FAQs

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New FAQs are listed here, as well as in their respective categories:
  1. New as of 2007/08/21 (Grant Proposal Process) Do you have a particular format or guidelines for the brief proposal?
  2. New as of 2007/08/21 (Program Facts) Where can I find the details about the requirements for SHARE proposals?
  3. New as of 2007/08/21 (Grant Proposal Process) Can we submit attachments to the proposal such as a budget, biosketches, appendices and collaboration agreements in the brief proposal stage?
  4. New as of 2007/08/21 (Eligibility) Is SHARE funding limited to non-profit research organizations?
  5. New as of 2007/08/21 (Budgeting and Co-funding) Can projects be co-funded with another organization?
  6. New as of 2007/08/21 (Program Facts) How should the evaluations balance quantitative versus qualitative analysis?
  7. New as of 2007/08/21 (Program Facts) Is there an interest in evaluating the impact of small reforms?
  8. New as of 2007/08/21 (Grant Proposal Process) Can I fax or e-mail a proposal?
  9. New as of 2007/08/21 (Program Facts) What are the common data elements that all SHARE grantees will be required to report?
  10. New as of 2007/08/21 (Eligibility) Please describe the scope of data collection allowed under "limited data collection"?
  11. New as of 2007/08/21 (Program Facts) In addition to the common data elements, are there specific outcomes (e.g., health outcomes) that must be measured?
  12. New as of 2007/08/21 (Eligibility) Are you interested in sub-state level reforms, such as county reforms?
  13. New as of 2007/08/21 (Program Facts) What constitutes evidence of an applicant's knowledge and experience with the state(s) in which the reform takes place?
  14. New as of 2007/08/21 (Program Facts) Should I describe the technical support I want from SHADAC in my brief proposal?
  15. New as of 2007/08/21 (Eligibility) Will SHARE consider funding evaluations of state health care access initiatives that target specific sub-populations (e.g., children, young adults, small employers, MA or SCHIP only reforms, people with mental illness, immigrants)?
  16. New as of 2007/08/21 (Eligibility) Will SHARE exclude proposals addressing initiatives that already require evaluation as part of their implementation (e.g., Medicaid waivers)?
  17. New as of 2007/08/21 (Program Facts) Will there be additional rounds of SHARE funding?
  18. New as of 2007/08/21 (Eligibility) Can I evaluate a reform that was implemented in the 1990s?

  1. Do you have a particular format or guidelines for the brief proposal?

    Yes. Brief proposals must be submitted through the Robert Wood Johnson Grantmaking Online system. The requirements of the brief proposal include a series of multiple choice questions, a brief project narrative (no more than four double-spaced pages) and the budget information described above.

    All the requirements of the brief proposal can be found on the Robert Wood Johnson Grantmaking Online system.

  2. Where can I find the details about the requirements for SHARE proposals?

    The best place for all detailed information about these grants is in the call for proposals.

  3. Can we submit attachments to the proposal such as a budget, biosketches, appendices and collaboration agreements in the brief proposal stage?

    No other documents will be accepted. Please submit only those documents that are required, as outlined in the RWJF Grantmaking Online system.

  4. Is SHARE funding limited to non-profit research organizations?

    No. For-profit research organizations are eligible to receive SHARE funding, but preference will be given to applicants that are public agencies or are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and are not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a).

  5. Can projects be co-funded with another organization?

    Yes. Additional in-kind or external funding is encouraged. The brief proposal form includes an area to report non-RWJF funding. Please indicate the amount of the external funding and the source.

  6. How should the evaluations balance quantitative versus qualitative analysis?

    SHARE will not fund qualitative analysis only, but is interested in multi-method studies that involve both qualitative and quantitative analyses. The balance between quantitative and qualitative analysis will depend on the specific project. Proposals should demonstrate the reason for the proposed methodology in the context of the reform intervention, the state, existing data, etc. The appropriateness of the proposed analysis will be determined on a case-by-base basis.

