Working with MCF
We encourage potential applicants--both current and prospective grantees--to read about MCF's overall approach to grantmaking, our grantee relations commitments, and updates on working with MCF.
Overview
The goal of this Community Grant area is to make Marin County a positive and viable place in which to age.
The growth rate of the older population in Marin is one of the fastest in the state. One in four adults in the county are 65 or older—higher than the state average. While many older adults in Marin have resources to age well, one-third of Marin's older adults—or 21,000 residents—live on a fixed income and do not meet the elder self-sufficiency standard (i.e., $27,000 per year to cover costs of living in Marin).
The Successful Aging community grant area aims to support programs that help keep older adults, especially low-income older adults, healthy and actively engaged in community life. Older adults with access to a coordinated network of health and social services, along with opportunities for both community engagement and employment, are more likely to age in place with maximum health and dignity. A healthy, fully-engaged older citizenry ultimately benefits the entire county.
The Marin Community Foundation defines older adults as individuals who are 60 years of age and older. Given limited resources and the very challenging economic climate, Foundation resources will be designated to meet the unique challenges of low-income older adults who are aging as safely and independently as possible in their homes.
A logic model for this strategy has been developed that further explains the approaches, activities, and desired impact of this goal area.
Click on "Report on Needs of Older Adults" to read a report on services and programs needed by older adults in Marin County.
Grants, Results, and More
Click here to learn about grants made under this goal area, along with results, an impact story, and background about this issue.
To read a report on the cultural competence of providers serving older adults to meet their needs, click on the title of the report to the right.
Strategy: Promote a comprehensive, efficient, and effective system of services and programs that allows for successful aging by older adults through the following approaches:
Approach A: Develop a coordinated system of health and social services for older adults.
Approach B: Strengthen the delivery of core health and social services
MCF will continue to support the direct provision of health and social services for low-income older adults (60+) living independently in Marin County. Priority consideration will be given to direct service projects that provide chronic disease management and/or prevention services and leverage public and private resources. In addition, programs that measure and assess the impact of direct services provided are strongly encouraged.
You can download the Literature Review here.
Approach C: Foster volunteerism and community involvement for older adults
MCF will continue to support programs that recruit and retain older adults in volunteer activities at nonprofit organizations. Given the evaluation findings reported in “Volunteering by Older Adults in Marin County” (which you can download below), MCF will prioritize proposed projects that
- Recruit, retain, and support volunteer activities of older adult populations who are not typically engaged in volunteer activities (i.e., low-income residents, men, and people of color)
- Provide orientation, training, and appropriate support for the older adult volunteer
- Provide recognition for the older adult volunteers’ contributions to the organization and the community
- Provide transportation assistance for volunteers
- Have a dedicated staff person/volunteer responsible for outreach, volunteer matching, training, and supporting older adult volunteers
- Engage older adults in meaningful community services that meet the needs of vulnerable populations in Marin
- Intend to measure the impact of the volunteer experience on the older adult volunteer
Priority consideration will be given to volunteer programs that intentionally and meaningfully engage older adults in meeting the ever-increasing critical needs of vulnerable populations in Marin (such as homebound seniors and disadvantaged youth). Volunteer programs that match older adults to internal organizational tasks (such as board service and administrative support) will not be as competitive. In addition, MCF is interested in supporting programs that leverage public and private resources.
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MCF has published a report, "Volunteering by Older Adults in Marin County," which discusses the benefits for the volunteers as well as the agencies where they volunteer. This is the executive summary. To obtain a copy of the full report, contact Wendy Todd at 415.464.2541 or by email.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for funding under Approach B or C, organizations must have a nonprofit tax-exempt status or a fiscal sponsor with a nonprofit tax exempt status. In addition, applicants must serve Marin County residents.
Grant term and requirements:
The current grant term is May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013. Six-month and final reports will be required through the Foundation’s online Grant Evaluation Center. A formal assessment of the impact of the program/services will be required.
Process:
The grantmaking process under this community grant area is currently closed. This grant area will open in January, 2013 by invitation only. Nonprofits interested in receiving an invitation to apply should contact Molly Kron, program associate, at mkron@marincf.org. There will not be an open call for applications this year.
