Below is an outline of our process for reviewing unsolicited proposals—which we only accept through the Pioneer Portfolio. The Foundation no longer accepts unsolicited proposals for the Childhood Obesity, Coverage, Human Capital, Public Health, Quality/ Equality or Vulnerable Populations program areas.

Brief Proposal Review (Duration: Six Weeks)

Brief proposal review includes up to two rounds of review.

1. Initial Foundation Review

   All proposals undergo an initial review by RWJF's Office of Proposal Management. During this process, the Office of Proposal Management checks to see if the proposal addresses the strategic objectives of the Pioneer Portfolio and falls within the guidelines of What We Fund.

2. Portfolio Review

   If your brief proposal fits the strategic objectives of the team, RWJF staff members working within the portfolio will review it as well. If this process is delayed for any reason, a Pioneer representative will get in touch with you with revised timeline expectations.

Within six weeks of the Foundation's receipt of your brief proposal, you will receive one of the following:

• a request to submit a full proposal
• a request for more information
• an email informing you that your project will not be supported at this time

Full Proposal Review (Duration: Six Weeks)

If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you will receive an email invitation. Full proposals include a detailed proposal narrative, budget with budget narrative and other necessary information.

After you have submitted a full proposal, the appropriate decision-making groups at RWJF will review it. To ensure fairness and rigor in evaluating proposals, we may send your proposal to an outside expert or experts for review.

The Decision (Duration: Four to Five Weeks)

• If at any time RWJF decides not to fund your full proposal, you will be contacted by email or by phone.
• If RWJF decides to fund your full proposal, you will receive formal written notification. RWJF will need an additional two to three weeks for processing before your grant is released.

Due to the volume of proposals we receive, many excellent projects that meet our criteria still do not receive funding. Historically, RWJF has funded approximately 10 percent of the unsolicited proposals we have received; funded projects generally fit squarely within our strategic objectives.

The Foundation does not provide critiques of proposals submitted. If we decline a particular proposal, it is not a reflection of our opinion of the merit of your idea, nor is it a rejection of you, the grant applicant. In fact, many current grantees have had earlier proposals turned down.