  7. Is there an interest in evaluating the impact of small reforms?

    Yes. We understand that many states are not in a position to enact large, comprehensive reform. As such, SHARE is interested in evaluating a variety of reforms including incremental reforms or modifications to existing programs designed to enhance access to health insurance.

  8. Can I fax or e-mail a proposal?

    NO FAXES, E-MAILS OR MAILED PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED. The proposal narrative and additional required documents must be submitted online through the RWJF Grantmaking Online system.

  9. What are the common data elements that all SHARE grantees will be required to report?

    To allow measurement of common outcomes across the pool of grants, funded projects will be asked to incorporate selected dependent, independent and contextual measures into their final evaluation report to facilitate cross-study comparisons. SHARE staff is working with an advisory team to identify these components. A list of common data elements will be shared with applicants invited to submit full proposals. These measures will be fairly standard and the reporting and analysis will not place a heavy burden on the research team.

    Elements may include:

    • program enrollment (if applicable);
    • distribution of coverage in the targeted states and subpopulation(s) targeted by the reform effort (and changes in the distribution);
    • program costs;
    • detailed description of the program including targeted population(s); and
    • description of contextual factors relevant to the health initiative such as the political environment, existing policy landscape, policy development process and economic indicators.
  10. Please describe the scope of data collection allowed under "limited data collection"?

    The program will support some data collection, but the proposed projects must be limited in scope or build on existing large-scale state-level data collection activities. For instance, we will consider funding add-on components to an existing health access survey or the purchase of additional sample from an existing national survey. Large-scale health access surveys will not be funded. Proposals should justify the need for all new data collection efforts in the context of existing available data.

  11. In addition to the common data elements, are there specific outcomes (e.g., health outcomes) that must be measured?

    No. We do not specify particular measures beyond the common data elements. We anticipate proposals on a wide variety of initiatives and rely on the applicants' creativity and expertise in proposing appropriate measures.

  12. Are you interested in sub-state level reforms, such as county reforms?

    Yes. While SHARE is primarily interested in reforms that are linked to state-level policy initiatives, programs that are implemented at a sub-state level (such as a county) but derive from a state reform are also eligible.

  13. What constitutes evidence of an applicant's knowledge and experience with the state(s) in which the reform takes place?

    While we do not specify the form, in the brief proposal, we do require a description of how you plan to interact/collaborate with stakeholders in the states being evaluated. In this description we want applicants to substantiate the connection to the relevant state(s), to demonstrate credibility and to illustrate the proposal's viability. This might include a description of past projects with the states(s) or a description of their support. In the full proposal, we may allow more concrete evident of support such as a letter of support from state officials.

  14. Should I describe the technical support I want from SHADAC in my brief proposal?

    We don't require a description of technical assistance needs in the brief proposal. However, if you anticipate needing extensive technical support from SHADAC, we recommend including a short description in the brief proposal. Invited full proposals will require detailed descriptions of anticipated technical support needs. If you have questions about the scope of SHADAC's technical assistance, please contact SHARE staff.

  15. Will SHARE consider funding evaluations of state health care access initiatives that target specific sub-populations (e.g., children, young adults, small employers, MA or SCHIP only reforms, people with mental illness, immigrants)?

    Yes. SHARE is interested in reforms that target sub-populations, as well as in how broad reform initiatives affect sub-populations. The proposal must demonstrate the implications of a particular evaluation for national policy makers and how it will add to the evidence base to inform future access and coverage policies.

  16. Will SHARE exclude proposals addressing initiatives that already require evaluation as part of their implementation (e.g., Medicaid waivers)?

    No. Proposals to enhance or extend such required evaluations will be considered, but grant funds cannot be used to implement the required evaluation.

  17. Will there be additional rounds of SHARE funding?

    At this time we do not anticipate additional rounds of funding.

  18. Can I evaluate a reform that was implemented in the 1990s?

    Yes. SHARE is interested in evaluating reforms in various stages of implementation. Evaluation of reforms passed in the 1990s is eligible for funding, but the proposal must describe the relevance to the current reform environment.