing economic inclusion and family wellbeing across Appalachia | $40K | 2024 |
| University of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | 81576 recruiting and mentoring underrepresented and prospective doctoral... | $18K | 2024 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | Matching gift | $10K | 2024 |
Data: GivingTuesday Data Commons, ODbL
Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save