We drive policy, program, and systems improvements through grantmaking to help older adults age well in their homes and communities. Our grants explore solutions around the real needs of older adults, focusing primarily on what those historically left out of decision-making say they need.
Health Matters Forum: A Conversation with Our Next Governor
The 2026 California gubernatorial race presents an opportunity to educate candidates about issues impacting health and aging. Capitol Impact will produce a candidate forum in Fall 2025 with support from 11 philanthropic partners to educate candidates and engage media on health and aging priorities, like access to LTSS.
Health Matters Forum: A Conversation with Our Next Governor
The 2026 California gubernatorial race presents an opportunity to educate candidates about issues impacting health and aging. Capitol Impact will produce a candidate forum in Fall 2025 with support from 11 philanthropic partners to educate candidates and engage media on health and aging priorities, like access to LTSS.
Voces de los Mayores- Amplifying Lived Experience to Shape Policy
Sharing the stories of people with lived experience provides an opportunity to highlight what they need to live well at home and in community. Voces de los Mayores, is a storytelling and civic engagement initiative that collects and uplifts the lived experiences of Hispanic older adults navigating long-term services and supports (LTSS) and healthcare systems. As a result of this project up to 20 older adults will be trained to publicly share their stories.
Voces de los Mayores- Amplifying Lived Experience to Shape Policy
Sharing the stories of people with lived experience provides an opportunity to highlight what they need to live well at home and in community. Voces de los Mayores, is a storytelling and civic engagement initiative that collects and uplifts the lived experiences of Hispanic older adults navigating long-term services and supports (LTSS) and healthcare systems. As a result of this project up to 20 older adults will be trained to publicly share their stories.
Access to and affordability of health care is central to older adults, especially those who are dually eligible, to remain in the community. With co-funding from AARP Foundation, Arnold Ventures, State Value Health Strategies and The Commonwealth Fund, this project will the engage of an Affinity Group of Medicaid leaders across all 50 states and territories to build cross-state and cross-disciplinary learning. This will be accomplished through ongoing technical assistance and a 2 day meeting of Medicaid leaders.
Access to and affordability of health care is central to older adults, especially those who are dually eligible, to remain in the community. With co-funding from AARP Foundation, Arnold Ventures, State Value Health Strategies and The Commonwealth Fund, this project will the engage of an Affinity Group of Medicaid leaders across all 50 states and territories to build cross-state and cross-disciplinary learning. This will be accomplished through ongoing technical assistance and a 2 day meeting of Medicaid leaders.
Supporting aging in place of choice with connected health technologies and digitally-enabled care delivery: Exploring a TSF-Funded Component
The Aging in Place Initiative—led by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) in partnership with the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) through the Connected Health Collaborative Community (CHcc)—is advancing a coordinated, scalable approach to help older adults live safely and independently where they choose. Recognizing that aging in place is not just a healthcare issue but a system design challenge, the Aging in Place Initiative brings together healthcare providers, payors, innovators, and advocates to define the technology, infrastructure, and best practices that make aging in place of choice possible.
Through collaborative research and real-world implementation, the Aging in Place Initiative aims to create a scalable tech stack, identify effective hybrid care models, develop evidence frameworks to drive adoption and reimbursement, and provide tools to support caregivers and care coordination. The goal: to transform aging in place from a hopeful preference into a sustainable, equitable reality for all older adults. This proposal request is to support The SCAN Foundation (TSF) becoming an “impact sponsor” as part of the Aging in Place Initiative. Specifically, the grant will ensure that lived experience data (qualitative and quantitative) – from older adults representing TSF’s priority populations is incorporated into the project.
Supporting aging in place of choice with connected health technologies and digitally-enabled care delivery: Exploring a TSF-Funded Component
The Aging in Place Initiative—led by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) in partnership with the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) through the Connected Health Collaborative Community (CHcc)—is advancing a coordinated, scalable approach to help older adults live safely and independently where they choose. Recognizing that aging in place is not just a healthcare issue but a system design challenge, the Aging in Place Initiative brings together healthcare providers, payors, innovators, and advocates to define the technology, infrastructure, and best practices that make aging in place of choice possible.
