On January 15, the Lifelong Maine Learn and Share Call focused on developing a strong Challenge Grant application. Andrew Grant opened the conversation with hints and tips for developing a strong Challenge Grant application. Bonus-- the advice will help whenever your age-friendly team is developing a grant proposal. To view Andrew's Presentation, view below or click here.
Bob MacIntire (bobauvergne@gmail.comv), Chair All Age-Friendly Hallowell, and Karen Knox (visionhallowell@gmail.com), Vision Hallowell, described their winning 2024 Challenge Grant Project. They explained how the Challenge Grant Project fit into broader plans to improve the park and described the partnership between volunteers and the municipality that was critical to the success of the project. When the grant was completed, the team hosted a well attended community celebration, complete with Barber Shop Quartet, food, and fun for all ages. To view the Hallowell presentation, view below or click here.
Lisa Joyce (ljoyce@southportland.org), Chair of Age-Friendly South Portland, shared information about a few of their challenge grant projects, emphasizing how they leveraged the funding to attract additional money for the project and engage new partners. To view Lisa's presentation, view below click here.
Andrew Grant. Hints and Tips for a Strong Grant Application
Bob Macintire and Karen Knox. All Age-Friendly Hallowell's 2024 Project
Lisa Joyce. Age-Friendly South Portland--Leveraging Funds to Increase Engagment
The application process will be open for eight weeks, closing on March 5, 2025. There are several different opportunities to help you move livable projects forward in 2025:
Capacity Building Grants (up to $2,500)
Disaster Resilience: Working with your community to address disaster preparedness and community resilience using the AARP Disaster Resilience ToolKit
Bike Audits: Implementing bike audit assessments to enhance safety and bikeability in communities (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from the League of American Bicyclists and using the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit
HomeFit® Modifications: Implementing education, simple home modifications and/or easy home safety and accessibility solutions to make "lifelong homes" (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from the RL Mace Universal Design Institute and using the AARP HomeFit Guide
Walk Audits: Implementing walk audit assessments to enhance safety and walkability (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from America Walks and using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit
Flagship Grants (up to $25,000) for work to make public places more accessible, transportation, housing, digital connection, and community resilience.
Demonstration Grants (up to $25,000) The Demonstration Grants work with outside partners to advance livable work. In 2025, there are four areas of focus:
Pedestrian Safety
Expanding High Speed Internet
Reconnecting Communities Divided by Infrastructure (e.g., highways)
Housing Choice Design Competition
2025 AARP Challenge Grant Timeline
January 8 - Applications open (for more information and to apply, click here)
January 29 - Public Information Session
March 5 - Applications close
Mid-May - All applicants will be notified of their status by email
June 11 - Deadline to complete paperwork
June 25 - Public announcement of the selected grantees -- and work on projects begins!
December 15 - All projects must be completed
December 31 - Deadline for After-Action Reports
For more information and to apply for a 2025 AARP Community Challenge Grant, please visit https://communitychallenge.aarp.org/2025/organizations/aarp/home
IN 2024, we gathered to discuss the 2024 AARP Challenge Grant. Four Maine communities told us about their projects, the impact on the community, and offered some hints and tips for completing the application and managing the project after you receive funding.