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.
California Master Plan for Aging (MPA): Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board (AD-LEAB)
With support from the MPA Fund, Mandala Change Group will partner with the California Department of Aging to develop the Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board (AD-LEAB), bringing the experiences and expertise of underserved and underrepresented older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers to inform MPA implementation.
California Master Plan for Aging (MPA): Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board (AD-LEAB)
With support from the MPA Fund, Mandala Change Group will partner with the California Department of Aging to develop the Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board (AD-LEAB), bringing the experiences and expertise of underserved and underrepresented older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers to inform MPA implementation.
To further advance systemic change through lived experience, the Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) will create a Toolkit to support creation and operation of additional ECO Groups within and beyond California.
To further advance systemic change through lived experience, the Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) will create a Toolkit to support creation and operation of additional ECO Groups within and beyond California.
Supporting Multisector Plans for Aging Funders Community
This grant, with co-funding from West Health, Health Care Foundation of Western and Central NY, and Taub Foundation, will support a Grantmakers in Aging Funding Community to champion Multisector Plans for Aging (MPA). GIA will convene 22 funders who are exploring opportunities to support Multisector Plans for Aging in their state. The Community works to: Increase awareness and understanding of MPA among the GIA network and the broader philanthropic community. Create a formal community of practice to share information, strategies, and solutions related to MPA. Cultivate relationships with new funders engaged through MPA efforts to expand and strengthen the GIA network and forge strategic partnerships across sectors.
Supporting Multisector Plans for Aging Funders Community
This grant, with co-funding from West Health, Health Care Foundation of Western and Central NY, and Taub Foundation, will support a Grantmakers in Aging Funding Community to champion Multisector Plans for Aging (MPA). GIA will convene 22 funders who are exploring opportunities to support Multisector Plans for Aging in their state. The Community works to: Increase awareness and understanding of MPA among the GIA network and the broader philanthropic community. Create a formal community of practice to share information, strategies, and solutions related to MPA. Cultivate relationships with new funders engaged through MPA efforts to expand and strengthen the GIA network and forge strategic partnerships across sectors.
Older adults and people with disabilities were disproportionately impacted by the Los Angeles County wildfires and face unique challenges to recovery. Contribution to the California Community Fund will provide critical support to recovery efforts for older adults impacted by the fires and their families.
Older adults and people with disabilities were disproportionately impacted by the Los Angeles County wildfires and face unique challenges to recovery. Contribution to the California Community Fund will provide critical support to recovery efforts for older adults impacted by the fires and their families.
To advance long-term service and support (LTSS) reforms policymakers might consider the history of policy efforts in this area as an important source of information and context. This project will create a user-friendly website to showcase the LTSS Compendium of legislative reform solutions proposed over the last 30 years, as well as those put forward by researchers and think tanks.
To advance long-term service and support (LTSS) reforms policymakers might consider the history of policy efforts in this area as an important source of information and context. This project will create a user-friendly website to showcase the LTSS Compendium of legislative reform solutions proposed over the last 30 years, as well as those put forward by researchers and think tanks.
The People Say is a groundbreaking resource amplifying the voices of older adults in policymaking. Developed by The SCAN Foundation and Public Policy Lab, it shares real-life insights on issues like healthcare, caregiving, and transportation—ensuring the lived experiences of aging Americans shape the policies that impact their daily lives. Current investments (multiple grants) include Year 2 research, adding perspectives from older adults living in Arizona, California, Minnesota, New Orleans, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
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Total Awarded: $823,560
Award Year: 2024—2025
National
Long-Term Care, Medicare Health and Social Supports, Medicare-Medicaid Integration, Multisector Plans for Aging
The People Say is a groundbreaking resource amplifying the voices of older adults in policymaking. Developed by The SCAN Foundation and Public Policy Lab, it shares real-life insights on issues like healthcare, caregiving, and transportation—ensuring the lived experiences of aging Americans shape the policies that impact their daily lives. Current investments (multiple grants) include Year 2 research, adding perspectives from older adults living in Arizona, California, Minnesota, New Orleans, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Intersections of Racial Equity/Social Justice Organizations and Aging
To better understand community-based organizations supporting California’s continuum of care—especially in rural and underserved areas—the USC Equity Research Institute will identify these groups and explore opportunities for alignment and collaboration that advance shared goals and strengthen the SCAN Foundation’s impact across diverse communities.
Intersections of Racial Equity/Social Justice Organizations and Aging
To better understand community-based organizations supporting California’s continuum of care—especially in rural and underserved areas—the USC Equity Research Institute will identify these groups and explore opportunities for alignment and collaboration that advance shared goals and strengthen the SCAN Foundation’s impact across diverse communities.
The Cost of Prejudice: What does it really cost when we discriminate against people in the provision of health care services?
This grant to UMass Boston will examine how various forms of perceived discrimination (e.g. racial, age, gender, weight, sexual orientation, physical disability, wealth, etc.) impact both older adults’ experiences with the health care system and any health care costs associated with those experiences within the delivery system.
The Cost of Prejudice: What does it really cost when we discriminate against people in the provision of health care services?
