Applications open:

June 22, 2022

Applications deadline:

August 31, 2022

Questions?

Contact us at
[email protected]

About MADE for Health Justice

Modernized Anti-Racist Data Ecosystems (MADE) for Health Justice is a grant opportunity that seeks to accelerate the development of health-focused local data ecosystems that center principles of anti-racism, equity, justice, and community power.

Through MADE for Health Justice, non-profit organizations will be funded to build and facilitate multi sector teams tasked with creating local data ecosystems. These ecosystems must focus on improving community health, connecting data across multiple sectors of local government, prioritizing the needs and voices of communities oppressed by structural racism, and ultimately drive just and equity-centered decision-making.

Inspired by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)’s
National Commission to Transform Public Health Data Systems, MADE for Health Justice is supported through a partnership between RWJF and the de Beaumont Foundation.

The goal of MADE for Health Justice is to accelerate the development of health-focused local data ecosystems that center principles of anti-racism, equity, justice, and community power. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to identify pathways for creating local data ecosystems that intentionally and sustainably:

  • Connect data across multiple sectors of local government to advance a health equity goal.
  • Utilize and formalize collaborative governance structures and community power building approaches that prioritize the needs of communities oppressed by structural racism.
  • Change and improve routine data operations, processes, and structures to build trust and accountability.
  • Center principles of anti-racism, equity, and justice.

The applicant organization must propose a team that includes, at minimum:

  1. A non-profit organization
    that will serve as the applicant organization; and
  2. Local government entities (e.g., agencies, departments, programs) that represent at least two (2) different sectors
    that will serve as contributors of local, population-based data and/or analytical services to the initiative.


As part of MADE for Health Justice, teams will:

  • Pursue a health equity goal that can be advanced with multi-sector, local data that reflects assets and needs within communities of color and drives upstream changes in power, access, and opportunity.
  • Confront organizational and community-level structural barriers to achieving the health equity goal.
  • Connect and utilize available data sources across sectors to investigate and validate structural barriers that inhibit progress toward the health equity goal.
  • Establish and formalize collaborative governance processes. The goals of these processes will be to reveal and change existing power structures, build trust and accountability, and ensure that communities of color are full and formal partners in decision-making across the data life cycle.
  • Make substantial changes to routine data operations and processes within and across local government. Ultimately, changes to these operations and processes should help local data ecosystems routinely generate information for decision-making that centers the voices, experiences, and needs of communities of color.
  • Engage in learning and training opportunities. Teams will continually participate in learning and training opportunities that will inform their efforts to create local data ecosystems that center anti-racism, equity, justice, and community power.
  • Obtain ongoing technical assistance throughout the three-year grant period from the national coordinating office.

As part of MADE for Health Justice, teams will obtain ongoing technical assistance throughout the three-year grant period from the national office.

Grant activities will span three years. Activities will start in August 2023 and end in July 2026.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this opportunity, an applicant organization must:

  • Be a non-profit organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, is in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service, and is not a private foundation or non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organization. Colleges and universities, whether public or private, are ineligible to serve as applicant organizations.
  • Possess an organizational mission and/or strategic priorities that focus on:
    • Serving communities of color; and
    • Addressing structural racism, equity, and justice.
  • Engage in community power building activities (e.g., grassroots advocacy, community organizing) or have an established partnership with an organization that engages in this work.
  • Have established partnerships with local government entities (e.g., organizations, departments, programs) across at least two sectors.
  • Be based in the United States, in U.S. territories, or within lands of Tribal entities that are recognized under U.S. federal law.


Eligible organizations may only submit one application.

While there are many approaches that can be taken to make data systems more equitable, MADE for Health Justice has made a strategic choice to fund non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations are often trusted third parties that work closely with many different stakeholders, including a variety of government agencies. Non-profit organizations also bring many other strengths to this work: They often have strong community connections, have organizational missions and/or strategic priorities that focus on serving communities of color, and are well-versed in community power building efforts. These characteristics are essential to ensure that efforts to build health-focused local data ecosystems center the needs and voices of communities that have been oppressed by structural racism.

For the purposes of the MADE for Health Justice initiative, a government entity is an agency, office, department, or program, that is part of a government entity, as defined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Yes, a government entity could be proposed as a team member on more than one application. However, if an applicant organization is aware of other applicants in their geographic location, they are encouraged to consider combining their applications, particularly if they believe it would result in a stronger application.

Absolutely! We encourage applications that include Tribal governments and their respective departments.

Universities are ineligible to serve as lead applicant organizations.

Universities are ineligible to serve as lead applicant organizations. However, we recognize that, in some circumstances, universities may functionally serve in the role of a local government agency. We encourage prospective applicants to reach out to [email protected] with specific questions.

