Deadline:

Jul 1, 2009 - Closed

Program Area:

Building Human Capital, Vulnerable Populations

Purpose:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) New Connections: Increasing Diversity of RWJF Programming is designed to expand the diversity of perspectives that informs RWJF programming, introduce new researchers and scholars to the Foundation, and help meet staff needs for data analysis that measures progress towards program objectives. In Round 4, New Connections invites Senior Consultants from historically underrepresented groups to submit proposals to evaluate specific programs funded by or connected to two RWJF programming areas: Human Capital and Vulnerable Populations.

Program Information:

• Call for Proposals

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

Senior Consultants applying for the New Connections program must:

• have at least 10 years of evaluation experience related to relevant health and health care fields;
• be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its territories at the time of application;
• be from a group that has been historically underrepresented in the research activities supported by RWJF, such as people from ethnic or racial minority or low-income communities and/or first-generation college graduates;
• be a first time principal investigator/program contract grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and
• be committed to the goals and mission of New Connections, RWJF and its specific interest areas.

An internal RWJF committee will review all proposals. RWJF does not provide individual critiques of proposals submitted. The following factors will be used in the selection process:

• Significance and relevance of your proposal to the program/project and/or RWJF portfolio.
• Uniqueness of your proposal. Will new insights be developed that provide a major contribution to the programs of interest?
• How well the proposal addresses the impact of a program or illustrates new insights borne out of innovative and timely investigation in addressing RWJF- and portfolio-specific program concerns.
• Soundness of the conceptual framework and methodology for the evaluation plan.
• Consonance between planned frameworks and methodology and the programs and/or projects to be evaluated.
• Clarity of deliverables described in the proposal.

As appropriate, the consultants must have the ability to link with appropriate community resources for their project, such as businesses, schools, local agencies (transportation, recreation, social services), faith-based or social service organizations, media, food services, local health departments and local funders.

Key Dates:

• June 17, 2009 (3 p.m.–4:30 p.m. ET)—Optional applicant Web conference call for Senior Consultant brief proposal applicants. To register, visit www.rwjf-newconnections.org.
• July 1, 2009 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief proposals (must be submitted online).
• August 7, 2009—Select applicants invited to submit full proposals.
• August 26, 2009 (3 p.m.–4:30 p.m. ET)—Optional applicant Web conference call for Senior Consultant full proposal applicants. To register, visit www.rwjf-newconnections.org.
• September 10, 2009 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full proposals (must be submitted online).
• October 8–9, 2009—Finalist interviews.
• October 16, 2009—Notification of finalist status.
• December 15, 2009—Start of awards.

Total Award:

Each Senior Consultant is eligible to receive a total grant award of up to $75,000. Grant funds may be used to cover the costs associated with completing the evaluation, travel for site visits and other related costs. In keeping with RWJF policy, grant funds may not be used to subsidize individuals for the costs of their health care, to support clinical trials of unapproved drugs or devices, to construct or renovate facilities, for lobbying, or as a substitute for funds currently being used to support similar activities. The New Connections program guidelines specify the use of funds allowable under this program. The majority of funding should be used for the Senior Consultant’s salary, travel, communication needs, training and costs associated with full participation in the New Connections program.

Contact:

Edith Arrington, research associate
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
rwjf-newconnections@rwjf.org
Office: (609) 627-6305
http://www.rwjf-newconnections.org

Related Materials:

• View National Program Office


• View Program FAQs