May 2, 2008

Dear Colleague,

Please visit our Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships website (www.localfundingpartnerships.org) for some new postings of technical assistance. Our 2009 Call for Proposals is open until July 8, 2008.

To be eligible for matching grants of $200,000 to $500,000, a nonprofit must be nominated by a local grantmaker and offer a new, creative, community-based solution to improve the health of vulnerable people. In How To Apply, you will find details on the Local Funding Partnerships (LFP) criteria and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

We welcome proposals that address complex community health problems and attempt to change accepted practices. We are especially interested in collaborative projects that involve partners from both inside and outside of traditional health care and that recognize how social factors such as poverty, violence and substance abuse contribute to poor health.

It is, of course, difficult to define innovation. So we have updated our Advice for Applicants section to highlight “out of the box” projects that showcase innovation. One example is BODYLOVE, an African-American radio soap opera that slips important health information into the dramatic dialogue. Although the program is based in Alabama, it was recently featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times.

Project leaders and funders may call us directly to discuss any questions about your proposal. You may also join one of our toll-free optional applicant conference calls on May 13 or May 20, 2008.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Pauline M. Seitz, Director
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships
609-275-4128