Deadline: 06-Mar-2024
The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages.
Grant Categories
- In 2024, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities. Each opportunity will receive a consistent approach to scoring
- 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). AARP also reserves the right to award compelling projects of any dollar amount. 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.
- 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). AARP also reserves the right to award compelling projects of any dollar amount. They are accepting applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in the following categories:
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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:
- Flagship Grants
Eligibility Criteria
- Each project must satisfy the guidelines as described in the GRANT OPPORTUNITIES section above and the following Organization Type, Mission Focus and Project Type criteria to be eligible:
- Organization Type:
- 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 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 nonprofit organizations or government entities to serve as fiscal sponsors of grants.)
- The program is open to the following types of organizations:
- Mission Focus:
- AARP evaluates each project based on its consistency with the AARP mission to serve the needs of people 50-plus.
- Project Type:
- 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
- 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.
- Organization Type:
Ineligible
- The following projects are not eligible for funding:
- Partisan, political or election-related activities
- Planning activities and assessments and surveys of communities without tangible engagement
- Studies with no follow-up action
- Publication of books or reports
- Acquisition of land and/or buildings
- Purchase of a vehicle (such as a car or truck)
For more information, visit AARP.