2025 AARP Community Challenge

The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. In 2025, the AARP Community Challenge will be accepting applications for three different grant opportunities:

Flagship Grants
Flagship AARP Community Challenge grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. Since 2017, AARP has funded projects with an average grant amount of $10,000 to $12,000. Nine out of 10 grants (or 92 percent) are for $20,000 or less.

Capacity-Building Microgrants 
Combining $2,500 grants with additional resources (such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to 2 hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national nonprofit organizations and AARP publications), this grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in four categories.

Demonstration Grants 
This opportunity funds projects that encourage the replication of promising local efforts. Grants tend to fall between $10,000 and $20,000 and will not exceed $25,000. 

Applications are being accepted through March 5, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET.

Since 2017, AARP has funded over 1,060 projects across all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.