RWJFoundation

04/07/2026

A call is ringing out across the nation—for fairness, for justice, for courage to confront systems that don’t treat everyone equally. The question is whether we will answer.

For years, unjust policies and attacks on democracy, public health, and the safety net have deepened inequities and denied too many people the opportunity to live healthy, dignified lives. Yet even in the face of these challenges, communities are leading the way. Our grantees and partners are showing what it looks like to build solutions where systems have fallen short. They are not just dreaming of a better America for everyone—they are acting on those dreams. Across the country, our grantees are answering the call.

At RWJF, we’re committed to answering that call alongside them—taking bold leaps to build a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. And for those of us with power, resources, or influence, this is a moment to use them for the good of everyone.

Every act of courage matters. Read and share our full message to help us build the future we all deserve.

During a time of calculated attacks against our democracy, we hear a call for justice from every neighborhood and community. A call for those with power, privilege, and resources to put those on the line for the betterment of everyone. And we will answer.

03/23/2026

Philanthropy stands at critical juncture. We are a sector born from wealth created through profound economic inequality—and at times through harm and extraction. Too often, the social missions we pursue have been shaped by what we prioritize, without accountability to the public.

At RWJF, we are taking a closer look at our history, which has surfaced uncomfortable realities about the origins of our wealth and institutional relationships that shape our work.

Being honest about our history means dismantling patterns that shape how we confront injustice.

02/14/2026

There’s a gap between what communities want and what they believe is possible—a hope gap we have the power to close.

✨76% of Black people support reparations, yet only 21% believe that can happen.
✨80% of Indigenous people support Land Back, but only 19% believe it’s achievable.

Take a close look at a growing call to invest in creative, community-rooted work that can close the hope gap and move us closer to the futures people deserve.

The beautiful thing about culture is that we shape it, and it shapes us in return.

02/06/2026

Imagination is a powerful liberation tool.

People and communities across the country are already imagining and building the future with care, courage, and solidarity.

READ: Curated blog perspectives that explore how a future rooted in dignity and wellbeing is taking shape. https://rwjf.ws/a8X4Sz

WATCH: Aisha Shillingford, Artistic Director at Intelligent Mischief, invites us into the practice of futuring.
https://youtu.be/HGrkfmfg_Rg

COMMENT: Share one hope you hold for a liberatory future.

Aisha Shillingford is sparking imagination and experimenting with new forms of culture and civil life to create atmospheres of change. As Artistic Director a...

01/23/2026

We need a better approach to science. One shaped by people with diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas. We need a health research system that reflects the complexity of health and wellbeing in communities. And we need to rebuild trust with the people research is meant to serve.

That’s why RWJF interviewed four leaders who are reimagining what it takes to transform the health science knowledge system.

🎙️ Hear from Aisha Shillingford, Ben Spoer, PhD, MPH, Allison Stephens, and Meme Styles as they discuss elevating both scientific methods and community wisdom, the accessibility of public health data, and embedding equity into every stage of the research process.

Explore the growing library of Voices of Vision conversations featuring leaders at Congressional District Health Dashboard, Intelligent Mischief, MEASURE, and many more.

RWJF interviewed four experts about what it will take to reshape the health science knowledge system so that communities historically excluded from defining ...

01/16/2026

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is moving to reduce routine childhood vaccine recommendations, bypassing decades of scientific review and increasing the risk of preventable diseases.

RWJF President and CEO Rich Besser responds to this decision, underscoring why health policy must be grounded in evidence, not ideology.

>> Read the full statement: https://rwjf.ws/GZjSai

Trust has long been a challenge in public health, but we can strengthen it—starting with how we talk about science and evidence in our communities.

Soon after Sec Kennedy’s announcement weaking long-standing vaccine guidance, Dr. Besser reflected on an experience from more than 30 years ago, when he was the new pediatric residency director at the University of California San Diego. A conversation with expectant parents stayed with him and today offers lessons for building the trust and dialogue urgently needed between healthcare providers and families, all united by the same goal: helping children grow up healthy and thrive.

>> Read his op-ed in STAT:
https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/06/childhood-vaccine-schedule-pediatricians-parents/

12/18/2025

Now is the time for bold, courageous action to help bring a Third Reconstruction closer to reality.

RWJF’s Rich Besser and Carmen Rojas of the Marguerite Casey Foundation call on philanthropy to use all our resources to support communities and fund a future we all deserve.

Foundations can play an important role in helping movements not only survive but thrive. But doing so requires a shift in mindset—and accountability to the public good.

12/01/2025

A just healthcare system doesn't leave people behind. It reflects our diversity and serves everyone with dignity.

When leadership includes lived experience, institutions are resourced and accountable, and care is co-designed with those closest to the work, we move toward healthcare that is effective, equitable, and truly inclusive.

11/14/2025

Sports do more than entertain—they influence how we view each other and what we value as a community.

Our latest research reveals how fans think about racism, who they trust, and how they respond when athletes use their voices for change.

⚾ Most adults believe sports (78%) and athletes (84%) can have an impact in raising awareness about important issues in American society.

🏈 A majority of adults (82%) think athletes have the right to use their voice, even if they don't agree with them.

🏀 Athletes speaking out on issues facing Americans can lead to action. More than half of adults have taken some kind of action because an athlete or other sports figure talked about an issue important to them.

Visit rwjf.org/sports to explore the findings.

Sports culture shapes how people see each other, who feels included, and what we value as a community. Creators, athletes, educators, fans, and local leaders can use sports to open doors, build connection, and push for real equity.

10/16/2025

Data reveals the truth about our communities: Who's thriving, who’s being left behind, and where change is urgently needed. But when public health data are erased or distorted, entire communities disappear from view. That makes it harder to protect health or hold systems accountable.

Right now, researchers, advocates, and communities are standing up to defend the data that powers health justice, so no community is overlooked. Join us in protecting public health data so every community is seen, heard, and served.

Health depends on sound data, honest science, and strong partnership. We must commit to protecting them.

10/02/2025

Our latest research reveals something extraordinary: Most U.S. adults aren’t as divided as we think. Across ZIP codes, party lines, and demographics we agree on the same essential priorities for our communities.

What unites us?

• Affording a safe and stable place to live
• Living near a grocery store to feed our families
• Our communities have clean drinking water
• Opportunities to be healthy
• Being financially secure with good paying jobs
• Feeling safe in our communities

That’s real .

What is even more striking? People think governments have a critical role to play in solving problems and should do more to meet the needs of people.

Democracy is at its best when people come together to explore shared values and address shared challenges. And when we do, it becomes clear we have far more in common than what divides us.