The Purpose Prize® from AARP FAQ

The Purpose Prize recognizes extraordinary people who put their purpose into action by founding an organization and continuing to serve in an active role today. We are not looking for people who have simply applied strong management skills to improve an organization’s performance as a paid or volunteer leader.

While a founder may receive assistance to complete the application, they should submit their own application. The application is not intended to be a nomination of another person for The Purpose Prize. Applicants who advance to later rounds must undergo a background check and participate in online interviews with members of The Purpose Prize jury. Winners are expected to participate in video and photo production days and be active participants in the year-long technical support.

Reviewers and Jurors will evaluate applicants on the following criteria:

• The issue the applicant is trying to solve (10 points). Does the applicant clearly define the compelling social problem they are trying to solve? Does the issue align with AARP’s mission? Is the description rudimentary or detailed?
• How the organization is trying to solve that problem (10 points). Does the applicant have clearly outlined strategies to address the issue they are working on? Are the strategies in initial stages and/or untested? Are the strategies tested and proven?
• The populations and areas served by the organization (10 points). Does the applicant distinctly define how many clients its organization serves and the geographic reach of its service areas? Does the applicant provide only basic details or do they provide deep, detailed information? Does the applicant define how the organization serves people 50-plus?
• How the organization measures the impact of its work (20 points). Does the applicant’s organization provide clear and tangible benefits to their identified service populations, including people 50-plus? What kind of data does it collect and how does the organization track and measure its impact? Do they have clear goals with specific metrics for each outcome/output?
• The personal story of someone 50-plus who has benefited from the organization’s work (10 points). Is the example of a personal story detailed and compelling? Can the resulting benefits described be directly tied to the work of the applicant’s organization?
• The organization’s position for long-term sustainability and growth (20 points). Is the organization’s work sustainable? Does the organization have a track record of success? Does the organization have the resources, staff, etc. to successfully execute its work? Does the organization have a long-term strategic plan or vision? Does the organization have diverse funding sources? Does the organization have a desire and readiness to grow?
• The applicant’s inspiration for founding their organization (10 points). Is the applicant able to clearly articulate the personal journey that led them to address this social problem?
• How being over 50 impacts their approach (10 points). Is there a clear connection between their lived experience and the work they are doing? Has the applicant identified how being 50 or older has made or makes a difference in how they do their work?

Yes.

Yes, but both cofounders must meet all the criteria and must demonstrate how they have each made significant contributions to the work. No more than two (2) individuals may apply, and a primary and secondary applicant must be designated within one (1) application submission.

No. An applicant’s organization should work primarily in the U.S. on issues that support AARP’s mission of empowering people to choose how they live as they age. Applicants must be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia and their founded 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) non-profit organization must have its principal place of business in the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia.

An applicant’s organization should work primarily on issues that support AARP’s mission of empowering people to choose how they live as they age. Each applicant will be asked to identify one of the following issue areas that best describes their work:

• Public health (protecting and improving the health of people and their communities by addressing healthy lifestyles, nutrition, disease prevention, brain health, etc.)
• Caregiving and caregiver resources (support for vulnerable populations and the people who care for them)
• Financial security (financial stability, resilience, economic opportunity, leveraging public benefits, etc.)
• Work and jobs (jobs, work environments, alternative approaches to workplace practices)
• Civic engagement and community development (helping people be active participants in building and strengthening their communities)
• Social connections (reducing isolation among vulnerable community members)
• Intergenerational work (opportunities for different generations to come together to share their experience, knowledge, and skills)
• Diversity, equity and inclusion (improving the representation, fair treatment and experiences of underserved populations)
• Veterans (providing services for veterans, advocating for veterans' rights, empowering veterans)
• Fraud and scam prevention (identifying, deterring, and reducing fraudulent activity)
• Livable communities and housing (ensuring people 50-plus have safe and affordable housing and livable communities that include transportation options and public spaces)

Applicants whose organizations do not work primarily on issues that support AARP’s mission will not be considered. Founders of affiliates or chapters of existing non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. Organizations that are exclusively religious will not be considered. However, applicants working in faith-based settings that have a broader social mission are eligible and encouraged to apply. See official rules for additional details.

AARP membership is not required to apply. Being an AARP member will not increase your chances or odds of winning.

An applicant must still have an active role in the organization for which they are applying (for example, paid or volunteer staff member, board member, trustee, etc.).

Officers, directors, and employees of Administrator, its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising/promotion agencies, and/or their affiliates, assigns, agents, vendors or representatives (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Administrator & Others”), and all other persons or entities associated with the development, administration, judging, promotion, execution of The Purpose Prize Contest are not eligible to apply. AARP-appointed volunteers (e.g. AARP State Presidents and Regional Volunteer Directors) and staff and their immediate family members are not allowed to apply. Former AARP-appointed volunteers and staff and their immediate family members may apply only after a seven (7) year grace period. Additionally, past Purpose Prize and AARP Purpose Prize winners, past fellows from the previous two (2) years of AARP Purpose Prize classes, current AARP or AARP Foundation grantees, elected officials, individuals whose Founded Non-Profit/Project is exclusively religious or sectarian, individuals that work for organizations that share a board member with AARP and members of the same household and immediate families (e.g. parents, children, spouse, siblings) are not eligible.

Teams of AARP staff and external reviewers and jurors select the winners, with final approval provided by an AARP executive.

Yes, projects fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) non-profit organization are eligible. Applicants with a fiscal sponsor will be required to provide a copy of the fiscal sponsor’s IRS determination letter or most recent IRS Form 990 and a copy of their fiscal sponsorship agreement. See the Official Rules for complete details.