EngAGEment Initiative

The Census Bureau estimates that by 2030, the number of older Americans will double to approximately 70 million people, or 20 percent of the U.S. population. Throughout the coming decades, the aging of America’s population will transform virtually all aspects of family and community life, requiring a broad range of personal, institutional and societal responses. Communities, if properly prepared, can benefit greatly from the growing number of elders and the contributions they make. 

To help communities prepare for this “longevity revolution,” Grantmakers in Aging (GIA) developed the EngAGEment Initiative.  The EngAGEment Initiative partners GIA with regional associations of grantmakers to strengthen grantmaking for an aging society through education and collaboration.

Indiana Grantmakers Alliance has been chosen to participate in this national initiative. Our program is being led by the Education Advisory Committee, which is comprised of representatives from community, family and corporate foundations.  The initiative is designed to position Indiana grantmakers on the cutting edge of lifespan issues through the following goals:

• Indiana grantmakers will have an elevated knowledge of aging/lifespan issues and will utilize that knowledge to address those issues.
• Communities throughout Indiana will undertake efforts to foster intergenerational solutions to community-wide problems.
• New resources will be developed and infused into lifespan community programs, projects and/or policies.
• Information and “best practices” garnered from the EngAGEment Initiative will be shared with Indiana’s corporate, community and family foundations.

Indiana Grantmakers Alliance will receive $30,000 in grant monies over two years from Grantmakers in Aging and has partnered with Lilly Endowment, the Moore Foundation and the IU Center on Aging and Community to secure 1:1 matching funds for this unique initiative. 

For more information on aging issues or the EngAGEment Initiative, please contact Marie Beason, Manager of Educational Programs, at mbeason@indianagrantmakers.org or (317) 630-5200.