1. What is a national program?
2. Do I have to be on a special list maintained by RWJF or otherwise be pre-qualified to respond to a call for proposals (CFP)?
3. My organization is local and doesn't work throughout the United States. Can only national organizations participate in a grant managed by a national program?
4. Do you make grants to for-profit organizations?
5. If we have one RWJF grant, can we apply for a different RWJF grant?
6. What are your deadlines for receipt of proposals?
7. Do you have formal application forms?
8. How long does it take for a proposal to be approved?
9. Are proposals reviewed by experts from outside of RWJF?
10. Can you share a copy of a successful proposal?
11. What should I submit when asked for a detailed budget?
12. What are indirect costs, and how does RWJF handle them?

1. What is a national program? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
   A national program consists of a cluster of grantees and other interested parties who work together to create impact in one of the Foundation's program areas. National programs are generally long-term commitments that warrant the Foundation's investment in establishing and maintaining the infrastructure of an intermediary organization that supports the program activity (e.g., a national program office). Learn more about national programs and national program offices.

2. Do I have to be on a special list maintained by RWJF or otherwise be pre-qualified to respond to a call for proposals (CFP)? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
   No. Any organization is welcome to respond to a CFP, although prospective applicants should read the CFP carefully to ensure that they meet eligibility requirements. To learn when CFPs are released, sign up for RWJF Funding Alert e-mails or add a feed of CFPs to your news reader. (Help: what are news feeds?).

3. My organization is local and doesn't work throughout the United States. Can only national organizations participate in a grant managed by a national program? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
   No. While national programs manage grants awarded across the country, organizations of any size may be awarded grants through them. Please review the eligibility requirements outlined in each call for proposals.

4. Do you make grants to for-profit organizations? (Answer last updated on Apr 25, 2008)
   The vast majority of our funding is to nonprofit organizations and public agencies. Historically, less than one percent of our funding has been to for-profit organizations, and always in instances where the institution's project is an excellent fit with our strategies and we felt they were best suited to do the work.

5. If we have one RWJF grant, can we apply for a different RWJF grant? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
   You may apply for multiple grants from RWJF, but each proposal must be for a distinct project.

6. What are your deadlines for receipt of proposals?
   

   Each call for proposals has its own schedule of deadlines. Please make note of these deadlines when applying.

7. Do you have formal application forms? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
   Yes. If you are applying for a grant via a call for proposals (CFP), please follow the application instructions as outlined in the CFP. Due to the differences of each CFP, the application process can vary.

8. How long does it take for a proposal to be approved? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
   If a two-step process is used, which involves submitting a brief proposal and then a full proposal, the review and approval time is about four to seven months. When only a full proposal is required, the review and approval process is about three to four months. For award details regarding a specific call for proposals (CFP), please check the key dates outlined in the CFP.

9. Are proposals reviewed by experts from outside of RWJF? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
   In many instances, RWJF asks outside experts on a particular topic to review proposals. By doing so, RWJF aims to ensure that we remain fair and rigorous in evaluating proposals. Often when RWJF issues calls for proposals, a group of external experts reviews the proposals.

10. Can you share a copy of a successful proposal? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
    No, we consider proposals the intellectual property of the applicant and do not share them outside the Foundation.

11. What should I submit when asked for a detailed budget? (Answer last updated on Aug 23, 2007)
    

    During the application process, you will be asked to submit a detailed budget. Please use the Foundation’s Budget Preparation Guidelines & Form.

12. What are indirect costs, and how does RWJF handle them? (Answer last updated on Apr 23, 2008)
    

    Indirect costs, or overhead, are those costs that are not easily identifiable in an economically feasible way as exclusively related to a particular project but are necessary to conduct the grant. Some examples of these costs are human resources department costs, payroll processing and accounting costs, janitorial services, utilities, property taxes, property and liability insurance, and building maintenance.

    As of July 1, 2006, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's indirect costs rate for new grants is 12 percent. This rate only applies to new grant awards that started July 1, 2006, or later.

    The 12 percent rate applies to all line items. However, if the Purchased Services category of a budget is more than 33 percent of direct costs, then the indirect cost rate allowed on that category is 4 percent.

    Applicants with a different indirect cost rate or other questions should call RWJF at (609) 627-5845. Grantees should contact their grants administrators.

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