About the AARP Community Challenge

The AARP Community Challenge grant program is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities initiative that helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages. The program is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress in support of residents of all ages.

Since the program's debut in 2017, AARP has awarded $12.7 million through more than 1,060 grants in nearly 700 communities reaching 100 million people. The projects have been completed across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

• In 2017, for the first-ever AARP Community Challenge, AARP received nearly 1,200 applications and distributed nearly $780,000 among 88 grant projects.

• In 2018, for the second challenge, AARP received almost 1,600 applications and distributed $1.3 million to fund 129 grant projects.

• In 2019, the grant program received nearly 1,700 applications and distributed nearly $1.6 million among 159 grant projects developing “quick-action” projects.

• In 2020, the program received over 2,800 applications and  distributed more than $2.4 million among 184 grant projects, including projects specific to community needs resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic.

• In 2021, the program received 3,560 applications and nearly $3.2 million was distributed to 244 grant projects, including projects with a special emphasis on Eiversity, Equity, and Inclusion and supporting economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic. 

• In 2022, the program received over 3, 200 applications and $3.4 million was distributed to 260 grant projects, including projects that built engagement and leveraged new federal programs.

• in 2023, the program received over 3,600 applications.  Over $3.6 million was distributed to 310 grant projects, across three grant opportunities: Flagship, Demonstration, and Microgrants.  

The AARP Community Challenge grant program is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities initiative, which helps cities, towns, villages and rural areas become great places to live for residents of all ages. As part of this effort, AARP staff and volunteers engage and mobilize residents, delivering technical assistance and expertise to local leaders and organizations, and supporting the work of the communities and states that have enrolled in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.