People, Parks, and Power: A National Initiative for Green Space, Health Equity, and Racial Justice – Nov 4

Posted by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on October 5, 2021

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is inviting applications for its People, Parks, and Power: A National Initiative for Green Space, Health Equity, and Racial Justice (P3).

According to the foundation, urban parks, and green spaces — playgrounds, pocket parks, outdoor recreation facilities, open spaces, trails, gardens, and green infrastructure — are crucial for community health and well-being, which was made especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite widespread appreciation for the health and environmental benefits of urban parks and green spaces, evidence shows persistent inequities in access, availability, facility quality, and programming with regard to race, place, and income. To remedy this, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is working to build a Culture of Health where everyone in America has a fair and just opportunity to live the healthiest life possible, and park equity is a key component of this vision. A joint effort of RWJF and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, led and managed by Prevention Institute, the call for proposals is focused on assisting small and midsize urban communities (under 500,000 population) most impacted by park and green space inequities.

P3 will support community-based organizations and base-building groups working in urban, low-income communities of color across the United States to increase park equity through local policy and systems change.

Since African Americans, Latinos, and people living in low-income urban areas across the United States have disproportionately been denied the health, social, and environmental benefits of vital public spaces — inequities born from historical and current day policies, systems, and norms — RWJF strongly encourages community-based organizations to apply, especially those led by people of color working to build community power at the citywide, countywide, or districtwide level. RWJF expects to award grants up to $500,000 each over two years (up to $250,000 per year).

Applicant organizations must be either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; private foundations and nonfunctionally integrated Type III supporting organizations are not eligible. The foundation may require additional documentation. Organizations that are fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) entity that meet all other eligibility criteria are eligible.

Letters of Intent are due November 4, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. ET, and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by February 8, 2022.

For RFP, complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website.