Deadline:

Apr 1, 2009 - Closed

Program Area:

Pioneer

Purpose:

Designing for Better Health, an online, open source competition co-sponsored by RWJF's Pioneer Portfolio and Ashoka’s Changemakers, launches a global search for individuals and institutions who help people make better decisions regarding their health and the health of others. 

What can often make the difference in the options we choose about our health are the "nudges" we get. Nudges are innovative little pushes that can help us make better choices.  These pushes can come from anywhere—the cafeteria worker who arranges school lunches in such a way that children naturally gravitate toward selecting fruit and other healthy foods, as opposed to unhealthy options; the health plan that provides “vitality bucks,” an alternative currency that allows people to earn shopping and travel rewards every time they complete healthy activities such as preventive screenings or fitness assessments; or an anti-smoking and asset-building campaign that offers smokers hoping to quit the option to invest the money they would normally spend on cigarettes in a savings account. Each of these cases involves an individual or institution intentionally creating a choice environment that makes it easier for people to make decisions that can improve their health.

To learn more about how RWJF and Changemakers have framed this issue, visit the competition welcome letter.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

The competition is open to all types of organizations (charitable organizations, private companies or public entities) from all countries. To learn more about competition eligibility and selection criteria, visit the competition guidelines and assessment.

Key Dates:

• Entry Period—Entries are accepted through April 1, 2009, 6 p.m. EST.
• Finalist Selection—There will be a four-week review period following the entry deadline, during which the Designing for Better Health judging panel will narrow the entry pool to approximately 12 finalists.
• Voting—After the finalists are announced, there will be a two-week period for the Changemakers community to vote online to select three award winners. Competition winners will be announced May 27, 2009.

Total Award:

• Three competition winners will each receive $5,000 from Changemakers.
• RWJF’s Pioneer Portfolio also will review competition entries to identify ideas that show potential for far-reaching impact on health and health care in the United States.  Some of these ideas may receive additional support from RWJF at a later date.