MADE for Health Justice is a grant opportunity that seeks to accelerate the development of health-focused local data ecosystems that center principles of anti-racism, equity, justice, and community power. An application for MADE for Health Justice could absolutely address systemic ableism as an intersectional approach to this work, and a wide and diverse coalition of partners can be a powerful driver for the goals MADE for Health Justice seeks to achieve. However, an eligible applicant for this opportunity (i.e., the lead organization) must possess an organizational mission and/or strategic priorities that focus on serving communities of color and addressing structural racism, equity, and justice. 

Yes, the 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) organization can be the official, 501c3 applicant. In the application, please respond to the "applicant organization" questions as though the non 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) is the applicant organization. In the applicant organization description, please explain the relationships between the two organizations. If awarded the grant, as the official contracting organization, the 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) would be accountable for assuring that the grant requirements were fulfilled.

Application Process

Phase 1 applications are due on August 31, 2022, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

The Phase 1 application scoring criteria and rubric are listed in the Call for Applications.

Up to 20 applications will be advanced to Phase 2 of the application process.

Letters of support are required from each government entity that represents the minimum two sectors that must be represented on a proposed team. A letter of support is also required from a community power building organization if the applicant organization does not engage in this work. Letters of support from government entities should describe how they have been engaged in previous meaningful collaborations with the applicant organization and specific resource commitments (e.g., staff time, funding) that they will provide to support and sustain the work of the initiative during the grant period and beyond. Letters of support from the community power building organization should describe examples of their power building activities, previous meaningful collaborations with the applicant organization, and how they would support the applicant organization and the proposed initiative.

It is unlikely that more than one award would be made to two or more organizations that serve the same local geographic area. If multiple applicants within the same geographic location learn that they are applying for this opportunity, they are encouraged to consider combining their applications, particularly if it would result in a stronger application overall.

Unfortunately, due to the anticipated volume of applications, staff from the MADE for Health Justice national coordinating office will not be able to speak with Phase 1 applicants.

While we will be unable to provide detailed feedback to Phase 1 applicants, we will answer all email inquiries we receive as quickly as possible, and we are happy to answer specific questions about proposed initiatives. Questions can be submitted to [email protected]. Emails will generally receive a response within two business days. 

Ensuring that eligible non-profits are poised to successfully administer awards, regardless of size, is important to us. We will provide the level of support needed to ensure awardees are successful and we acknowledge that the level of support needed may vary among awardees. 

A complete Phase 1 application should include:

  • A complete application form, including a Phase 1 Narrative Statement that has been submitted as a written statement OR as a video link(s).
  • Letters of support from government entities from at least two sectors.
  • A letter of support from a community power building organization (if the applicant organization does not engage in this work).
  • Biographical sketches of each core staff member from the applicant organization and the government entities that will work directly on the initiative.

The strongest applications will have data sharing agreements in place before submission. 

The Phase 1 application does not require that a budget be submitted. A budget and budget narrative will only be required of applicants that are advanced to Phase 2.

Unfortunately, no. We ask that applicants submit a narrative statement that is entirely written or is entirely in a video format.

You will not need an application code to apply. You can ignore the “application code” field in our application system. If you have problems with the Foundant application system, please email [email protected] for assistance. 

Team Composition & Commitment

Health is multidimensional and intertwined with multiple systems and aspects of life – including economics, education, housing, and transportation. Government agencies are often the owners of data systems that can be used to track measures of community health. They also govern how and for what purposes information from these data systems is produced. Simultaneously, government agencies have perpetuated structural racism, particularly through public and organizational policies, processes, and decisions. For all these reasons, the involvement of government agencies is critical to any fundamental systems change. Creating and sustaining health-focused local data ecosystems will require building connections between the many data systems that reflect drivers of community health and well-being. It will also require sustained connections and engagement between non-profit organizations, local governments, and communities of color to ultimately use data to drive just decision-making.

  • City, county, regional and Tribal management 
  • Civic engagement and participation 
  • Community development 
  • Economics, income, taxes, and wealth 
  • Education 
  • Housing 
  • Labor and employment 
  • Land use, planning, zoning, and the built environment 
  • Legal and carceral systems 
  • Public health 
  • Transportation and public transit 

An applicant organization should have a direct and established relationship with at least two government entities that are included as team members in their application. Applications will be assessed on the degree to which a proposed team of organizations has content expertise, has connections to data needed for the ecosystem, and has been engaged in previous meaningful collaborations together.

We understand that in some situations, state government entities (and other entities as well) may functionally serve in the role of local governments and provide county or municipal-level services that local governments provide in other states. This is understood and acceptable. However, we ask that this information and rationale are clearly described in the application.

A proposed team must include, at minimum:

  1. A non-profit organization that will serve as the applicant organization; and
  2. Local government entities (e.g., agencies, departments, programs) that represent at least two (2) different sectors that will serve as contributors of local, population-based data and/or analytical services to the initiative.