This grant to UMass Boston will examine how various forms of perceived discrimination (e.g. racial, age, gender, weight, sexual orientation, physical disability, wealth, etc.) impact both older adults’ experiences with the health care system and any health care costs associated with those experiences within the delivery system.
With support of the MPA Fund, Justice in Aging will facilitate stakeholder engagement to advance and ensure implementation of the Governor’s California Master Plan for Aging (MPA), with a focus on creating a universal home care system and ending older adult homelessness.
With support of the MPA Fund, Justice in Aging will facilitate stakeholder engagement to advance and ensure implementation of the Governor’s California Master Plan for Aging (MPA), with a focus on creating a universal home care system and ending older adult homelessness.
Addressing Gaps in Emergency Response Systems for Older Adults Impacted by Wildfires
California wildfires greatly impact older adults and long-term services and supports providers serving them. LeadingAge California will document the challenges LTSS providers faced during recent fires, gaps in emergency system responses, and recommendations to strengthen emergency preparedness and response protocols in LTSS settings (e.g., senior housing, assisted living, nursing facilities).
Addressing Gaps in Emergency Response Systems for Older Adults Impacted by Wildfires
California wildfires greatly impact older adults and long-term services and supports providers serving them. LeadingAge California will document the challenges LTSS providers faced during recent fires, gaps in emergency system responses, and recommendations to strengthen emergency preparedness and response protocols in LTSS settings (e.g., senior housing, assisted living, nursing facilities).
Developing a National Rural Strategy & Reimagining Rural Policy for the 21st Century
The project will launch a bipartisan commission working to improve federal policies that advance equitable rural prosperity in the 21st century. The Commission’s research will include older adults with lived experience, as well as experts in the field of aging. The Commission will propose a national rural strategy that identifies the opportunities and priorities for achieving equitable rural prosperity.
Developing a National Rural Strategy & Reimagining Rural Policy for the 21st Century
The project will launch a bipartisan commission working to improve federal policies that advance equitable rural prosperity in the 21st century. The Commission’s research will include older adults with lived experience, as well as experts in the field of aging. The Commission will propose a national rural strategy that identifies the opportunities and priorities for achieving equitable rural prosperity.
A shared language is essential to advancing effective home and community-based services (HCBS) policies. Through this project, HSRI will conduct a national environmental scan, engaging diverse voices, and synthesizing findings into a definition of HCBS. The aim of this definition is to support alignment in policy, advocacy, and service delivery—ultimately strengthening the effectiveness, equity, and coordination of HCBS for individuals with long-term support needs.
A shared language is essential to advancing effective home and community-based services (HCBS) policies. Through this project, HSRI will conduct a national environmental scan, engaging diverse voices, and synthesizing findings into a definition of HCBS. The aim of this definition is to support alignment in policy, advocacy, and service delivery—ultimately strengthening the effectiveness, equity, and coordination of HCBS for individuals with long-term support needs.
Strategies for Improving Long-Term Care: Educating State Policymakers
To advance long-term service and support (LTSS) reforms, states are uniquely positioned to leverage federal flexibilities to develop solutions. This project aims to strengthen the capacity and efficiency of state legislatures to consider policy options and innovations to support aging individuals, particularly policies around long-term care financing.
Strategies for Improving Long-Term Care: Educating State Policymakers
To advance long-term service and support (LTSS) reforms, states are uniquely positioned to leverage federal flexibilities to develop solutions. This project aims to strengthen the capacity and efficiency of state legislatures to consider policy options and innovations to support aging individuals, particularly policies around long-term care financing.
Advancing Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Populations
To promote promising models of integrated care in rural areas, plans need to encourage enrollment by making programs more responsive to consumer needs and increase the availability of these programs in rural areas. Through this project, CHCS will translate the Consumer Perspective into an Action Plan for States. The resulting toolkit will include actionable steps for states to take in: (1) designing or refining their integrated care programs, and (2) communicating with dually eligible populations and providers about the value of integrated care. Through exploring and identifying feasible options to improve provider access and coordinated care delivery for dually eligible populations in rural areas, states will learn to improve access to care.
Advancing Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Populations
To promote promising models of integrated care in rural areas, plans need to encourage enrollment by making programs more responsive to consumer needs and increase the availability of these programs in rural areas. Through this project, CHCS will translate the Consumer Perspective into an Action Plan for States. The resulting toolkit will include actionable steps for states to take in: (1) designing or refining their integrated care programs, and (2) communicating with dually eligible populations and providers about the value of integrated care. Through exploring and identifying feasible options to improve provider access and coordinated care delivery for dually eligible populations in rural areas, states will learn to improve access to care.
With co-funding from the California Health Care Foundation and Metta Fund, four California-based organizations will support “Equity Community Organizing Groups” (ECO Groups). In this second phase of the project, each community will begin to implement solutions that advance health care issues and address the needs in their community, ensuring that older adults are leading the efforts and lived experience is at the center.
With co-funding from the California Health Care Foundation and Metta Fund, four California-based organizations will support “Equity Community Organizing Groups” (ECO Groups). In this second phase of the project, each community will begin to implement solutions that advance health care issues and address the needs in their community, ensuring that older adults are leading the efforts and lived experience is at the center.
