How to Apply

RWJF's Pioneer Portfolio makes awards in response to unsolicited proposals for projects that pursue innovative approaches to solving problems in health and health care. We require that all applicants initiate the process of applying for an unsolicited grant by submitting a brief proposal.

To receive a fair and comprehensive review from the Foundation, all proposals must address the strategic objectives of the Pioneer portfolio and fall within the guidelines of the types of proposals that we fund. Please review Pioneer's strategy and approach to determine whether there is a fit between your project and RWJF's Pioneer strategy.

We encourage you to submit your ideas to us by following the submission instructions below:

NOTICE: Please be advised that as of November 3, 2011, the process for submitting an unsolicited proposal to the Pioneer Portfolio has changed. All proposals must now be submitted using the Foundation’s online system. Please see below for additional information.

Stage One:

Submit a Brief Proposal

Please use the ”Apply online" link below to submit a brief proposal outlining your project idea; the online proposal includes sections for you to describe:

• Your innovation and how it will lead to breakthroughs in health and health care
• The problem or issue your innovation addresses
• Why you and your organization are qualified to take on this project
• The work and activities to be done under the project
• Your definition of success for this project
• Your vision for how this project might change health and health care in the future
• Potential next steps that might follow completion of the proposed project

Apply online
Preview the complete brief proposal before submitting

You can expect to receive a response to your brief proposal within four to six weeks of submission. If this process is delayed for any reason, a Pioneer representative will get in touch with you with revised timeline expectations.

Stage Two:

Submit a Full Proposal

If, based on the brief proposal review, the Pioneer Portfolio believes that your project is a strong candidate for funding and is interested in learning more, you will be invited to submit a full proposal. Once the full proposal is received, you can expect to receive a response within six weeks about whether or not the project is likely to be funded by the Foundation.

Review Process

We will review all ideas based strictly on their merits and their fit with our strategic objectives. Proposals arising from discussions with RWJF staff* represent a small percentage of what we support. We review these proposals according to the same procedures as we follow when a staff member has not talked with an applicant before submitting a proposal.

To promote fairness, our Office of Proposal Management reviews all complete unsolicited brief proposals. If a proposal fits the strategic objectives of the Pioneer Portfolio, RWJF staff members working within the portfolio will review it as well.

Additional information on the review process is available here.

Talking with RWJF Staff

You do not need to talk with RWJF staff before submitting an unsolicited proposal in order for it to be reviewed or supported. From time to time, people discuss ideas with members of our staff before submitting an unsolicited proposal. If you have discussed your idea with an RWJF staff member, follow the process outlined above for unsolicited proposals to submit a brief proposal. On the brief proposal online system, please identify the staff member with whom you have spoken. If you received a grant ID number from a staff member, please include it.