At a time of historic disruption to funding, policy, and protection for older adults and the nonprofits that serve them, Next50 is meeting the moment with urgency, clarity, and deep community insight.
The newly enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” provides some older adults a fleeting tax break, but its lasting effect is far more damaging, eroding, among other things, vital Medicaid support for older adults and their caregivers. This costly law follows a wave of unjustified federal actions targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, myopic aging-related programmatic cuts, and growing uncertainty about the future of public funding. In response, we turned to our community for guidance. Through a national survey and roundtable series, we heard directly from hundreds of nonprofit leaders: the aging sector is under extraordinary pressure, and they need trusted partners, bold advocates, and flexible grants to continue serving older adults.
Next50 is doing its part and meeting this critical moment by announcing over $7 million in new unprecedented investments this quarter. This marks the largest set of grants in the foundation’s 9-year history. Over $1.5 million in Changing Aging and Colorado Organizational Resiliency grants, and $5.5 million over five years in a multi-pronged strategy to strengthen our nonprofit community supporting older adults.
Launching Colorado’s First Advocacy Organization Dedicated to Affordable Aging
Next50 is seeding a new independent nonprofit organization to champion policies that will make it more affordable to age in Colorado. With a $3 million commitment, this new organization will drive nonpartisan advocacy related to issues like housing, caregiving, digital equity, transportation, long-term care, and older workers. This organization will collaborate with existing advocates, amplify the voices of older adults, and leverage its expertise to expand their economic opportunities. This organization will center equity and inclusion in its mission, and we are currently seeking visionary leadership and board members to shape its future. We invite you to spread the word or apply.
General Operating Funds for Frontline Nonprofits
Through our General Operating (GO) Aging initiative, we’re directing $2.5 million in general operating support to eight nonprofits serving the most marginalized older adults in Colorado and nationally. This includes older immigrants and refugees, LGBTQ+ communities, veterans, rural residents, communities of color, and people with disabilities. These organizations are navigating federal funding cuts, diversity, equity, and inclusion funding rollbacks, and rising demand from their communities. Our multi-year, flexible support will help them remain strong, stable, and innovative amid shifting political and financial conditions.
Next50 is committed to building a future that values aging by supporting the following grantees through our GO Aging Initiative: Homeward Alliance, Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center, Mountain Resource Center, NorthWest Colorado Center for Independence, Rocky Mountain Equality, Savings Collaborative, and Spring Institute.
Investing in Resilience
From survey responses, Next50 continued to receive feedback on the need for organizational resiliency. In 2024, Next50 launched its Colorado Organizational Resiliency (COR) grant program that has supported 27 Colorado-based grantees, making it less expensive to age in Next50’s three priority areas with flexible financial support to grow their capacity. Today, Next50 continues to build this program by committing $596,000 to an additional eight nonprofits to build their resilience, effectively navigate, plan for uncertainties, and recover from setbacks. These additional COR grantees are: Caregiver Connections, Elevated Community Health, HIV Care Link, The Center on Colfax, A Little Help, Senior Social Center, Energy Resource Center, and Springs Rescue Mission.
Continuing to Change Aging by Supporting Systemic Change
In the face of disruption to federal support for aging, our nonprofit community continues to focus on changing aging. Many nonprofit leaders are reimagining their work in a dramatically different environment. They are partnering with the community and creating innovative solutions to rebuild infrastructure that supports their aging population. For this quarter, Next50 invests $790,000 in seven organizations and their partners that catalyze systems-level, equitable programmatic innovations that reduce the cost of aging. These additional Changing Aging grantees are Aging While Black, American Society on Aging, Grantmakers in Aging, Gunnison County Department of Health and Human Services, Montessori Intergenerational Learning Communities, 1Community, and Stackwell Capital Advisors.
Why This Matters
Aging in America is expensive. With rising housing costs, unaffordable care, and persistent income inequality, older adults are struggling to make ends meet. At the same time, older adults are working longer, facing age discrimination, and struggling to access basic services. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration and the Republican-led Congress have made it worse with its recent legislation. Although it is impossible for philanthropy to fill the void created by the federal government, there are ways we can all try and do our part to meet the moment. The State of Colorado just released a plan for how it will support older adults over the next ten years. And Next50’s response goes beyond traditional grantmaking with this strategic and historic investment that supports both immediate resilience and long-term systems change.
English 
Español de México