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.
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.
This analysis examines the potential access impacts on the dual eligible population in each state of three Medicaid policies passed in July 2025 as part of H.R.1 federal legislation: delaying implementation of CMS rules on Medicaid eligibility & enrollment; reducing how states are able to use state-directed payments (SDP) for Medicaid providers; and imposition of work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility for certain populations.
This analysis examines the potential access impacts on the dual eligible population in each state of three Medicaid policies passed in July 2025 as part of H.R.1 federal legislation: delaying implementation of CMS rules on Medicaid eligibility & enrollment; reducing how states are able to use state-directed payments (SDP) for Medicaid providers; and imposition of work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility for certain populations.
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.
Affordable, accessible long-term care at home and in the community is essential for older adults to age well. This data analysis will result in a public-facing online data map that identifies all Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and institutional Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) users in the United States by county.
Affordable, accessible long-term care at home and in the community is essential for older adults to age well. This data analysis will result in a public-facing online data map that identifies all Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and institutional Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) users in the United States by county.
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan Education and Support
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
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.
This planning grant for a potential multi-phase project is to support the foundational work needed to identify playbook and convening goals, audience; draft guiding principles that can be shared with aging policy leaders in advance of a Spring 2026 national event.
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Total Awarded: $75,000
Award Year: 2025
National
Long-Term Care, Medicare Health and Social Supports, Medicare-Medicaid Integration, Multisector Plans for Aging
This planning grant for a potential multi-phase project is to support the foundational work needed to identify playbook and convening goals, audience; draft guiding principles that can be shared with aging policy leaders in advance of a Spring 2026 national event.
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.
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.
Advancing Health Equity in Aging: Discovery Project to Build Alliances and The Opportunity to Organize Older Adults
This project will document and visualize the full landscape of organizing actors, categories, and roles of different sectors to organize older adults. It will learn directly from people working in adjacent spaces, including funders, organizers, academics, and older adults themselves, and develop and prioritize ideas for ways to make the most impact.
Advancing Health Equity in Aging: Discovery Project to Build Alliances and The Opportunity to Organize Older Adults
This project will document and visualize the full landscape of organizing actors, categories, and roles of different sectors to organize older adults. It will learn directly from people working in adjacent spaces, including funders, organizers, academics, and older adults themselves, and develop and prioritize ideas for ways to make the most impact.
Laying the Foundation for Data to Inform AI/ML Solutions for Marginalized Populations
In the absence of formal AI regulations, multi-stakeholder coalitions like CHAI are helping uphold and incentivize effective governance and oversight with AI, bridging for-profit, government, and healthcare. This project defines what is needed to develop representative datasets and best practices for applying AI equitably in healthcare for vulnerable populations, with a focus on older adults in underserved and marginalized communities.
Laying the Foundation for Data to Inform AI/ML Solutions for Marginalized Populations
In the absence of formal AI regulations, multi-stakeholder coalitions like CHAI are helping uphold and incentivize effective governance and oversight with AI, bridging for-profit, government, and healthcare. This project defines what is needed to develop representative datasets and best practices for applying AI equitably in healthcare for vulnerable populations, with a focus on older adults in underserved and marginalized communities.
The Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) will conduct a shared power analysis with Equity Community Organization Groups (ECO Groups) to understand the impact of the investment model to support community action and change and to assess the potential for this model to be scaled and spread across California.
The Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) will conduct a shared power analysis with Equity Community Organization Groups (ECO Groups) to understand the impact of the investment model to support community action and change and to assess the potential for this model to be scaled and spread across California.
Initiatives to Advance Long-Term Services and Supports Reform
The history of policy efforts in long-term service and support (LTSS) is an important source of information and context as policymakers consider future reforms. This three-part project will (1) support the creation of a concise, practical compendium of LTSS financing reform solutions for federal policymakers; (2) explore how individuals with LTSS need to access the home care system and how that varies by program eligibility, create a journey map of how individuals enter the system to access home care, and the key barriers they face; (3) will analyze recent state activity and state goals on LTSS reform by cataloguing new state laws and programs as well as active discussions to enact new financing options.
Initiatives to Advance Long-Term Services and Supports Reform
The history of policy efforts in long-term service and support (LTSS) is an important source of information and context as policymakers consider future reforms. This three-part project will (1) support the creation of a concise, practical compendium of LTSS financing reform solutions for federal policymakers; (2) explore how individuals with LTSS need to access the home care system and how that varies by program eligibility, create a journey map of how individuals enter the system to access home care, and the key barriers they face; (3) will analyze recent state activity and state goals on LTSS reform by cataloguing new state laws and programs as well as active discussions to enact new financing options.
Expanding Access to Integrated Medicare-Medicaid Programs in Rural Areas
To promote promising models of integrated care in rural areas, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) will identify potential key factors influencing the financing and delivery of health care in rural communities and select states and models for analysis. The resulting research will add to the understanding of factors that aid or impede the development and sustainability of integrated Medicare-Medicaid programs, and elevate promising approaches to expanding access to integrated care models in rural areas.
Expanding Access to Integrated Medicare-Medicaid Programs in Rural Areas
To promote promising models of integrated care in rural areas, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) will identify potential key factors influencing the financing and delivery of health care in rural communities and select states and models for analysis. The resulting research will add to the understanding of factors that aid or impede the development and sustainability of integrated Medicare-Medicaid programs, and elevate promising approaches to expanding access to integrated care models in rural areas.
Supporting Remote Career Opportunities for Midcareer and Older Workers in Appalachia
This work supports Generation.org’s remote training program that trains adult learners in rural geographies and place them into new, remote-friendly careers. The SCAN Foundation’s funding focused on recruiting older adult learners for this program.
Supporting Remote Career Opportunities for Midcareer and Older Workers in Appalachia
This work supports Generation.org’s remote training program that trains adult learners in rural geographies and place them into new, remote-friendly careers. The SCAN Foundation’s funding focused on recruiting older adult learners for this program.
