AARP Michigan Launches New Grant Program Focused on Age-Friendly Communities

AARP Michigan believes that when the places where we live are better able to support people of all ages, improving the quality of life for the very young, the very old, and everyone in between, everyone wins.

AARP Michigan is excited to fund selected initiatives through the Michigan Age-Friendly Communities Grant Program that foster the livability of those aged 50+ in communities, subject to the terms and conditions below, and that will help create a better place for community residents to live, work and play.

Up to five non-profits, government entities, ad hoc organizations groups, or tribal entities will be selected for grants ranging of up to $10,000 and currently anticipated to be awarded by September 30, 2025. Awards from the Michigan Age-Friendly Communities Grant Program may be used to fund either a portion of an existing project or the entirety of the project submitted to AARP in the grant application. Grant recipients must complete the project for which the grant was awarded within 180 days of the announcement of the grant award.

These grants are intended to support local response to enhancing the lives of those aged 50+ and support the resilience of communities by addressing the local level livability needs. Priority will be given to eligible non-profit organizations and grassroots groups that aim to improve one or more of the following “Eight Domains of Livability,” which include:

1. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: Access to safe and accessible parks, sidewalks, streets, and public buildings.
2. Transportation: Affordable, reliable, and accessible options including public transit, walking, biking, and driving.
3. Housing: Availability of affordable, appropriate housing and options for aging in place.
4. Social Participation: Opportunities to engage in social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities.
5. Respect and Social Inclusion: Inclusive community attitudes and programs that encourage intergenerational interaction and respect.
6. Work and Civic Engagement: Opportunities for employment, volunteering, and civic involvement regardless of age.
7. Communication and Information: Access to information in appropriate formats for all, including older adults and those with limited digital literacy.
8. Community and Health Services: Access to affordable health care, supportive services, and programs that promote wellness and independence.

Grant Cycle

• Application opens: August 1, 2025
• Applications due: September 8, 2025
• Awards announced: September 30, 2025
• Grant reports due: March 29, 2026

Projects should start as soon as funds are distributed to awardee(s). Projects should be wrapped up the time the grant report is submitted to AARP Michigan.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

Eligibility
The program is open to the following types of entities:

• 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits
• Government entities
• Ad hoc community group with a 501(c)(3) and 501 (c)(4) nonprofit fiscal agent
• Tribal entities

For-profit entities are not eligible to apply.

The following projects are NOT eligible for funding:

• Partisan, political or election-related activities
• Planning activities and assessments and surveys of communities without tangible engagement
• Studies with no follow-up action
• Publication of books or reports
• Acquisition of land and/or buildings
• Sponsorships of other organizations’ events or activities
• Research and development for a nonprofit endeavor
• Research and development for a for-profit endeavor
• The promotion of a for-profit entity and/or its product and services

Selection Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a small team AARP Michigan staff and volunteers. Reviewers will assess each project based on the following factors:

• Impact (50 points): The project addresses a clear need that brings positive change and demonstrates the ability to overcome barriers and accelerate, grow and/or sustain the community’s efforts to become more livable for all especially people 50+, and focus on improving the built and social environment of a community.
• Execution (20 points): Applicants demonstrate capacity to deliver the Michigan Age-Friendly Communities Grant project on time and within the awarded budget, effectively engage residents and key stakeholders, and leverage volunteers (especially 50+ volunteers) in the execution.
• Location (10 points): Identified a neighborhood or community need and developed a clear plan for translating that need into action that meets all eligibility standards above.
• Engagement (10 points): Identified and convened interested individuals and stakeholders into an ad hoc group or formal organization to take action on the identified need.
• Age-Friendly Community (10 points): The project benefits a community that is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities in Michigan.
  

Additionally, the reviewers will be asked to rank the projects in order, with the first being the project they would most like to fund and the last being the project they would least like to fund. Up to five projects with the highest scores will be selected as the winners.

Grant recipients have 10 days to respond. If the grant recipient does not respond or is unable to confirm their acceptance, AARP will move on to the next highest rated application. Potential award winners must execute and return a Memorandum of Understanding to the AARP Michigan state office within ten (10) days of receipt. Noncompliance with this time period may result in disqualification, and the grant applicant with the next highest score will be selected.

Applicants who are not selected for the grant program will be notified by email 1-2 business days before the formal announcement of the winner(s).

Terms and Conditions
By submitting an application to AARP Michigan, the applicant agrees that:

The decisions of AARP regarding the eligibility of participants and the validity of entries shall be final and binding. All submissions will be judged by AARP Michigan, whose decisions and determinations as to the administration of the award and selection of award recipients are final. AARP has the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, or suspend the Grant Program.

All projects and applications shall not violate any third-party rights. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the AARP Michigan Age-Friendly Communities Grant Program constitutes the Applicant’s consent to AARP’s use of the organization’s name and corporate logo, street address, city, state, zip code, county, and names, likenesses, photographs, videos, images, and statements made or provided by the Applicant’s representatives regarding the award for promotional purposes in any media without further permission, consent, payment or other consideration.

All promotional materials (such as newsletters, press releases), events and signage related to the funded project will include a statement indicating that support was received from AARP Michigan.

The organization is required to capture photos of the project and is encouraged to capture video. As the organization captures photos and video of the project, if an identifiable individual appears in the photos and/or videos, the organization is responsible for having him/her sign the AARP General Release (this document will be provided to grantees with the MOU and other required paperwork). In addition, the organization should not include any element in photos or videos provided to AARP Michigan that may violate third party rights such as artwork and trademarks in text and logo other than those owned by the organization and AARP Michigan. The organization should be prepared to send work in progress photos to AARP Michigan upon request.

AARP and its affiliated organizations, subsidiaries, agents and employees are not responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, stolen, misdirected, illegitimate, or impermissible submissions or any other error whether human, mechanical or electronic.