Do you have a hunch?
A hunch is an inkling, a possibility, a sneaking suspicion about the future. It’s that thought you’ve been turning over in your head that just might mean you’re onto something. We don’t often share our hunches, but when we do, amazing things can happen!
At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we have a hunch your hunch can help build a Culture of Health. We hope you’ll share it with us.
Thank you for submitting your hunch!
We will email you when your hunch is live on this site.
If you have any questions, get in touch at hunches@rwjf.org
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USER AGREEMENT
Shareyourhunch.org is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. We are a national philanthropy working to help raise the health of everyone in the United States to the level that a great nation deserves, by placing well-being at the center of every aspect of life.
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You understand that, before a hunch is posted on the Site, the Foundation (and/or its designee) will review your submission. The Foundation reserves the right not to post any hunch for any reason.
You understand that, if you submit a hunch and it is posted on the Site, your hunch will be public and can be shared and used freely by anyone visiting the Site, including the Foundation. You cannot (and will not) claim ownership of a hunch, so if you don’t want it to be public or don’t want others to use it, don’t submit it.
You won’t submit anything to the Site that infringes the intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity. By submitting a hunch to the Site, you are representing to the Foundation that it does not infringe any other person’s or entity’s rights.
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You affirm that you are either 18 years of age or older, or if you are younger than 18, that you have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to accept the terms of this User Agreement.
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You agree that your submission of a hunch signifies that you have agreed to, and complied with, all the terms and conditions set forth in this User Agreement as well as in the policies to which it links.
The effective date of this version of the User Agreement is September 30, 2020.
Explore hunches
I wonder if... would a community/health and wellness center for youth compile with what Pioneering Ideas Staff is seeking for their grant/idea requirement?
Eugene PoughI'm noticing that... people i work with that are approaching retirement (who "see the light at the end of the tunnel") are shifting their mindsets about work...in dift ways - giving opportunities to others who might need them for career development OR taking new risks!
Lori MI'm noticing that... I'm nervous driving on Route 1. I've worked in the Princeton area for 35+ years. I learned to be an aggressive driver and I feel like I've lost that. I can't possibly be alone. Are we going to see more fender benders when we go back to work?
DawnI wonder if... teaching a program of positive humor usage to correctional officers would reduce stress and improve communication with peers and inmates
Chrisian Hageseth III, MDI wonder if... or what role philanthropy can collectively play in solving major global issues of our time -- eradicating polio, addressing the environmental crisis, addressing the pandemic and its trail of destruction...
AnonymousI wonder if... foundations will learn from their past mistakes in funding during the 60s? Will they support grassroots social movements... without co-opting the power of those social movements?
TrishI have a feeling that... our understanding of black-led giving will increase.
L.I'm noticing that... Foundations give up power, spend down wealth, and stop being the center. They build wealth in marginalized communities so that wealth grows and becomes part of the larger power structure and continues to increase distribution of wealth and liberation
Deanna RolffsI wonder if... the sector will embrace true change to the power structures that made philanthropists necessary.
AnonymousI have a feeling that... the Spend Down movement will gain traction.
L.I have a feeling that... At some point, foundations will begin investing in crypto-currency long after the boom period is over and miss out on a lot of gains that could fund really good work.
Aaron TurnerI wonder if... we will ever live in a world where philanthropy does not have to be a safety net.
EBI wonder if... political donations / non-tax-deductible c4 donations will increase given the extremism in politics these days.
LibbyI have a feeling that... foundations will continue to adjust their practices after the positive experience of more flexible giving this past year.
CarolI have a hunch that... younger UHNW donors will aim to "give while living" whereas we see the Boomer generation giving more towards the end of their lives / at their passing.
MaggieI have a hunch that... there will be a strong move to "lighten" requirements for grants which won't shift practice or investments (it won't work to provide enhanced access to funding by BIPOCs).
L.I wonder if... we will see a significant increase in CEOs of color by 2040.
TianaI wonder if... spend down foundations will become the norm.
JCI wonder if... philanthropy would need to exist if there were a wealth ceiling and governments taxed people appropriately, eliminating income inequities leading to a need for philanthropy.
BKI wonder if... the wealthy will redesign their giving vehicles to really give impacted communities more control over resources. I also wonder what that would look like!
LibbyI'm noticing that... as the pandemic winds down, organizations are looking thirsty for stability and certainty and the easiest way for them to do that is to go back to what they've always done rather than embracing what we've learned from the pandemic.
TamelaI wonder if... Billionaires will ever require foundations and such to multi-year funding for systems level work. Not surface level "feel good" work.
