2025 AARP Community Challenge Grant Program Accepting Applications Through March 5

AARP West Virginia invites community organizations and local government across the Mountain State to apply for AARP’s 2025 Community Challenge grant program. The grant program, now in its ninth year, is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for all residents, especially those age 50 and older.

The Community Challenge is open to eligible local 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other types of organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to several thousand dollars for larger projects.

In 2025, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities. All projects must be consistent with AARP’s mission to serve the needs of people 50 and older along with other eligibility criteria, and must be completed by December 15, 2025.

• Capacity-building microgrants are paired with additional resources, such as one-on-one coaching, webinars, cohort learning opportunities and more for improving walkability, bikeability and implementing safe, accessible home modifications, and disaster preparedness training.
• Demonstration grants fund projects that encourage replication of exemplary local efforts. This year’s focus is on improving pedestrian safety with funding support from Toyota Motor North America; expanding high-speed internet access and adoption with funding support from Microsoft; reconnecting communities divided by infrastructure; and implementing housing choice design competitions.
• Flagship grants support projects that improve public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; and community resilience.

Since 2017, AARP has awarded $20.1 million in Community Challenge Grants to nonprofit organizations and government entities representing every state and U.S. territory, including 28 West Virginia community projects in Braxton, Brooke, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Monongalia, Ohio, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Summers, Taylor and Tucker counties.

The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. To submit applications, or for more information on the program, visit www.aarp.org/CommunityChallenge.