Recent Grants

The Retirement Research Foundation is one of the first private foundations in the nation devoted exclusively to aging and retirement issues. RRF's Responsive Grants program supports projects that have a significant focus on older adults, ages 65 and over, in the following areas:

Economic Security in Later Life: The Retirement Research Foundation awards projects that aim to accomplish the following objectives:

• Apply existing, realistic retirement security standards to public policy;
• Close the poverty gap for women, the population with greatest retirement risk, racial and ethnic minorities, and those living in rural areas;
• Address affordable housing as a key aspect of retirement security;
• Improve affordability of healthcare, including long-term care, as essential to retirement security;
• Promote and protect employment opportunities;
• Protect retirees from reductions in defined benefit (DB) plans while resolving fiscal problems of the DB system; and
• Close the benefits gap.

Advocacy: The Retirement Research Foundation funds advocacy projects that have a regional or national impact on older Americans. Of particular interest are projects that:

• Advance policy issues of critical importance to our nation's seniors such as economic security, health care, housing, etc.
• Use clearly focused and strategic efforts to address systemic problems
• Forge partnerships with organizations to achieve better use of resources and to share knowledge

Direct Service: The Retirement Research Foundation awards Direct Service Grants for projects that:

• Increase the availability and effectiveness of comprehensive community programs designed to maintain older persons in their homes
• Provide supportive services to older persons in residential settings, such as congregate living facilities, group homes, and assisted living facilities
• Improve the quality of nursing home care
• Coordinate the provision of acute- and long-term care for older persons with chronic conditions by supporting efforts that provide continuity of care, prevention, early intervention, and client education
• Provide new and expanded opportunities for older adults to engage in meaningful roles in society such as employment and volunteerism

Professional Education and Training: The Retirement Research Foundation funds professional education and training projects that have a national impact on older Americans. RRF recognizes the importance of a well-trained work force to serve older persons both in the community and in residential settings. Of particular interest are programs that:

• Increase the knowledge and skills of professionals and paraprofessionals who serve older adults, ages 65 and older
• Expand the capacity and number of professionals and paraprofessionals prepared to meet the growing demands of an aging population

Research: The Retirement Research Foundation funds research projects that have a regional or national impact on older Americans. Of particular interest are projects that:

• Seek causes and solutions to significant problems facing older adults, ages 65 and older, through support of applied and policy research for which federal funding is not available.