Across America in small towns and big cities, on street corners and town squares, in homes, schools and prisons, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships goes to where health starts. Funded through the Foundation’s Vulnerable Populations Portfolio, Local Funding Partnerships (LFP) projects address some of society’s most daunting and seemingly intractable health problems head-on at the community level.

These projects are brought forward by local grantmakers who propose a funding partnership by nominating community initiatives that offer new solutions to significant health or health care problems. Through this matching grants program, LFP brings together the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, local funders and local organizations so better health can take root in our communities.

Improving Health by Meeting People Where They Are.

The mission of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is to improve the health and health care of all Americans. RWJF works in several program areas including Vulnerable Populations—a portfolio of grantmaking programs that identifies new approaches for improved health by recognizing the integral relationship between our health and where and how we live, work, learn and play. Whether working in a day-care center, a school, a jail, at home or on the street, Vulnerable Populations programs seek to improve health where it starts.

Acknowledging that factors such as violence, poverty, inadequate housing and education contribute to poor health, Vulnerable Populations grantees find original, pragmatic ways to make better health possible in the context of difficult life circumstances. These programs change the way we look at problems and opportunities to deliver real improvements in the quality of life and health.

Common Places. Common Causes. Uncommon Connections.

Since 1988, RWJF has awarded more than $121 million in LFP matching grants and has funded 324 projects in collaboration with more than 1,200 local funding partners. These innovative projects were nominated by local grantmakers and have challenged established practices, engaged new coalitions and offered ambitious improvements in systems and services.

Often grantmakers are instrumental in convening broad-based community partnerships. Working with partners from both inside and outside of the health sector, LFP programs build collaborations with organizations that typically do not work closely together, including established and emerging community groups, social service agencies and public entities. This approach can produce immediate and lasting improvements in people’s health and create change where previous efforts have failed.

Recognize Potential. Give It Roots. Keep It Growing.

Whether a nonprofit group raises an issue or a local foundation highlights a concern, the commitment of all partners is central to finding an effective solution. RWJF invites grantmaking organizations including independent and private foundations, family and community foundations, corporate foundations, diversity-focused funds and other philanthropies to nominate projects for this funding partnership. Through LFP, local grantmakers may leverage funds from RWJF to advance tailored solutions to the distinct health issues that challenge their communities.

Ultimately, LFP defines success by combining the resources of a national foundation and local grantmakers to foster an innovative idea, cultivate long-lasting partnerships and then, together root sustainable solutions in our communities.