about us
Next50 is a private, national foundation based in Denver, Colorado. Since 2016, Next50 has been working toward creating a world that values aging.
We work across sectors and geographies to identify opportunities, support innovations, and accelerate solutions that improve the lives of all of us as we age. While some of our work focuses specifically on Colorado communities, we also support national efforts that have the potential to influence systems, policy, practice, markets, and narratives at scale.
Through collaboration, learning, and long-term investment, we are helping to build a future where aging is recognized as a source of strength, experience, and possibility.
Creating a World That Values Aging
How a society treats its oldest members reveals what it truly values. Right now, we treat aging as an individual problem to manage: a decline to slow, a cost to contain, a stage of life to quietly apologize for. That biased belief shapes where money flows, how communities are built, and whose needs go unmet, and those who have already been pushed to the margins suffer the most.
At Next50, we see aging differently. People don’t stop being worth investing in as they get older, and our policies, budgets, and communities should reflect that.
Our Mission
To promote independence and dignity for the aging population, to include the needs of low- and moderate-income persons, encompassing individuals with physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral disabilities, by encouraging and supporting innovative, affordable, and coordinated services and initiatives.
Our mission is just as relevant today as it was when we were founded in 2016. As the cost of living continues to increase, we are just as dedicated to supporting the older adults that society tends to forget, like those who are low- to moderate-income, or those who are living with physical, cognitive, or behavioral disabilities.
Independence and dignity sit at the center of all four of our investment goals, including Expanding Economic Opportunity, Championing Social Inclusion, Shaping the Built Environment, and Advancing Health. We deploy every tool at our disposal – grants, Mission-Related Investments (MRIs), Program-Related Investments (PRIs), and more – to ensure greater investment and more connected services across the aging field.
Our 2027-2031 Strategic Plan
Our 2027 – 2031 Strategic Plan reflects a thoughtful, collaborative process informed by community input and the perspectives of staff and trustees. We’re excited about what we’ve developed and the path it sets for Next50.
How we create change
Creating a world that values aging requires both responsiveness and ambition. Next50 advances its mission through two complementary approaches.
Responding to Community Need
We listen to older adults, caregivers, nonprofits, and communities to understand emerging needs, challenges, and opportunities.
We invest in community-informed solutions that improve quality of life, strengthen organizations, and respond to the issues that matter most to older adults. By staying connected to the people closest to the work, we can address immediate needs while helping communities build greater capacity and resilience for the future.
Catalyzing National Change
Broader systems, policies, markets, environments, and societal narratives shape many of the factors that influence how people age.
We proactively identify opportunities to support innovative ideas, build strategic partnerships, and advance solutions that can influence change beyond a single organization or community. By mobilizing funding, investment capital, relationships, knowledge, and advocacy, we seek to accelerate progress for older adults across the country.
Together, these approaches allow Next50 to remain responsive to communities while endeavoring to create broader and more enduring change.
What we work to change
Four interconnected investment goals guide our work:
1. Expanding Economic Opportunity: Older adults can afford more, live securely, and remain financially stable over time.
2. Championing Social Inclusion: Older adults are seen and valued within, feel connected to, and remain active participants in their communities.
3. Shaping the Built Environment: Older adults live in communities designed for their full participation.
4. Advancing Health: Older adults can access the care, products, and services they need to thrive.
These goals reflect the many conditions that influence how people experience aging. We advance these goals through grants, investments, partnerships, advocacy, and learning, selecting the tool best suited to each goal.
Who we seek to serve
We all age. But each person ages differently.
Consistent with our mission, we direct all grant funding to low- and moderate-income older adults, including those from historically marginalized and geographically underserved communities. To do this, we have identified the following mission-aligned populations:
| Low-income | Rural and Frontier |
| People with disabilities | Black/African American |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | Asian |
| Hispanic Latino | Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander |
| LGBTQ+ | Middle Eastern or North African |
| Veterans | Caregivers |
| Unhoused | Justice-impacted |
| Nonprofits* | Immigrant and Refugee |
*Some organizations may serve nonprofits directly, e.g., membership associations
Our Values
Accountability. We take responsibility for our decisions, commitments, and impact.
Collaboration. We believe meaningful change is created with communities and partners, not for them.
Innovation. We remain open to new ideas, approaches, and tools that can improve how people experience aging.
Leadership. We use our position, resources, and voice to advance ambitious and lasting change.
Learning. We listen, reflect, and adapt what we think we know, and we share what we learn.
Respect. We honor the dignity, experience, knowledge, and contributions of older adults and the communities we serve.
land acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute peoples. We honor their enduring connection to this land and recognize the ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities. Next50 is committed to learning about and supporting Indigenous communities.
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