The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a private grantmaking foundation headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey. Established in 1936 and incorporated in New Jersey, it became a national philanthropy in 1972. The foundation was endowed with a $1.2 billion bequest from the personal fortune of Robert Wood Johnson, who built Johnson & Johnson into a worldwide health and medical care products company. RWJF operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is classified as a private grantmaking foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.4B
-1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$622.6M
+14.5% YoY
Grant Count
3,093
+5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$201K
+9.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $642.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve the health and health care of all Americans and to help raise the health of everyone in the United States to the level that a great nation deserves, by placing well-being at the center of every aspect of life.
The foundation's primary program areas include:
- General Outreach & Support: Sharing research results and supporting policy and communications efforts that create a future where health is not a privilege but a right
- Healthy Communities: Working toward a future where every community is a place where all people can flourish and reach their best possible health and wellbeing
- Healthy Children and Families: Programs that ensure parents and caregivers have the resources needed to foster healthy development and raise thriving children
- Other Activities: Funding and sharing evidence-based, nonpartisan reports that inform health and health equity policies at all levels of government and in communities
Grantmaking
RWJF is an active grantmaker with recent grant activity. The foundation made approximately 3,100 grants in its most recent reporting period, with a median grant size of $40,000. Grant amounts range from $125 to $12,152,000.
Grant Range
of $40,000. Grant amounts range from $125 to $12,152,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
RWJF's grantmaking focuses primarily on the District of Columbia, California, and New Jersey. The foundation also has international presence and partnerships, including work in the United Kingdom, Thailand, and India.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $13,417,636,452
- Total Revenue: $855,259,092
- Total Expenses: $966,690,739
- Total Liabilities: $932,000,000
The foundation ranks in the top 1% of foundations by assets (Rank #9 of 159,619 foundations nationally).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,417,636,452 | $13,678,252,785 | $13,832,302,736 |
| Revenue | $855,259,092 | $898,458,824 | $1,119,236,534 |
| Expenses | $966,690,739 | $830,837,905 | $877,646,664 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $849,218,846 | $745,812,237 | $724,773,538 |
| Net Investment Income | $954,793,932 | $1,029,983,199 | $789,784,296 |
| Distributable Amount | $642,024,042 | $645,951,613 | $677,665,962 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
13 open opportunities from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity Grant Program
THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Exploring Equitable Futures Grant Program
THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Grant Program
THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $420,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Academyhealth ($1,000,000), Aapi Civic Engagement Fund ($950,000), Aarp Foundation ($864,959).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 19TH NEWS AUSTIN, TX | 78260 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE 19TH NEWS | $33,334 |
| 350 ORG BOSTON, MA | MATCHING GIFTS | $250 |
| 9TO5 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING WOMEN MILWAUKEE, WI | 80536 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR 9TO5, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING WOMEN | $500,000 |
| 9TO5 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING WOMEN MILWAUKEE, WI | 82323 EXPANDING LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND BUILDING THE POWER OF CAREGIVERS ACROSS 9TO5 AFFILIATES | $200,000 |
| A BETTER CHANCE INC NEW YORK, NY | MATCHING GIFTS | $1,250 |
| A NOISE WITHIN PASADENA, CA | MATCHING GIFTS | $125 |
| A TOUCH OF LOVE WORKS INC LAKE FOREST, CA | MATCHING GIFTS | $125 |
| A WINDOW BETWEEN WORLDS LOS ANGELES, CA | MATCHING GIFTS | $2,500 |
| AAPI CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FUND LOS ANGELES, CA | 82343 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE AAPI CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FUND | $950,000 |
| AAPI MONTCLAIR INC MONTCLAIR, NJ | 81650 BUILDING THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY'S COLLECTIVE POWER IN NEW JERSEY TO ADVANCE MULTIRACIAL EQUITY, HEALTH, AND JUSTICE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key leadership includes:
- Kathryn S. Fuller - Trustee Chair
- Rich Besser - President
- Julie Morita - Executive Vice President (until August 2024)
- James Marks - Senior Vice President
- Azita Emami - Trustee
- David Williams - Trustee
- Edgar Villanueva - Trustee
- Jing Wang - Trustee
- Julio Frenk - Trustee
- Leah McCall Devlin - Trustee
- May Ng - Chief Investment Officer
The foundation employs 312 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZITA EMAMI | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $35,500 |
| DAVID WILLIAMS | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $16,750 |
| EDGAR VILLANUEVA | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $29,000 |
| JING WANG | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $29,500 |
| JULIE MORITA | EVP UNTIL AUG 2024 | 40 | $474,437 |
| JULIO FRENK | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $26,000 |
| KATHRYN S FULLER | TRUSTEE CHAIR | 5 | $65,000 |
| LEAH MCCALL DEVLIN | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $10,500 |
| MAY NG | CIO | 40 | $2,139,599 |
| MELVIN GALLOWAY | COO | 40 | $660,647 |
| MICHAEL E SNEED | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $32,250 |
| PATRICIA A GABOW | TRUSTEE EMERITA EFFECTIVE JAN 2024 | 3.5 | $1,000 |
| PHYLLIS WISE | TRUSTEE EMERITA EFFECTIVE JAN 2024 | 3.5 | $1,000 |
| RICARDO CASTRO | VP, GENERAL COUNSEL, SECRETARY | 40 | $545,268 |
| RICHARD E BESSER | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $1,031,724 |
| ROBERT B LITTERMAN | TRUSTEE EMERITUS EFFECTIVE JAN 2024 | 3.5 | $1,000 |
| RUTH S SHIM | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $15,250 |
| RYAN P HAYGOOD | TRUSTEE EFFECTIVE OCT 2024 | 3.5 | $8,000 |
| STARSKY D WILSON | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $33,500 |
| VICKI L FULLER | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $33,000 |
| W LOUISE MEHROTRA | TRUSTEE | 3.5 | $17,250 |
| WILLIAM ROELL | VP, CFO & TREASURER | 40 | $501,173 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking focused on health equity and community-based initiatives. Recent grant announcements include support for organizations working on racial equity in policy, health justice advocacy, family support services, and community development. The foundation has emphasized its commitment to working side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to achieve health equity and transform health in America.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Awards Pivotal Grant to The Family Success\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to improve the health and health care of all Americans and to help raise the health of everyone in the United States to the level that a great nation deserves, by placing well-being at the center of every aspect of life. The foundation's primary program areas include: • **General Outreach & Support**: Sharing research results and supporting policy and communications efforts that create a future where health is not a privilege but a right • **Healthy Communities**: Wo…
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation?
RWJF is an active grantmaker with recent grant activity. The foundation made approximately 3,100 grants in its most recent reporting period, with a median grant size of $40,000. Grant amounts range from $125 to $12,152,000. Recent grants include: • Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: $12,152,000 (December 2024) for advancing racially equitable economic, tax, and social policy in states and growing essential state policy infrastructure • Community Catalyst: $8,620,000 (December 2024) for ser…
Where does The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation make grants?
RWJF's grantmaking focuses primarily on the District of Columbia, California, and New Jersey. The foundation also has international presence and partnerships, including work in the United Kingdom, Thailand, and India.
What size grants does The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded 3,093 grants totaling $622.6M — an average of about $201K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $642.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's EIN?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6029397. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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