Aaron TurnerI'm noticing that... we keep retelling the story of white philanthropy/wealth as a way to understand how to fix philanthropy instead of looking to the BIPOC orgs who over time have naturally been solving these problems.
CarolI have a feeling that... philanthropy will not move as quickly as necessary especially in regards to racial equity and social justice.
EBI wonder if... 'big bet philanthropy' will continue to be a trend in the sector, and if so if it will be done responsibly to (at a bare minimum) mitigate negative impacts on historically oppressed communities
MI have a hunch that... trust-based philanthropy will become the standard.
AllisonI'm noticing that... more and more boards understand they have to be more effective and that to do that, they require different composition and culture.
L.I have a hunch that... Philanthropy will continue to perpetuate more of the same. Good, bad, or indifferent, the overall system of Philanthropy will need a major shake up in order to change.
Aaron TurnerI'm noticing that... Bren Smith is figuring out how to farm the ocean for the future, AND Maine is experiencing unprecedented "brain drain" as kids leave for college and don't return. Can ocean farms be a solution to keeping (young) people in/ attracting them to Maine?
Kristin SilvaniI wonder if... how people consume the majority of their meals has a correlation to their health? (chopsticks, fork, spoon, hands)
JohnI wonder if... local or state governments will give ratings (which are required to be prominently posted) to day care facilities like they do for NYC restaurants, so parents will know whether they're getting the quality they think they are/what they're paying for.
PattiI wonder if... Lawyers - trained to detect patterns -- make good futurists
Lori MI'm noticing that... A lot of people are donating their hair
Lori MI wonder if... flavored seltzer is reducing soda consumption?
JohnI have a hunch that... wealth transfer from baby boomers to millenials is a huge untapped opportunity
RoryI wonder if... the trend in American society of placing primacy on stories and amplifying the voice of individuals will make the practice of evaluation a much more subjective endeavor.
Clark MI wonder if... there will be a return to focus on the impacts of class versus those of race
Clark MI wonder if... corporate funders will fulfill their loud, public commitments to funding racial equity?
AnonymousI have a feeling that... it's becoming more acceptable for foundations to endorse general operating support grantmaking
Lori NI have a feeling that... knowledge management and knowledge sharing will be a key part of our practice.
karunaI have a feeling that... next generation philanthropists will look more towards starting "social impact businesses" than grantmaking foundations.
Jeremy GreggI wonder if... climate change will increasingly dominate all of the issues that we care about
DSI have a hunch that... the perpetual foundation will become a rare form.
Clark MI have a hunch that... most foundations will get to 100% mission and program related invested
TI have a hunch that... I'm missing of information and context during the pandemic with the loss of informal interactions.
RI'm noticing that... funders are finally considering how their internal processes may be impacting grantees and the power implications
Lori NI have a feeling that... the pandemic and remote work made many of us in philanthropy realize even more just how important it is to listen to our grantees and hear what THEY need from us. It forced us to show up in ways we weren't able to before. Let's keep it going!
Liza YI'm noticing that... there are less reporting for grants.
ClaudiaI wonder if... large international NGOs and cooperation agencies will make a shift to Trust-Based Philathropy
DanielaI have a hunch that... there will be a backlash against too much advocacy by foundations - even when it is for causes that folks agree on.
NickI'm noticing that... some institutions are already getting tired of discussing "racial equity"
AnnaI wonder if... philanthropy will unify as a sector and take a leadership role in advocating for systems change (rather than rely on on-the-ground nonprofits to address their specific issues, without a real, collective influence).
Jenn KillianI have a hunch that... more funders will support efforts that strengthen democracy and civil society regardless of 'type' of funder.
I'm noticing that... corporations are more willing to be open about anti-racism efforts in 2020 and 2021. I hope that this continues!
Kelsey MidthunI wonder if... shorter applications will be used after the pandemic.
ClaudiaI have a feeling that... we will be talking more and more about how philanthropy uses its investments and assets, not just its grantmaking dollars.
DSI'm noticing that... while there is more talk about democratizing philanthropy, there's a widening divide between small amount giving (often based on an emotional appeal) and large foundation giving (systems change, analytic, thinking always of maximizing impact).
NickI'm noticing that... more foundations are committing to diversifying boards.
karunaI have a feeling that... if member orgs/affinity groups collaborate more our sector will be stronger!
MelanieI wonder if... Artificial intelligence will replace program officers for data driven foundations?
