The AARP invites local eligible non-profit organizations and governments across the country to apply for the 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant program.
Donor Name: AARP
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/06/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
AARP Community Challenge grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, and more. Now in its eighth year, the program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for all residents, especially those age 50 and older.
The AARP Community Challenge accepts applications across three different grant opportunities. All projects must be consistent with AARP’s mission to serve the needs of people 50 and older along with other eligibility criteria.
Flagship grants
- In AARP’s flagship Community Challenge grant program, 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 ranging from $500 to $50,000 with an average grant amount of $11,900 (83 percent of grants have been under $20,000). They 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 by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents;
- Supporting Community Resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents;
- Improving Community Health and Economic Empowerment to support residents’ financial well-being and improve health outcomes.
Capacity-building microgrants
- Combining $2,500 grants with additional resources — such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to two hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national 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! Bike Audits: Implement bike audit assessments to enhance safety and bikeability in communities (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from League of American Bicyclists and using the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit.
- NEW! HomeFit® Modifications: Implement education, simple home modifications and/or easy home safety and accessibility solutions to make “lifelong homes” (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from the RL Mace Universal Design Institute and using the AARP HomeFit Guide.
- 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.
Demonstration grants
- This grant opportunity supports projects that encourage the replication of promising efforts that benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older). While there is not a defined budget range for this category, similar projects have tended to fall between $10,000 and $20,000 and will not exceed $50,000. Applications will be accepted in the following categories:
- NEW! Enhancing digital connectivity to prepare and respond to disasters for residents (especially those age 50-plus), the importance of which is discussed in the AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit.
NEW! Facilitating equitable engagement to reconnect communities that have been divided by infrastructure (with a focus on people age 50-plus), as highlighted in AARP’s award-winning “Before the Highway,” article series. - Implementing housing choice design competitions that increase community understanding of the benefits of a variety of housing options including accessory dwelling units, Missing Middle Housing, tiny homes and other housing solutions (especially for people age 50-plus), and encourage implementation of policies that enable greater choice in housing.
- NEW! Enhancing digital connectivity to prepare and respond to disasters for residents (especially those age 50-plus), the importance of which is discussed in the AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit.
Project Types
AARP Community Challenge grants may be used to support three project types. Project types described below will be prioritized over those that support ongoing programming or events.
- Permanent physical improvements in the community
- Temporary demonstrations that lead to long-term change
- New, innovative programming pilots or services
Eligibility Criteria
The program is open to the following types of organizations:
- 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits (Nonprofit organizations must be recognized by the IRS in order to receive funds.)
- Government entities
- Other types of organizations considered on a case-by-case basis. (Funds will not be provided to any for-profit company, nor individuals. However, AARP does allow for IRS recognized 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) tax-exempt non-profit organizations or government entities to serve as fiscal sponsors of grants.)
For more information, visit AARP.
