Understanding and Supporting Anchor Businesses Awarded Grants

In 2019, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Understanding and Supporting Anchor Businesses program awarded five new grants to help inform RWJF's exploration into the ways that for-profit companies can serve as anchor institutions in their communities to spur greater business action to achieve a Culture of Health in all communities.

In October 2019, RWJF announced five grants under this program. The grantees are now working to identify and describe anchor businesses across the country. Study topics range from how energy companies address social determinants of health to how for-profit hospitals promote health, economic security and equity in their communities. Other studies will examine why some businesses have invested in community development while others have not. See below for descriptions of 2019 Awarded Grants.

Motivations of an Energy Sector Business Coalition to Improve Social Determinants of Health of Community Health in Rural West Texas
Principal Investigators: Chris Calitz
Grant Period: 10/01/2019-3/31/2021

Gathering Data from For-Profit Hospitals on their Community Health and Development Activities
Principal Investigators: Cory Cronin and Berkeley Franz
Grant Period: 10/01/2019-9/31/2021

Identifying Anchor Businesses and Understanding the Motivations of Those Investing in Community Health and Well-Being
Principal Investigators: Harry Liu and Catherine Cohen
Grant Period: 10/01/2019-3/31-2021

Increasing the Field's Understanding of Anchor Businesses' Characteristics, Preferences, and Motivations to Act on Health, Well-Being, and Equity
Principal Investigator: Megan McHugh
Grantee period: 10/01/2019-3/31/2021

Examining the Impact and Strategies of For-Profit Anchor Institutions in Small and Midsize Cities
Principal Investigators: Howard Wial and Peter Eberhardt
Grant Period: 10/01/2019-9/30/2021