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  1. AARP Foundation
  2. Grants Program

Request for Applications

AARP Foundation Seeks Proposals for Direct Service and Field-Building Projects  
 

Required Pre-Application Accepted on a Rolling Basis, Deadline: September 17, 2021, 5:00pm ET

Invited Full Application Deadline: October 15, 2021, 5:00pm ET 

With these Request for Applications (RFAs), one for Direct Service projects and one for Field-Building projects, AARP Foundation seeks projects that advance economic opportunity among low-income older adults.

Please note: there are two separate funding opportunities one for Direct Service projects and one for Field-Building. Application requirements and funding levels vary based on the type of project (see chart below).


Direct Service RFA | Field-Building RFA


AARP Foundation Grantmaking

Advancing Economic Opportunity Among Older Adults

 

Grant Application Process

The application will consist of two parts:

  • Required pre-application: deadline September 17, 2021
  • Invited full application: deadline October 15, 2021

Grants Application Portal

Eligible applicants are invited to submit a brief pre-application that contains background about their organization, basic information about their project model and its implementation, their commitment to equity and how their project’s proposed outcomes align with AARP Foundation’s mission and the objectives. 

Based on the pre-application responses, AARP Foundation will invite a full application from selected applicants that will require additional information and supporting attachments as listed in the below chart. The application questions require concise and specific answers. Applications missing any required attachments will not be reviewed for funding consideration.”

 

Project Type - Direct Service

Required Pre-Application/

Application Sections

 Required Attachments
(PDF, MSWord, MSExcel)		 Funding Range

Direct Service - Ready to Pilot

Small-scale projects to test the feasibility of a project’s approach,methods, and procedures that are intended to be used in a larger-scale project. The program model is developed and it needs to be tested thoroughly in multiple locations and/or among older adults 
with low income.
  • Contact
  • Organizational Details
  • Project Details- Pre-Application
  • Project Details
  • Financial Information
  • Evidence & Measurement
  1. Theory of Change
  2. Detailed project budget
  3. Most recent audited financial statements
  4. Outputs Data Collection Table
  5. Outcomes Table
  6. Logic Model 
    (guidance/optional template)
  7. Evaluation reports as applicable
 Maximum award of $100K per year, for up to 3 years

Direct Service - Ready for Outcomes

Program has been developed, pilot-tested and implemented among low-income older adult, and needs to be independently evaluated to demonstrate a higher level of evidence along the continuum.    

   
  • Contact
  • Organizational Details
  • Project Details- Pre-Application
  • Project Details
  • Financial Information
  • Evidence & Measurement
  1. Theory of Change
  2. Detailed project budget
  3. Most recent audited financial statements
  4. Outputs Data Collection Table
  5. Outcomes Table
  6. Logic Model 
    (guidance/optional template)
  7. Evaluation reports as applicable
 Maximum award of $250K per year, for up to 3 years  
  
 
 
  
Project Type - Non-Direct Service

Required Pre-Application/

Application Sections

Required Attachments
(PDF)
 Funding Range

Field-Building

Projects that do not directly serve low-income older adults but advance the work of one or a group of organizations serving low-income older adults to achieve measurable and sustainable results (i.e., infrastructure support, capacity building). 
 

  • Contact
  • Organizational Details
  • Project Details- Pre-Application
  • Project Details
  • Financial Information
  1. Theory of Change
  2. Detailed project budget
  3. Most recent audited financial statements    
 Maximum award of $150K per year, for up to 2 years    

Eligibility Criteria, Timeline and Application Portal

AARP Foundation RFA Funding Eligibility

The following are NOT eligible for funding:

  • Grants for individuals;
  • Debt retirement or operating deficits;
  • Endowments or reserve funds;
  • Political organizations or campaigns;
  • Lobbying legislators or influencing elections;
  • Sponsorship of fundraising events;
  • Marketing endeavors and personal research;
  • Organizations located outside the United States or its territories; or
  • Indirect expenses unrelated to the project being funded.
AARP Foundation Social Connectedness Timeline for March 2019 RFA

Application Timeline

  • August 2021: Funding opportunity announced and online application made visible 
  • September 17, 2021, 5:00pm ET: Required Pre-Application Deadline
  • Week of September 27th, 2021: Full Applications Invited 
  • October 15th, 2021, 5:00pm ET: Invited Full Application Deadline 
  • November 2021: Clarification period (as needed) 

  • December 2021: Applicants notified of award decisions and funding determinations 

 

AARP Foundation RFA Resources

Application Portal

Grants Application Portal

All grant applications must be submitted through AARP Foundation's grants application portal.