While participation from local government entities across two different sectors is the minimum requirement, a proposed team should include all organizations needed to make the initiative successful and sustainable. Teams can be composed of a variety of other public and private organizations as determined by the applicant.

Other organizations that could be part of proposed teams include (but are not limited to): 

  • Local branches of national, community organizations  
  • Other community-based organizations 
  • Other local government entities 
  • Local foundations 
  • Organizations specializing in community data 
  • Colleges and universities 
  • Businesses 

Yes, the two government entities may be from the same government agency, but they must represent different sectors. Specific sectors of interest for this opportunity include:

  • City, county, regional, and Tribal management
  • Civic engagement and participation
  • Community development
  • Economics, income, taxes, and wealth
  • Education
  • Housing
  • Labor and employment
  • Land use, planning, zoning, and the built environment
  • Legal and carceral systems
  • Public health
  • Transportation and public transit

Data that are essential for the proposed initiative must be available and authorized for use for the purpose of the initiative when the application is submitted.

If selected for this opportunity, awardees (i.e., core staff from the applicant organization and the government entities that work directly on the initiative) agree to the following:

  • Training and Learning: Awardees will receive an array of learning opportunities (e.g., workshops, trainings, convenings), as well as customized technical assistance based on their preferences and needs. Awardees will be required to participate in all learning activities organized by the national coordinating office. By accepting a grant, awardees agree to participate in full. These opportunities may be offered virtually and/or in-person, and awardees should plan to dedicate four hours per month to these training and learning activities. Awardees should expect to complete readings related to racism, equity, power shifting, and justice and to participate in group conversations about these topics that may push them beyond their comfort zones. Additionally, to support the sustainability of this initiative beyond the grant period, awardees may also be trained to facilitate workshops and conversations that they will participate in through this opportunity.
  • Check-ins and Reporting: Awardees will be expected to participate in brief, recurring check-ins with staff from the national coordinating office and to submit narrative and financial reports at least annually.
  • Communications: Awardees will be expected to support and inform ongoing communications activities, including (but not limited to) promotional emails, blogs, videos, and social media posts.
  • Evaluation: A long-term goal of this grant opportunity is to identify pathways for creating local health-focused data ecosystems across the nation that center anti-racism, equity, justice, and community power. To this end, the de Beaumont Foundation and RWJF will be working with external evaluators to document learnings from awardees’ experiences throughout the grant period and up to two years beyond the grant period. Awardees will be expected to participate in evaluation activities throughout this time frame as requested. Elements of the evaluation that are made public will maintain the confidentiality of all contributors. Narratives and ideas shared in evaluation reports will be shaped and co-created along with awardees.
  • Site Visits: To support awardees’ work, staff from the national coordinating office, technical assistance partners, and evaluators will conduct 1-2 day, in-person site visits with awardees during the grant period. The purpose of these visits will be to learn together, connect with awardees’ communities and partners, and understand what more is needed to enhance and sustain their work. These site visits will be co-planned in partnership with awardees.

Yes. Two government entities on a proposed team can reside in the same agency or branch, as long as the two departments represent two different sectors. Sectors of interest for MADE for Health Justice include: 

  • City, county, regional and Tribal management 
  • Civic engagement and participation 
  • Community development 
  • Economics, income, taxes, and wealth 
  • Education 
  • Housing 
  • Labor and employment 
  • Land use, planning, zoning, and the built environment 
  • Legal and carceral systems 
  • Public health 
  • Transportation and public transit 

Yes. We expect that initiatives will evolve over time, and we plan to be flexible so that awardees can build data ecosystems that are responsive to the needs of communities and can advance their health equity goals.

Miscellaneous

Yes. Publicly available data can be used for the initiative. Applicants should use any data needed to pursue their health equity goals. However, an important goal of MADE for Health Justice is to build equitable and sustainable local data ecosystems, and that will require changes to routine data operations within and across local government. As such, government entities across at least two sectors should be involved in the initiative in a meaningful and substantive way, even if publicly accessible data are used.

We hope and expect that improving the quality of data used to support an initiative will be an important facet of MADE for Health Justice. However, simply improving data quality is not the primary goal of this opportunity. Awardees will ultimately be working to create health-focused local data ecosystems that improve community health, connect data across multiple sectors of local government, prioritize the needs and voices of communities oppressed by structural racism, and drive just and equity-centered decision-making.

There is not a minimum award amount. The selected awardees will receive grants of up to $1,000,000. 

Yes. The recordings and PowerPoint presentations from the MADE for Health Justice information sessions are available here

No. We do not have any preferences regarding population size, geographic location, or rural/urban contexts. We hope to award grants to support initiatives that represent a variety of locations, contexts, and populations. As such, applications will not be explicitly evaluated on these factors.