While RWJF awards most of its grants in response to calls for proposals, we also awards grants in response to unsolicited proposals in our Building Human Capital, Pioneer and Vulnerable Populations program areas. These proposals should address RWJF's strategies in these areas.

Through unsolicited proposals, RWJF seeks to learn from grantees' ideas and cultivate new ideas.

Supporting New Ideas via Calls for Proposals

Unsolicited proposals are not the only means for RWJF to cultivate innovative ideas. In many of our program areas, RWJF issues calls for proposals that seek to generate innovative and promising ideas from people and organizations outside of RWJF.

To receive e-mail notification when RWJF releases new calls for proposals, sign up for RWJF Funding Alert E-mails or add a feed of CFPs to your news reader. (Help: what are news feeds?)

Talking with RWJF Staff

You do not need to talk with an RWJF staff member before submitting an unsolicited proposal in Building Human Capital, Pioneer or Vulnerable Populations in order for it to be reviewed or supported. If you have, though, please tell us in your proposal.

Criteria for Unsolicited Proposals

The most promising unsolicited proposals will:

• address the strategic objectives of our Building Human Capital, Pioneer or Vulnerable Populations program areas.
• be new or innovative.
• be best suited for funding through RWJF—rather than through local, public or private sources of funding.
• be sustainable without relying on ongoing RWJF funding.
• show potential for measurable impact and meaningful change.

Submitting an Unsolicited Proposal

RWJF accepts unsolicited proposals in the Building Human Capital, Pioneer and Vulnerable Populations program areas at any time and awards them throughout the year—there are no deadlines. We require that all applicants initiate the process of applying for an unsolicited grant by submitting a three-page brief proposal using the application form provided in Unsolicited Proposals: How to Apply.

Review Process

RWJF reviews and responds to all unsolicited proposals for Building Human Capital, Pioneer and Vulnerable Populations within six weeks of receipt. At the end of six weeks, you'll receive one of the following:

• a request to submit a full proposal;
• a request for more information; or
• a letter informing you that your project will not be supported at this time.

Questions

If you have any questions, or need additional information, please contact our Office of Proposal Management via e-mail or at (877) 843-RWJF, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.