TristaI wonder if... a decrease in reporting requirements from grantees to grantors will be a lasting change post-pandemic. How can that be a lasting change once life is not so dominated by a pandemic-run life, workplace, etc.
SarahI wonder if... requiring 'proximity to communities we serve' (i.e., beyond grantees) for all staff will widen our lens and help us craft and support better solutions to complex and multi-sector issues.
karunaI wonder if... the federal funding soon to be available will bring about positive change.
Amy KerwinI wonder if... the incredible shift in lifting up leaders of color as well as trust based philanthropy will endure
BFI wonder if... the changes made in response to the pandemic and racial uprising will stay or revert back
NSI have a feeling that... trust based philanthropy will be a trend.
Jeanne CraginI'm noticing that... there has been a lot of transition/turnover in roles in philanthropy the past year.
RI wonder if... the way we talk about workforce development and wealth creation in BIPOC communities can ever lead to liberation if it's based on capitalism.
ErikaI'm noticing that... as a result of the pandemic funders are streamlining or doing away with their former reporting practices.
Jeanne CraginI have a hunch that... hormone replacement therapy will become increasingly important in health care
anonI wonder if... the stigma around hearing aids is due to fear of aging. People don't have the same stigma for wearing glasses...but both are just a slight loss of one of our senses.
Kelsey MidthunI have a feeling that... Gen 2/3/4+ will lead their family's foundations in remarkably different directions than their forebears.
Jeremy GreggI have a feeling that... the changes to grantmaking made in response to the triple pandemics of 2020 will not become the norm unless funders are proactive (funders will drift back to how things used to be)
MelanieI'm noticing that... more of my colleagues of color including myself are looking to create their own spaces and businesses that fully address the needs of community and elevate the voices that are usually left out of conversations all together.
Art GarciaI have a feeling that... COVID will prove to be the great disruptor we've been searching for.
CI have a feeling that... people are so burned out from responding to the uncertainty and stress of the pandemic (in their professional lives and personal lives) that it will not be easy to create/expand on new ways of doing business in the immediate future.
SCI have a feeling that... cross-racial organizing and movement building is what we need more of.
Fatima AngelesI'm noticing that... there's an incredible shift in lifting up leaders of color as well as trust based philanthropy
BFI'm noticing that... funders in the Southern U.S. are not as interested in systemic change as their counterparts on the coasts.
Jeremy GreggI have a feeling that... if we don't institutionalize change now in our policies and how we do business that we'll lose momentum as distance in time from traumatic events grows.
JKI have a hunch that... in the future, many foundations will move towards sunsetting/spend down to fully invest their resources in the communities/causes they care about.
JaserI have a feeling that... there will be opportunities for philanthropy to partner with commercial real estate brokers and urban growers in the near future to repurpose empty office buildings
Karen GuileI have a feeling that... organized philanthropy will become less relevant as go fund me and other platforms grow
TristaI wonder if... more funders will eventually become more open minded to thinking about results and impact in more expansive ways and simplifying requirements for their funding.
Liza Y.I'm noticing that... foundation board members are more open to general support and ceding grantmaking power to regranting organizations
Greg HornerI wonder if... mutuality (benefits for both donors and beneficiaries) is at the heart of philanthropy
KenI have a feeling that... funders will have an increased willingness to fund in new and creative ways.
Aaron S.I wonder if... white long-tenured leadership will start to leave their positions in order to allow for more representative leadership.
MGCI wonder if... the field of organized philanthropy will come up with a standard way of 'quantifying the qualitative' and then end up with composite ratings for how well organizations are doing, sort of like financial investment ratings.
NickI'm noticing that... more foundations in supporting public policy work and advocacy efforts.
Jeremy GreggI'm noticing that... many nonprofits have found effective and efficient ways to deliver services to people in need virtually. Perhaps a physical space is not always needed.
KatherineI wonder if... private foundations will dedicate more of their $1 trillion in assets to impact investing?
Jeremy GreggI have a feeling that... there will be even more use of DAFs by individual donors
BFI wonder if... how white funders really are thinking about giving up power re funding black led organizations
PclarkI'm noticing that... Most in the philanthropic sector are not taking the risk of biosphere and civilization collapse seriously enough. The breadth and the depth of this cluster of problems either are not known, simply brushed aside, or psychologically painful.
Gurpreet SinghI'm noticing that... people are becoming aware of how trust starts from within their own organization.
CarolI have a hunch that... DAF's will be required to payout at least 5% per year, like foundations.
Greg HI'm noticing that... funders are more likely to work together to respond to crises and increase impact.
