Looking for community project funding? Consider this annual Community Challenge grant!

January 2024: One of my favorite sources of community-based program information comes from the AARP Livable Communities initiative. They support the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages. A core belief is that communities should provide

• safe, walkable streets
• age-friendly housing and transportation options
• access to needed services
• and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life.

Every January (since 2017), the AARP Community Challange provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages (although an emphasis on 50 yrs+). The funding is focused on 3 Grant Opportunities shown below. Application deadline is March 6, 2023 (i.e. early March of any year) and Awards announced on June 26 (i.e. late June of any year) with a project completion date by Dec.15 (i.e. mid Dec of any year).

Eligibility includes:

• Organization Type: 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) non profits recognized by the IRS and Goverment entities
• Mission Focus: aligned with the AARP mission to serve the needs of people 50+
• Project Type: permanent physical improvements in the community, temporary demonstrations leading to long-term change, and New/Innovative pilot programs.

Small town and rural community focus: This program claims that 40% of the Community Challenge projects (530 since 2017) have been awarded to rural communities – with a total investment of $5.7M!

Flagship Grants

In AARP’s flagship Community Challenge grant program, grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects.

• Creating vibrant Public Places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities
• Delivering a range of Transportation and Mobility Options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability and access to public and private transit
• Supporting a range of Housing options that increases the availability of accessible and affordable choices
• Increasing Digital Connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents
• Supporting Community Resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents
• Improving Community Health and Economic Empowerment to support residents’ financial well-being and improve health outcomes.

Capacity-Building Microgrants

This grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that benefit residents in the following categories:

• NEW! Bike Audits: Implement bike audit assessments to enhance safety and bikeability in communities (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from League of American Bicyclists and using the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit.
• NEW! HomeFit® Modifications: Implement education, simple home modifications and/or easy home safety and accessibility solutions to make “lifelong homes” (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from the RL Mace Universal Design Institute and using the AARP HomeFit Guide.
• Walk Audits: Implement walk audit assessments to enhance safety and walkability in communities (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from America Walks and using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit.

Demonstration Grants

This grant opportunity supports projects that encourage the replication of promising efforts that benefit residents. Awards tend to fall between $10,000-$20,000. Categories include:

• NEW! Enhancing digital connectivity to prepare and respond to disasters for residents (especially those age 50-plus), the importance of which is discussed in the AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit.
• NEW! Facilitating equitable engagement to reconnect communities that have been divided by infrastructure (with a focus on people age 50-plus), as highlighted in AARP’s award-winning “Before the Highway,” article series.
• Implementing housing choice design competitions that increase community understanding of the benefits of a variety of housing options including accessory dwelling units, Missing Middle Housing, tiny homes and other housing solutions (especially for people age 50-plus), and encourage implementation of policies that enable greater choice in housing.

Other Interesting AARP Resources

Free Publications

In addition to this grant funding program, the AARP also has a wide variety of Livability related publications. All available for FREE download or hard copy mail request!

Livability Index

The AARP Livability Index scores neighborhoods and communities across the U.S. for the services and amenities that impact you the most. This website also provides a deep dive into the metrics of how each place is scored.