Giving Compass' Take:

• Grantmakers in Aging provides a comprehensive resource for philanthropists who want to make an impact through funding in aging. 

• How do these funding recommendations align with your mission and values? Are you ready to start funding in aging? 

• Learn more about the need for philanthropy to support the aging population. 

Older people are an integral part of the solution to any number of community challenges. The key is to find creative ways to harness their experience, knowledge, skills, and hard-won wisdom, to find innovative ways to overcome the obstacles that keep older people from fully joining in the life of our communities, that prevent our cities, towns and villages from becoming great places to grow up and grow old. From intergenerational educational programs, to supports for family caregivers, to accessible and affordable transportation options, improving the lives of older people and increasing their opportunities to contribute will nurture our families, energize our workplaces, and strengthen our communities.

Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) is an inclusive and responsive membership organization comprised of all types of philanthropies with a common dedication to improving the experience of aging. We at GIA are pleased to present this practical introduction to how to include the rich and diverse field of aging in your grantmaking.

Start with Aging 101 to familiarize yourself with the latest demographic data and information about funding by the federal government and websites that offer helpful resources. In How to Get Started, you’ll find practical step-by-step advice to help you identify and choose potential funding opportunities in aging that align with the mission and goals of your foundation. Or, take a look at sections devoted to funding in particular topics.

Topics include:

Children, Youth, Families: Almost any service, program, or space can be enhanced by using an intergenerational approach.

Arts & Culture: We all benefit from the arts, no matter our age.

Communities: Funders who are interested in community development should consider adding support for age-friendly communities to their portfolios.

Health: Improving health care for older adults improves care for all. As you will see in this section, grantmakers are advancing innovative and highly effective programs that improve the quality of health care and increase access at all levels, in local hospitals and clinics to multi-site national initiatives.

Education: The accrued wisdom, knowledge, skills, and talents acquired over decades of living should be a valuable resource for our communities. Drawing on those assets by creating opportunities for older people to serve as mentors, tutors, or teachers for students benefits young and old alike. We also need to ensure that our communities offer opportunities for all of us to continue to learn and grow and acquire new knowledge and skills as we age.

Work & Transitions: As a grantmaker, you can play a crucial role in supporting efforts that help older people learn new skills that help them compete and excel in the workforce.

See the full guide to funding in aging at Grantmakers in Aging.