Aaron S.I wonder if... this massive influx of funding for COVID response and recovery will lead to real change in systems, or will just be a bandaid that will dissolve by the time the next pandemic comes around.
JKI'm noticing that... more family foundations are using participatory grantmaking or adding non-family members to their boards.
Trista HarrisI'm noticing that... more corporate foundation are using a racial equity lens for their grantmaking.
TristaI'm noticing that... more foundations are eliminating or shortening their reporting requirements
TI wonder if... philanthropy will keep the shorter applications that they have used in the pandemic.
THI'm noticing that... that there are very different opinions within my organization about how “extractive” funders should be.
Lori M.I wonder if... there will be as much turnover in Philanthropy as is predicted in other industries when COVID work from home policies expire
Lori MI'm noticing that... bubbles in the market and of individual companies seem to be happening more frequently.
PaulI'm noticing that... in news coverage around portrayals of hunger; food security; etc. that role of government has taken on a much more significant place. In other words, government accountability and government driven solutions appear more then ever before. . .
Jamie BusselI wonder about.. the relationship between polyamory and health equity and the experiences of polyamorous people with our healthcare system.
ASI have a feeling that... breakups are harder these days because you risk constantly (or occasionally) seeing pictures of your ex with someone new on social media.
PattiI wonder if... the university research model will learn any lessons from the struggles Kati Kariko faced in supporting her research on mRNA vaccines.
Holly FLI'm noticing that... my children are much more attuned to harmful stereotypes than I was at their age.
Holly FLI wonder if... philanthropy will keep these shorter applications that they have used during the pandemic.
THI wonder if... The development of infants and toddlers will be impacted in a negative way when they interact with people wearing masks (speech, facial recognition skills, etc)?
EdI wonder if... the current generation of kids who grew up confronting the possibility of our planet’s extinction will be shaped by that experience. Will it make them more generous were more selfish?
Lori mI wonder if... the growth of silicon valley and the decreased cost of building a start up led to an increased hoarding of hunches
Lori MI'm noticing that... That people are over complicating the vaccine passport question. When I grow up I just carried around the card everywhere I went especially when I have to travel to America. I still have the card.
JoseI wonder if... A new alternative to college will emerge for privileged kids who don’t get into their top choice?
Lori mI wonder if... Given the way our appearances and personalities can resemble one parent more than another and be different between children, I wonder if children who resemble opposite parents get along less well when their parents don’t like each other
Lori mI wonder if... Researchers with social media followings choose sexy research topics over important ones?
Lori mI wonder if... Biden gonna release another stimmy
JamesI have a hunch that... if we rapidly translated high-quality new evidence from definitive, well-done studies into clinical guidelines, practice and policy, we could save countless years of suffering and millons of preventable deaths. So why don't we?
Karen ArmitageI'm noticing that... traditional health care does not measure the most powerful predictor of both length and quality of life, even though it is fast, easy, evidence-based, and patients can easily monitor it at home and improve it with simple interventions...why not?
Karen ArmitageI wonder if... modular education is going to get its tipping point moment soon
ASI have a hunch that... RWJF would fund a wrap-around project for homeless families that provides a house, subsidized day care, job skills training in home rehab, homeowner training, educational support for children and youth, organized by Junction Coalition of Toledo OH
Marya CzechI'm noticing that... Colleagues who used to eat during meetings don’t like to eat on camera.
Lori MI wonder if... A capped number of miles everyone is allowed to fly could be a solution to excessive air travel. People could trade with those who wanted more.
Lori mI wonder if... Attention to white supremacist influence will result in more creative table settings ...or if eating from the outside in is just easier?
Lori MI have a feeling that... we can learn a lot from the way horoscopes are written. Almost everyone can identify with them, and they can even change mindsets at times. Can we tap into that when talking about health & equity?
EugeniaI wonder if... We’ll still call into zoom/have a google doc open during meetings after we return to the office so folks can still enter thoughts in some type of “chat” to offer different ways to participate
JulieI wonder if... there will be a "post-COVID"
SteveI'm noticing that... Fewer people are sharing fewer funny Memes about the Covid experience
Lori mI have a hunch that... classes will be taught outdoors more in the future
JemmaI'm noticing that... there is a lack of resources to support teachers providing virtual or in person learning during the pandemic.
EloniI'm noticing that... people are asking what is essential in education
jlmI wonder if... schools will have a more intensive curriculum next year to make up for what was "lost" this year
TonyaI have a feeling that... recent grads will struggle with securing employment upon graduation.
WallyI wonder if... more people will want to study public health in school and college in the future because of the pandemic