National Program Offices
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awards most grants through calls for proposals (CFPs) issued for national programs. 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). Typically, national programs make grants to multiple project sites that are working toward a similar goal, although individual objectives of the sites may vary. The sites usually interact with the national program office—and with each other. Independent third-party evaluators often evaluate national programs.
National program offices usually:
- Manage the selection process—generally involving a national advisory committee that recommends sites for funding.
- Monitor site performance.
- Provide technical assistance to sites.
- Provide field-building support work.
- Provide coordination services to sites to achieve specific purposes.
Currently, RWJF supports more than 100 national programs, 43 of which are managed by a national program office.