Our Research, Evaluation, and Learning

Jump to our Findings
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Tu-Uyen Nguyen (GAVA organizer) and Janett Iturbe (resident) look at a map showing that the areas in most need of shade trees are on the East side of Austin. Photo by Arazelly Alcazar.

Research, Evaluation, and Learning (REL) is dedicated to the continuous discovery of evidence-based insights while creating pathways to advance health equity across the nation.

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Our Commitment to Health Equity

We prioritize health equity in research, evaluation, and learning at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

  • 350+

    Active Awards

  • $80M+

    Awarded in 2025

  • 105

    Awards made in 2025

  • 50%

    of Awards in 2025 had BIPOC Project Leadership

  • 71%

    of Awards in 2025 had Woman Project Leadership

 

Our Generational Goals

We’ve established three ambitious goals to transform health over the course of a generation that we aim to achieve together with grantees, partners, and communities.

Economic Inclusion for Family Wellbeing


We believe all families must have access to affordable, quality childcare and no one should need to choose between paying for meals or paying their bills.

Equitable and Accountable Public Health and Healthcare Systems

We advocate for a healthcare system that provides respectful, high-quality care for everyone and a Public Health System that works with communities to dismantle structural racism, which is a root cause of health disparities in America.

Healthy and Equitable Community Conditions


We envision flourishing communities where everyone has access to clean drinking water and safe, stable housing; where jobs pay a living wage; and where all residents receive the respect and dignity they deserve.

  

 

Research, Evaluation, and Learning Highlights

See how our research, evaluation, and learning findings help to guide conversations in the field.

Andrew Anderson

Signature Research Programs

Over the past decade, we have invested in research that helps build a community where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their best health and wellbeing.

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Journal Article

Racism-Related Experiences and Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Ethnoracially Minoritized Youth

Researchers investigated what we already know about how racism affects young people’s mental health.

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Brief

Research Synthesis for Evidence-Based Health Policy

This brief by Partners for Advancing Health Equity describes foundational concepts on how to conduct evidence synthesis. It was developed alongside a three-workshop sprint on how to conduct evidence syntheses.

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Equitable Evaluation

Our goal of promoting health equity requires us to take an equitable approach to our research, evaluation, and learning efforts.

This means thinking critically about who is doing the research and designing the questions, how the data are gathered and reported, who is visible and included in the research process, who interprets the results, and how findings are owned by the community. Since 2019, RWJF has been a practice and investment partner in the Equitable Evaluation Initiative. What we have learned through this partnership has deepened our commitment to centering equity in evaluation and we are doing the work to ensure that these principles guide every aspect of our programs, practices, and projects. From how we design proposals to the innovative methods we support, we are committed to diversifying our research, authentically engaging communities, and building evidence for solutions that will make a bigger difference.

Discovering & Implementing New Ideas

We take bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime, demanding equally bold ideas to build a future, together, where health is for everyone. We look far and wide, to the cutting edge and abroad, to discover new ways to improve our nation's health.

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Ideas for an Equitable Future

The equitable future we all deserve won’t simply arrive—we must create it. We investigate emerging trends and cutting-edge ideas to help anticipate how new technologies, scientific discoveries, cultural shifts, and unforeseen events may shape our lives. We also support pioneering ideas that can lead to a healthier future for all. 

CREATE OUR FUTURE
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Global Ideas

Knowing that good ideas have no borders, we identify promising applications to improve health equity here at home. We explore innovations taking root across the globe, learning from these accomplishments to urge action in the United States.

IDEAS FROM ABROAD

Our Library

Find research, evalations, and learnings relevant to your goals.

Related Content

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Evaluations and Assessments

A listing of evaluations of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation programs that assess effectiveness and impact and capture key lessons learned from RWJF's grantmaking.
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Sentinel Communities—Learning and Insights

Browse the profiles of a diverse group of 30 communities who are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of their residents.