Bring AARP Foundation Experience Corps to Your Community

AARP Foundation Experience Corps is a childhood literacy program that trains adults age 50 and older to help children become proficient readers by the end of third grade. This proven “triple win” approach helps elementary school students succeed, older adults thrive, and local communities grow stronger.

Research shows that Experience Corps is one of the nation’s most effective K-3 literacy interventions, delivering lasting benefits for students, volunteers, schools, and communities. Through its unique intergenerational approach, the program supports children at a critical stage in their education and gives older adults meaningful opportunities to share their experience, strengthen community connections, and help shape the next generation of readers.

AARP Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of AARP, partners with local governments and community-based organizations nationwide to expand the Experience Corps network and bring this proven model to more communities.

Is your organization interested in learning more about bringing AARP Foundation Experience Corps to the communities you serve? Contact us today at ExperienceCorps@aarp.org.

 

National Footprint and Impact

18 communities. 12 states. One proven model.

AARP Foundation Experience Corps partners with community-based organizations across the country to help more children read at grade level while creating meaningful volunteer opportunities for older adults.

Experience Corps By the Numbers (2024-2025 School Year)

Student Outcomes

• 3,285 students served
• 84% of students improved in at least one social-emotional learning indicator
• 97% of students improved oral reading fluency

Volunteer Outcomes

• 1,093 volunteers engaged
• 93% volunteer satisfaction
• 68% of volunteers reported an increased sense of purpose

Community Partner Organization Outcomes

• 100% year-over-year partner retention
• 86% partner satisfaction
• Nearly half of partners have participated in Experience Corps for more than 20 years

 

Why Partner with AARP Foundation Experience Corps?

Partners receive:

• Funding and grant opportunities
• Growth opportunities
• Evidence-based curriculum and materials
• Volunteer recruitment, training, and onboarding support
• Technical assistance and program guidance
• Data collection and evaluation support
• National network and peer learning opportunities
• Communications and marketing support
• AARP Foundation brand recognition

 

Is Your Organization a Good Fit?

We look for prospective community partners with:

Mission Alignment

A strong commitment to improving educational outcomes for students and strengthening communities.

Financial Sustainability

The ability to support and sustain the program over time through organizational and community investment.

Operational Capacity

Dedicated leadership, staffing, infrastructure, and data management capabilities to support program implementation and growth.

Community Partnerships

Strong relationships with schools and community stakeholders, including the ability to access data on student performance needed to measure impact.

Ready to Explore a Partnership?

Contact us at ExperienceCorps@aarp.org to start the conversation.

 

Become a Partner

Experience Corps partners are typically non-profit organizations, local governments, volunteer centers, literacy organizations, school districts, and other community-based organizations with the capacity to manage volunteers and support local school partnerships. Our five-step partnership process helps organizations launch and sustain successful programs that deliver measurable impact for students, volunteers, and communities. 

1. Submit an Inquiry

Interested organizations can contact us at ExperienceCorps@aarp.org. We'll provide additional information about the program and schedule an introductory conversation.

2. Attend an Orientation Call