AARP is accepting applications for quick-action projects to help make communities more livable for all residents, especially those aged 50 and over.
Donor Name: AARP
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/05/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Details:
The AARP Community Challenge grant program is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities initiative that helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages. The program is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress in support of residents of all ages.
Since then, the AARP Community Challenge has invested $20.1 million through 1,700 grants that have demonstrated the ability to:
- Improve communities with tangible changes
- Leverage additional funds and support from public, private and philanthropic funders
- Advance change and overcome policy barriers
- Lead to new relationships and greater awareness and engagement with the effort.
Types of Grants
- Flagship Grants
- Flagship AARP Community Challenge grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. Since 2017, AARP has funded projects with an average grant amount of $10,000 to $12,000. Nine out of 10 grants (or 92 percent) are for $20,000 or less.
- In 2025, grants will not exceed $25,000. (AARP also reserves the right to award compelling projects of any dollar amount.)
- AARP are accepting applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in the following categories:
- Creating vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities.
- Delivering a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability and access to public and private transit
- Supporting a range of housing options that increases the availability of accessible and affordable choices
- Increasing digital connections and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents
- Supporting community resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents.
- Capacity-Building Microgrants
- Combining $2,500 grants with additional resources (such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to 2 hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national nonprofit organizations and AARP publications), this grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in the following categories:
- NEW! Disaster Preparedness Training: Implement disaster preparedness training programs and resources for residents, especially those age 50-plus, with support from SBP and using the AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit.
- Walk Audits: Implement walk audit assessments to enhance safety and walkability in communities, especially for people age 50-plus, with support from America Walks and using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit.
- Bike Audits: Implement bike audits to enhance safety and bikeability in communities, especially for people age 50-plus, with support from The League of American Bicyclists and using the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit.
- HomeFit Guide Modifications: Implement education, simple home modifications and accessible safety solutions to create and maintain “lifelong homes,” especially for people age 50-plus, with support from the RL Mace Universal Design Institute and using the AARP HomeFit Guide.
- Combining $2,500 grants with additional resources (such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to 2 hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national nonprofit organizations and AARP publications), this grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in the following categories:
- Demonstration Grants
- This opportunity funds projects that encourage the replication of promising local efforts. Grants tend to fall between $10,000 and $20,000 and will not exceed $25,000.
- The demonstration grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that benefit residents, especially those age 50 and older, in the following categories:
- NEW! Enhancing pedestrian safety by creating safer streets and sidewalks, with a focus on people age 50-plus, with funding support from Toyota Motor North America.
- NEW! Expanding high-speed internet (broadband) access and adoption, with a focus on people age 50-plus, with funding support from Microsoft.
- Reconnecting communities divided by infrastructure, with a focus on people age 50-plus, as highlighted in the award-winning AARP Livable Communities article series Before the Highway.
- Implementing housing design competitions that increase community understanding and encourage policies that enable greater choice in housing, with a focus on people age 50-plus, by using the AARP Housing Design Competition Tool Kit.
Uses of funds
AARP Community Challenge grants may be used to support three project types.
- Permanent physical improvements in the community
- Temporary demonstrations that lead to long-term change
- New, innovative programming pilots or services.
Eligibility Criteria
Organization Type: The program is open to the following types of organizations:
- 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6). Nonprofit organizations must be recognized by the IRS to receive funds.
- Government entities
- Other types of organizations considered on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, visit AARP.