Through collaborative research and real-world implementation, the Aging in Place Initiative aims to create a scalable tech stack, identify effective hybrid care models, develop evidence frameworks to drive adoption and reimbursement, and provide tools to support caregivers and care coordination. The goal: to transform aging in place from a hopeful preference into a sustainable, equitable reality for all older adults. This proposal request is to support The SCAN Foundation (TSF) becoming an “impact sponsor” as part of the Aging in Place Initiative. Specifically, the grant will ensure that lived experience data (qualitative and quantitative) – from older adults representing TSF’s priority populations is incorporated into the project.
In response to growing Medicaid and LTSS pressures following the passage of H.R. 1, TSF is supporting a LTSS Learning Lab that connects state Medicaid leaders with researchers to share real-time evidence and practical solutions, producing actionable insights and resources to inform state policy decisions.
In response to growing Medicaid and LTSS pressures following the passage of H.R. 1, TSF is supporting a LTSS Learning Lab that connects state Medicaid leaders with researchers to share real-time evidence and practical solutions, producing actionable insights and resources to inform state policy decisions.
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan Education and Support — Phase II
Integrated models of care ensure that older adults have access to and can afford high quality care. With co-funding from the California Health Care Foundation, this project will help promote promising models of integrated care. The Local Health Plans of California (LHPC) Institute will develop a portfolio of Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) education and technical assistance (TA) offerings to support local plans in preparing for implementation of the Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) mandated requirement for all Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) to implement and operate D-SNPs by January 2026.
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan Education and Support — Phase II
Integrated models of care ensure that older adults have access to and can afford high quality care. With co-funding from the California Health Care Foundation, this project will help promote promising models of integrated care. The Local Health Plans of California (LHPC) Institute will develop a portfolio of Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) education and technical assistance (TA) offerings to support local plans in preparing for implementation of the Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) mandated requirement for all Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) to implement and operate D-SNPs by January 2026.
To create the conditions for meaningful policy action, it is essential to develop consensus-driven, tactical policy recommendations that can be quickly and clearly shared when a policy window opens. However, historically, aging policy and advocacy groups have struggled to coalesce around specific recommendations that policymakers can champion. This project will entail coalition building and policy analysis/prioritization to bridge differing priorities and build a catalogue of actionable, stakeholder-vetted policy proposals that are positioned to advance the future of aging policy, including tactical action plans and one public-facing policy playbook.
To create the conditions for meaningful policy action, it is essential to develop consensus-driven, tactical policy recommendations that can be quickly and clearly shared when a policy window opens. However, historically, aging policy and advocacy groups have struggled to coalesce around specific recommendations that policymakers can champion. This project will entail coalition building and policy analysis/prioritization to bridge differing priorities and build a catalogue of actionable, stakeholder-vetted policy proposals that are positioned to advance the future of aging policy, including tactical action plans and one public-facing policy playbook.
The Regents of the University of California, Davis
Advancing Rural Aging: California Rural Policy Brief Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement
With support from The SCAN Foundation, this project amplified the findings and recommendations from the Rural Aging Policy Brief Series to state and national audiences through coordinated dissemination and engagement activities, connecting data and lived experience to increase awareness and catalyze solutions for rural aging challenges.
The Regents of the University of California, Davis
Advancing Rural Aging: California Rural Policy Brief Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement
With support from The SCAN Foundation, this project amplified the findings and recommendations from the Rural Aging Policy Brief Series to state and national audiences through coordinated dissemination and engagement activities, connecting data and lived experience to increase awareness and catalyze solutions for rural aging challenges.
This funding supports a plenary at the 2026 Grantmakers in Aging Annual meeting. The plenary will focus on the Aging and Disability Policy Lab and highlight lived experience. This provides an opportunity to introduce the work of the Lab to the broader philanthropic community.
This funding supports a plenary at the 2026 Grantmakers in Aging Annual meeting. The plenary will focus on the Aging and Disability Policy Lab and highlight lived experience. This provides an opportunity to introduce the work of the Lab to the broader philanthropic community.
