Frequently asked questions

Next50 offers three grant opportunities, each designed for a different type of need or change.

• Colorado Organizational Resiliency (COR) supports Colorado organizations responding to community-identified needs and improving day-to-day quality of life and long-term well-being for older adults, while simultaneously investing in the strength and resilience of the organizations doing this work.
• Changing Aging supports organizations, partnerships, and ideas with the potential to influence systems, policies, practices, markets, narratives, or institutions beyond a single organization or community.
• Sudden & Urgent Need (SUN) supports small Colorado nonprofits facing a distinct, unforeseen, unbudgeted, time-sensitive need or immediate opportunity affecting their ability to serve older adults and/or caregivers.

Next50’s strategy centers on four investment goals: Expanding Economic Opportunity, Championing Social Inclusion, Shaping the Built Environment, and Advancing Health.

Current grantmaking through COR, Changing Aging, and SUN focuses on Expanding Economic Opportunity and Championing Social Inclusion. Next50 will primarily use impact investing, advocacy, and other strategic tools to focus on Shaping the Built Environment and Advancing Health.

Next50 prioritizes supporting older adults who have historically experienced greater barriers to opportunity, economic security, health, and inclusion. This includes older adults who are: This includes older adults who are: living on low incomes; living in rural or frontier communities; living with disabilities; Black or African American; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Latino or Hispanic; Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; LGBTQ+; Middle Eastern or North African; veterans; caregivers; unhoused; justice-impacted; or immigrants or refugees.

Organizations should review the applicable guidelines for specific expectations regarding mission-aligned populations.

Next50 considers how well an opportunity aligns with applicable funding priorities, benefits mission-aligned populations, responds to community needs or contributes to broader change, and demonstrates readiness and the potential to achieve meaningful impact.

In addition to evaluating individual requests, Next50 seeks to build a balanced and diverse portfolio of grants and investments. Funding decisions may consider many factors, including geographic regions, representation across grantmaking priorities, the diversity of mission-aligned populations served, the nature of the request, the request’s immediate impact, and available funding.

Because each grant opportunity serves a different purpose, the specific evaluation criteria may vary. The full guidelines for each opportunity describe how we will assess each application.

Grant opportunity details are available aquí.

• Entities outside of Colorado for COR and SUN grants; Changing Aging grants are open to both Colorado and non-Colorado entities.
• Universities for COR and SUN grants; Changing Aging grants are open to universities.
• Government entities for COR and SUN grants; Changing Aging grants are open to government entities.
• Requests that duplicate state or federal funding, including Medicare and Medicaid.
• Solicitudes de financiación estatal o federal de contrapartida.
• Requests to fill gaps in state or federal funding without a path for program sustainability beyond the grant term.
• Lobby, campañas políticas y solicitudes de apoyo a una posición política específica.
• Event sponsorships for fundraising purposes (e.g., galas).
• Direct cash, rental, or utility assistance
• Individual client bills
• Purchases of vehicles
• Type III non-functionally integrated supporting organizations (as classified by IRS Form 990, Schedule A, Part 1).
• Investigación de laboratorio*

*Next50 does not support basic science (wet lab) research. Wet-lab research includes projects that analyze and/or test drugs, chemicals, and other biological materials. Next50 can and will support research-based pilot projects, feasibility studies, and needs assessments. These research activities often precede establishing viability for implementing various innovations.

Next50 funding opportunities are invitation-only. Organizations start by sharing information about their work and how it aligns with Next50. If an opportunity appears to be a fit, Next50 may invite the organization to submit an application through the Next50 Grantee Portal.

An invitation to apply does not guarantee funding.

Application timing varies by funding opportunity. Most opportunities follow established review cycles outlined below.

SUN applications are accepted by invitation on a rolling basis while funds remain available.

Next50 uses Fluxx Grantmaking for applications, grant agreements, reporting, and other grant-related activities. Invited applicants and current grantees can access the system through the Next50 Grantee Portal.

Organizations must discuss potential fit with Next50 before applying and review the current guidelines for any restrictions on multiple applications or awards.

Because SUN addresses distinct, sudden, and urgent circumstances, Next50 may consider it separately when a qualifying need arises.

Yes. Next50 allows eligible projects to apply through a qualified 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.  The fiscal sponsor must have a formal relationship with the entity carrying out grant activities and be able to exercise control over grant activities. Next50 requires the fiscal sponsor to have a contractual relationship with the grant project partner and must possess a mission that clearly aligns with the activities of the grant.

For eligibility purposes, Next50 uses the sponsored project’s budget rather than the fiscal sponsor’s full organizational budget when a funding opportunity includes a budget threshold. Applicants should review the applicable guidelines for any additional fiscal sponsorship requirements.

Funding structures and award limits vary by opportunity. Organizations should request the amount needed to accomplish the proposed work, but they should review the current guidelines and discuss the request amount with Next50 before receiving an invitation to apply. In rare cases, Next50 may award partial funding, but applicants should not assume a reduced award will be offered.

• Applicants are required to submit a recent audit (not older than 12/31/2024) for grant requests over $50,000.

• Nonprofits that have not yet completed an external audit or those with an audit older than 12/31/2024 will be limited to funding requests of $50,000 or less.

• Nonprofits with an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less are eligible to request more than $50,000, but they must submit an external Financial Review or Compilation in place of an audit.

Financial documentation requirements vary by organization, request amount, and funding opportunity. Applicants may be asked to provide an audit, financial review, compilation, 990, organizational budget, project budget, financial statements, or other information needed to assess financial condition and need.

Before applying, potential grantees must affirm that they have reviewed Next50’s Grant Agreement, including requirements related to reporting, publicity, intellectual property, and other performance obligations. Applicants must also affirm that they have the authority to enter into a binding agreement with Next50 without modifications.

If selected for funding, the grantee will be expected to accept Next50’s Grant Agreement in its entirety. Modifications or adjustments will not be accepted.

Next50 views reporting as an opportunity to learn and ensure accountability. Reporting requirements vary by grant opportunity and are designed to be proportionate to the award and the nature of the work.

Grantees may be asked to report on progress, outcomes, learning, financial expenditures, barriers, and next steps. The applicable guidelines and grant agreement describe the specific requirements.

No. Next50 is a private foundation based in Colorado and is not affiliated with the political action committee called “The Next 50.” Any surveys or solicitations from that organization are unrelated to Next50.

Review the current funding opportunity guidelines first. If your question isn’t addressed there, Next50 uses a virtual assistant, Penny, whom you can chat with at any time on the website. Click on the icon in the lower right to access Penny. You may also use the contact information or inquiry process provided on the relevant opportunity page.

Please note: Penny can help with general questions, but she can’t invite organizations to apply for funding or confirm details about a specific application. For application status information or to apply, please contact a Next50 staff member.