Since 1979, the Chicago-based RRF Foundation for Aging (RRF) has supported projects that enhance and improve the quality of life for older people. While nearly half of RRF grants support programs in the Midwest, the foundation also supports innovative solutions that assist older Americans nationwide.

The foundation invites applications for its grantmaking program, which aims to improve the quality of life for older people. To strengthen the foundation’s impact, it has established the following priority areas:

Caregiving: Ensuring care partners are informed, well-trained, and supported while providing care to older people in community settings.

Economic security in later life: Valuing the dignity of older people through efforts that ensure and protect their economic security and well-being.

Housing: Promoting efforts to make housing more affordable and provide coordinated services that enable older people to live safely in community settings.

Social and intergenerational connectedness: Strengthening social bonds through efforts that promote meaningful connections, including those that span generations.

Organizational capacity building: Improve management and governance of organizations in Illinois.

Within the priority areas, RRF will award grants involving advocacy, direct service, professional education and training, research, and organizational capacity building. While the priority areas reflect RRF’s primary funding interests, the foundation remains open to supporting compelling applications on other topics.

Letters of inquiry are due February 1, 2026, and selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by May 5, 2026.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as well as public charities or nonprofit organizations that are not required to have a 501(c)(3) designation, such as state-funded universities and area agencies on aging.

For additional information and complete application instructions, see the RRF Foundation for Aging website.

Deadline: February 1, 2026 (Letters of Inquiry)

Since 1979, the Chicago-based RRF Foundation for Aging has supported projects that enhance and improve the quality of life for older people. While nearly half of RRF grants support programs in the Midwest, the foundation also supports innovative solutions that assist older Americans nationwide.

The foundation invites applications for its grantmaking program, which aims to improve the quality of life for older people. To strengthen the foundation’s impact, it has established the following priority areas:

Caregiving: Ensuring care partners are informed, well-trained, and supported while providing care to older people in community settings.

Economic Security in Later Life: Valuing the dignity of older people through efforts that ensure and protect their economic security and well-being.

Housing: Promoting efforts to make housing more affordable and provide coordinated services that enable older people to live safely in community settings.

Social and Intergenerational Connectedness: Strengthening social bonds through efforts that promote meaningful connections, including those that span generations.

Organizational Capacity Building: Improve management and governance of organizations in Illinois.

Within the priority areas, RRF will award grants involving advocacy, direct service, professional education and training, research, and organizational capacity building. While the priority areas reflect RRF’s primary funding interests, the foundation remains open to supporting compelling applications on other topics.

Letters of inquiry are due February 1, 2025, and selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by May 5, 2025.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as well as public charities or nonprofit organizations that are not required to have a 501(c)(3) designation, such as state-funded universities and area agencies on aging.

For additional information and complete application instructions, see the RRF Foundation for Aging website.

Deadline: February 1, 2025 (Letters of Inquiry)