Many successful health and health care projects have been launched by funding partnerships between local grantmakers and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) through Local Funding Partnerships. Much of that success is due to the many private funders who identified innovative community programs and co-funded them.

The role of the local funding partners includes nominating the project for this matching grant, contributing to the required dollar-for-dollar match, and helping to guide the project during what is often a period of rapid growth. The story of "how one of the nation’s largest national foundations found new ways to connect with local partners" is reported in The Art of Seeing the Small Picture, authored by Andy Goodman and appearing on the Future of Philanthropy website.

The role of the nominating funder:
As the name implies, the nominating funder writes the cover letter submitting a project for consideration for matching funds from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Local Funding Partnerships (LFP) program.

The letter should affirm the grantmaker’s strong endorsement of the initiative and intention to work with the applicant and all potential funding partners to obtain the funding necessary to match RWJF funds. It is helpful to include information regarding the nominating funder’s involvement with the development of this initiative, with the applicant agency, with other local coalition partners and with other interested local funders.

Projects must be nominated by a local grantmaker that is interested in participating as one of the funding partners. The majority of successful projects are supported by a coalition of many funding sources. The nominating funder works with the grantee throughout the grant period to obtain sufficient dollar-for-dollar matching funds. The nominating funder usually serves as the liaison between the LFP national program office and the other local funding partners.

The role of the local funding partners:
These local grantmakers support the project financially and often provide guidance as well. The Foundation encourages partnerships with multiple local funders over the three- or four-year life of the grant.

RWJF disburses grant funds in increments according to the project’s budget. The total award is not delivered in one sum. Each year of the grant the Foundation requires written confirmation that the local funding partners have authorized sufficient dollars to match that year’s payments.

In addition to aggregating the dollar-for-dollar matching funds, local funders ensure the integrity of each project. Staff of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation turns to the expertise of the local partners to help evaluate projects and determine the continued best use of the grant. Local grantmakers are included in site visits and are encouraged to provide technical assistance. (See “Local Funders Offer Strategic Support,” the cover story in the October 2002 edition of the LIFP newsletter Taking Initiative.)

During the review process when projects are considered for LFP matching grants, the degree of interest and commitment from funding partners is seen as a key indication of local support for the proposed project.

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