Grant Competition: AARP Foundation Seeks Evidence-Based Solutions for Vulnerable Older Adults

Applicant Webinar

Presented by Matt D’Amico, Grant Program Officer

March 14, 2017

• AARP Foundation Overview

• Evidence-Based Grant Competition Overview

• Application Process

• Question & Answer (via webinar chat)

Webinar Agenda

AARP FOUNDATION

Vision: A country free of poverty where no older person feels vulnerable.

Mission: We serve the vulnerable 50+ by creating and advancing effective

solutions to help them secure the essentials.

AARP Foundation focuses its work around four impact areas, to ensure that

low-income vulnerable older adults have nutritious food, safe, secure and

affordable housing, a steady income, and strong and sustaining social

bonds, supported with vigorous legal advocacy.

• Income Security

– Ultimate outcome: More working-age older adults are employed and able to manage and protect their financial assets.

• Food Security

– Ultimate outcome: A food-secure nation where all older adults have access to healthy, safe and affordable foods.

• Housing Security

– Ultimate outcome: Older adults are able to age-in-place and age-in-community.

• Social Connectedness

– Ultimate outcome: Older adults are healthier and more fully connected to their community.

AARP Foundation Desired Outcomes

• Through this grant competition AARP Foundation seeks evidence-based solutions that advance our mission to serve the vulnerable 50+. Primary goals are to:

– Develop a landscape of evidence-based interventions;

– Create portfolio of grant-funded programs with different levels of evidence with the goal of scaling, to serve more low-income older adults; and

– Help grantees progress along the evidence continuum to ultimately demonstrate increasing effectiveness.

Goals for Grant Competition

• Eligible organizations include nonprofits, public agencies, and for-profit organizations.

• AARP Foundation does not make grants for the following:

– Individuals; – Capital campaigns; – Debt retirement or operating deficits; – Endowments or reserve funds; – Political organizations or campaigns; – Lobbying legislators or influencing elections; – Sponsorship of fundraising events; – Marketing endeavors and personal research – Indirect expenses unrelated to funded project; and – Local affiliates or chapters of national organizations for solely

implementing a national program at the local level (general support).

Eligibility

• Seven grantees were selected in Fall 2016

– Rhode Island Public Health Institute — Food on the Move

– Lee Health Foundation — FlavorHarvest@Home

– University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center — Scaling for Impact: Evaluating Diverse Staffing Models, Settings and Outcomes for PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives)

– Help at Your Door

– American Heart Association, Inc., Baltimore City Health Department, and No Boundaries Coalition — Baltimarket

– Capital Impact Partners — Worker-Owned Home Care Cooperatives to Support Income Security for Low-Income Older Women

– San Francisco General Hospital Foundation — EatSF Health Food Voucher Program

• Grantee project descriptions can be found on our website.

• Grant award periods range from 18 to 36 month.

• Grant award amounts range from $130,000 to $750,000, depending on level of evidence and scope of work.

Current Grantees

• Our Goal: support grantees’ work in progressing along the evidence continuum in ways that ultimately demonstrate increasing effectiveness.

• Determine your current level of evidence:

1. Theory of Change/Pre-Evidence: The project being proposed is supported by a theoretical framework (e.g., theory of change) that describes the knowledge base, assumptions, strategies and expected results (see further guidance on creating a theory of change on our website (here).

2. Self-reported Evidence: Self-reported Evidence: Systematically collected data tracks who is served, and the outputs and outcomes that are achieved. Internal evaluations may have been conducted to assess program delivery and make improvements. Outputs and outcomes have been analyzed internally to measure program effectiveness.

3. Independent Evaluation: The program or proposed model has been evaluated independently and outcomes have been used to measure program effectiveness. An impact evaluation may have been conducted within one of the following scenarios:

• changes were observed that may be attributed to the program, but cannot be generalized beyond the study group;

• the evaluation controlled for factors other than the program that could account for the observed change with a large range of participants; or

• multiple well-designed impact evaluations of the same model support the same or similar conclusions.

• Minimum Requirement: Strong theory of change supported by previous research findings.

Focus on Evidence

• AARP Foundation focuses our grantmaking to identify and invest in new programs that we can implement directly or through close collaboration with other organizations.

• Through this deep level of engagement, we seek to:

– Understand how you define your outcomes and methodology to measure your outcomes.

– Understand and help refine your business and program model.

– Help determine your readiness for the appropriate evaluation.

– Provide technical assistance as needed. – Explore potential to scale the program.

AARP Foundation Engagement

• The total amount and length of the grant award will coincide with the level of evidence and maturity of the program.

• The following should be considered guidelines, but not strict funding bands:

– Theory of Change/ Pre-Evidence: $50,000-$75,000; 9-18 months

– Self-reported Evidence: $100,000-$200,000/year; 18-24 months

– Independent Evaluation: $200,000-$300,000/year; 24-36 months

Grant Award

• Be Concise and Specific(note character limits)

• Help Us Understand Your Program

• Focus on Supporting Research, Evidence, & Data

• You must submit either a theory of change or logic model as an attachment (guidance available on our website).

• Focus on how we could leverage your expertise.

• Explain how scaling could work (by your organization or another).

• Note: Budget or request amount not required in pre-application.

Tips for a Strong Pre-Application

• Friday, April 7th: Mandatory Pre-application deadline by 11:59 p.m. ET

• Friday, April 28th: Notification to all applicants regarding invited status

• Friday, May 19th: Invited full application deadline by 11:59 p.m. ET

• May 20-May 31: Clarification period (as needed)

• June 23: Organization informed about funding (tentative)

• July 1: Program start date (flexible)

Timeline/Key Dates

Please visit our website for more details and to:

– Download the full Request for Applications (RFA)

– Access Required pre-application link

For More Information and to Apply http://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/grants/info-2016/Identifying-

Evidence-Based-Solutions.html

• Request for Applications (Please read fully before applying)

• Pre-application Link (how to apply)

• Theory of Change Guidance

• Logic Model Guidance

• Logic Model Template (editable Word document)

• Frequently Asked Questions

Resources/Links

Please type your questions in the webinar chat box.

For questions that we are unable to get to, please e-mail us at

evidence@aarp.org.

Thank you!

Questions?