AARP is accepting applications for quick-action projects that help make communities more livable for all residents – especially those age 50 and over.
Donor Name: AARP
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Program
Deadline: 03/14/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Since its inception, the AARP Community Challenge has awarded 2,100 grants totaling $24.3 million to projects that:
- Deliver tangible improvements to communities, such as new crosswalks, benches, bike lanes, housing designs, and public space enhancements.
- Leverage additional support from public, private, and philanthropic sources
- Help communities overcome policy barriers and implement lasting change
- Foster new collaborations and increase community engagement.
Types of Grants
- Flagship Grants
- AARP’s flagship Community Challenge grants range from a few hundred dollars for short-term activities to $15,000 for larger initiatives. Since 2017, the average grant has been between $10,000- 12,000. AARP reserves the right to award compelling projects at any amount.
- Eligible projects should benefit residents – especially those age 50 and older – in at least one of the following categories:
- Creating vibrant public places (i.e., parks, open spaces, community amenities)
- Expanding transportation and mobility options (i.e., walkability, bikeability, transit access)
- Increasing housing options (i.e., accessible and affordable choices)
- Enhancing digital connections and digital literacy
- Strengthening disaster resilience (i.e., disaster preparedness and mitigation)
- Capacity-Building Microgrants
- These $2,500 microgrants come with added support, including webinars, cohort learning, up to two hours of coaching from national nonprofit organizations working with AARP to support the AARP Community Challenge program, and AARP resources.
- Eligible projects should benefit residents – especially those age 50 and older – in at least one of the following categories:
- Walk Audits: Conduct walkability assessments with support from America Walks and the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit.
- Bike Audits: Conduct bikeability assessments with support from League of American Bicyclists and the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit.
- HomeFit® Guide Modifications: Promote safe, accessible homes through education and/or simple modifications with support from RL Mace Universal Design Institute and the AARP HomeFit® Guide.
- Disaster Preparedness Training: Implement training programs and/or distribute preparedness resources with support from SBP and the AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit.
- Demonstration Grants
- These grants support projects that can be replicated in other communities. Awards typically range from $10,000-$20,000 and will not exceed $25,000.
- Eligible projects should benefit residents – especially those age 50 and older – in at least one of the following categories:
- Pedestrian Safety: Improve the safety of streets and sidewalks; funding support from Toyota Motor North America.
- High-Speed Internet: Increase broadband access and adoption; funding support from Microsoft.
- Housing Design Competitions: Promote understanding and implementation of housing policies that support a variety of community needs using the AARP Housing Design Competition Tool Kit.
Uses of Funds
AARP Community Challenge grants support the following types of projects:
- Permanent physical improvements in the community
- Temporary demonstrations that lead to long-term change
- New, innovative programming pilots or services.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the AARP Community Challenge, each project must meet the criteria outlined in the Grant Opportunities section and satisfy the following requirements related to organization type, mission focus, and project type:
- Organization Type: The program is open to the following types of organizations:
- 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations (recognized by the IRS)
- Government entities
- Other organizations considered on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, visit AARP.