Health Affairs Journal Articles to Amplify the Voices of Older Healthcare Beneficiaries & Caregivers
Health Affairs will explore a new article format to highlight the real-life impact of health policy on older adults. This innovative approach seeks to foster meaningful dialogue between older adults with lived experience and academic policy researchers, encouraging a meaningful exchange of insights and perspectives. The personal stories and insights shared by participants will not only promote mutual understanding but also inform and shape the policy-making process, elevating the voices of those with lived experience. Three articles will be published as part of this exploration.
Health Affairs Journal Articles to Amplify the Voices of Older Healthcare Beneficiaries & Caregivers
Health Affairs will explore a new article format to highlight the real-life impact of health policy on older adults. This innovative approach seeks to foster meaningful dialogue between older adults with lived experience and academic policy researchers, encouraging a meaningful exchange of insights and perspectives. The personal stories and insights shared by participants will not only promote mutual understanding but also inform and shape the policy-making process, elevating the voices of those with lived experience. Three articles will be published as part of this exploration.
Educating State Legislatures on Multisector Approaches for Aging
Convening and providing education to policy makers is central to driving policy change. This project, cofunded by The John A Hartford Foundation and West Health, will equip legislators with the knowledge needed to understand and consider how Multisector Plans on Aging support aging policy. This will be accomplished through a series of briefs and a daylong meeting of state legislatures.
Educating State Legislatures on Multisector Approaches for Aging
Convening and providing education to policy makers is central to driving policy change. This project, cofunded by The John A Hartford Foundation and West Health, will equip legislators with the knowledge needed to understand and consider how Multisector Plans on Aging support aging policy. This will be accomplished through a series of briefs and a daylong meeting of state legislatures.
Promotion and Maintenance of the LTSS Initiatives Compendium Website
This project will support continued dissemination and promotion of the LTSS Compendium through the production of policy briefs and demonstrations on how to use the site.
Promotion and Maintenance of the LTSS Initiatives Compendium Website
This project will support continued dissemination and promotion of the LTSS Compendium through the production of policy briefs and demonstrations on how to use the site.
California Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports
California Advocacy Network 2026-2027
Founded by The SCAN Foundation in 2011, the CCLTSS advances long-term services and supports reform in California by uniting state and county-level organizations to educate policymakers, build consensus on policy solutions, and strengthen advocacy for programs that support older adults and people with disabilities across the state’s system of care. This is accomplished statewide monthly policy meetings and local engagements. CCLTSS through the work will produce webinars, factsheets, hold advocacy days, and elevate the stories of people with lived experience.
California Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports
California Advocacy Network 2026-2027
Founded by The SCAN Foundation in 2011, the CCLTSS advances long-term services and supports reform in California by uniting state and county-level organizations to educate policymakers, build consensus on policy solutions, and strengthen advocacy for programs that support older adults and people with disabilities across the state’s system of care. This is accomplished statewide monthly policy meetings and local engagements. CCLTSS through the work will produce webinars, factsheets, hold advocacy days, and elevate the stories of people with lived experience.
There is an urgent need for tools capable of directly evaluating the economic and fiscal trade-offs of specific policy levers and assessing the impact of LTSS policy recommendations. This project will result in the establishment of such a tool, an analytic model capable of assessing diverse federal LTSS financing policy ideas that would be designed to align with the methodologies and assumptions used by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the most trusted nonpartisan source of legislative analysis. The tool and its benefits will be disseminated to key policymakers and stakeholders through a public event, private briefings, and at least two policy reports.
There is an urgent need for tools capable of directly evaluating the economic and fiscal trade-offs of specific policy levers and assessing the impact of LTSS policy recommendations. This project will result in the establishment of such a tool, an analytic model capable of assessing diverse federal LTSS financing policy ideas that would be designed to align with the methodologies and assumptions used by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the most trusted nonpartisan source of legislative analysis. The tool and its benefits will be disseminated to key policymakers and stakeholders through a public event, private briefings, and at least two policy reports.
