General Program
The Retirement Research Foundation, based in Chicago, was established in the 1950s and endowed in 1978 by the late John D. MacArthur.  The Foundation is devoted solely to serving the needs of older persons in the U.S. and enhancing their quality of life.   From 1979 through 2009, RRF awarded more than 3,700 grants totaling nearly $200 million in its continuing efforts to improve life for older persons.

In 2008 the Foundation, reflecting changes in philanthropy and gerontology, restated its mission.  The Foundation is committed to improving conditions for vulnerable older adults who are: frail from advanced age; economically disadvantaged and at greatest risk of falling through the safety net; or experience disparities related to race and ethnicity. The Foundation supports a range of programs and special initiatives designed to:

• Improve access to and quality of community-based and residential health and long-term care;
• Promote economic security for all older adults by strengthening social insurance, pension, and personal savings programs; and
• Support adequate training of, and compensation for, those working directly with older persons and their families to bring higher quality of care to larger numbers of older adults.

The Foundation's historic interest in innovative projects continues.  RRF also has a strong interest in projects that implement or adapt proven models that address clearly identified needs and gaps.

Requests for support of projects focusing on advocacy, research, or education and training will be considered from anywhere in the U.S.  Direct service requests will be considered only from organizations in these seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Florida.

Deadlines are February 1, May 1, and August 1.

Organizational Capacity Building Program
Established in 1999, the Organizational Capacity Building Program (OCB) helps Chicago area nonprofits strengthen their management and governance so that they can sustain and enhance their services for older adults. The Foundation created the OCB Program because it believes that quality services are delivered by viable organizations and that it makes good sense to invest in sustaining nonprofits to keep them healthy. The OCB Program is available to nonprofits in six Chicago area counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, and McHenry. Depending on the nature of the project, OCB grants can be multi-year and there is no cap on the amount of a request.

From 1999 to 2009, RRF awarded 99 OCB grants totaling $5.9 million. Grants have built the capacity of nonprofits in areas such as board development, strategic planning, resource development, information management, human resources, and many other governance and management improvements.

Accessible Faith Grant Program
Established in 2002, the Accessible Faith Grant Program (AFG) helps religious congregations improve the accessibility of their facilities. The AFG Program is available to houses of worship located in three Chicago-area counties: Cook, Lake, and DuPage. Grants are awarded for up to half the cost of a project, to a maximum of $30,000. Funds are available for construction/ renovation and assistive and adaptive equipment.

RRF awarded 102 grants totaling almost $2.2 million over the past seven years of this program.  Lasting improvements such as construction of restrooms, ramps, platform lifts, and elevators were made. Congregations report these improvements have enhanced the retention of their aging members whose participation had decreased.  The results are better attendance by congregants, extended family members, and guests. AFG projects have also enhanced congregations' abilities to raise funds from their members and outside groups that are more willing to use their accessible space. By supporting congregations' efforts to improve accessibility, RRF provides an opportunity for a full life of faith to elderly persons and helps houses of worship stand behind their words, "All are welcome."

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