The primary goals of New Connections: Increasing Diversity of RWJF Programming are to expand the Foundation's network of post-doctoral graduates and consultants, to increase the utilization of RWJF data sets, and to enhance the Foundation's grant making practices. Specifically, New Connections seeks to foster:

• Expansion of the diversity of perspectives that influence program design and planning and increased access to a new pool of consultants;
  
  
• Expansion of the RWJF network of colleagues/alumni, including developing a new network of people knowledgeable about RWJF that can potentially link the Foundation to a new cadre of scholars and consultants;
  
  
• Increased capacity and productivity to maximize learning from existing RWJF data sets;
  
  
• Inclusion and enhanced career advancement of investigators from historically underrepresented communities at individual institutions; and
  
  
• A diverse community of researchers through training, mentoring, and networking opportunities.