Bring Experience Corps to Your Community

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1 in 3 older adults struggle to meet their basic needs. Your gift can help seniors secure good jobs, get the benefits they've earned, and stay connected to their communities.

AARP Foundation Experience Corps engages highly trained adults over 50 to help children become proficient readers by the end of the third grade. It’s a proven "triple win," helping students

succeed, older adults thrive and communities grow stronger.  

Research demonstrates that Experience Corps is one of the most effective K-3 literacy interventions — one that generates enduring positive outcomes for students, volunteers, schools and

communities. With its intergenerational approach, the program not only helps students at a critical juncture in their education but also engages volunteers in their communities, putting

their wisdom to work while they guide the next generation of readers. 

We’re working closely with municipalities, community agencies, and school districts across the country to expand the Experience Corps network. 

Thank you for your interest! Please submit a general inquiry below. Our director of field services will be in touch with an initial information packet.

Experience Corps programs are run by host agencies, typically nonprofits or local municipalities. The five-step process for starting an Experience Corps program has grown from our

understanding of the critical success factors involved in building and sustaining robust local programs.  

The process begins when a prospective host agency makes an inquiry. General inquiries can be submitted to  ExperienceCorps@aarp.org. Upon receiving an inquiry, our director of field services

will contact the agency and provide it with an initial information packet. 

If the prospective host wants to proceed, it can ask to participate in an orientation. During the orientation, the AARP Foundation Experience Corps team will present basic information on

what it takes to launch and build a successful Experience Corps partner program.  

If there appears to be a good fit, promising prospective organizations will be invited to complete an application to become a program partner. AARP Foundation Experience Corps accepts

inquiries and applications on a rolling basis. The timeline from inquiry to invitation to program partner varies depending on the applicant. The application must, however, be received by the

end of the year (no later than  December 5) to start up a program in the fall of the following school year.    

Favorable applications are followed by site visits, which provide AARP Foundation Experience Corps staff with a richer understanding of the community and prospective host. These visits also

allow both parties to think through implementation and practical questions.  

Once the due diligence is complete, and if both entities are positioned to move forward, AARP Foundation Experience Corps will extend the organization an invitation to become a program

partner. 

When considering a prospective host agency, we weigh several factors:

The overall investment depends on how many schools or service sites you intend to operate and what internal resources you can commit to the program. After that, host staffing structure and

growth plans drive operating costs. 

AARP Foundation does not fund local programs directly but may provide limited funds by sub-granting funding to host agencies. Our federal funding includes AmeriCorps and Department of

Justice grants, and sub-grants are made on a competitive basis to programs in good standing. 

The primary role of AARP Foundation is to support local communities as they build and strengthen their Experience Corps programs. We do this by providing multiple types of support, including

training and start-up consultation, organizational development support, communications and marketing support, branded materials, access to a network of experts, and an annual national

meeting. Additional resources include guidance in volunteer recruitment, fund development and access to AARP state office support.  

Who should be involved in exploring the launch of an Experience Corps program?

Your agency or city leadership is the first place to start as you examine fit and the ability to support and sustain the program for the long term. We build partnerships with local

nonprofits when mission alignment and organizational capacity are conducive to program success. 

Thank you for your interest! Please submit a general inquiry below. Our director of field services will be in touch with an initial information packet.