Nextfifty Initiative

NextFifty Initiative — now operating as Next50 at next50foundation.org — is a Denver-based aging equity foundation with approximately $244 million in assets and $8-12 million in annual grants paid. Its giving philosophy is built around three interlocking priorities: ending ageism, advancing digital equity, and supporting aging in place. The foundation explicitly targets the most marginalized older adults — communities of color, people experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, people with disabilities, and rural populations. Organizations whose work touches multiple of these identities have a particular advantage.

Next50 is a relationship-first funder. The 2026 Changing Aging program has moved to invitation-only, and even in open cycles, a pre-application conversation with program staff is standard practice — required for grants of $250,000 or more or any multi-year request. First-time applicants who skip this step risk submitting a misaligned proposal. Schedule a meeting through the foundation's website before writing a single word of your narrative.

The typical progression for a new grantee relationship looks like: (1) introductory meeting with program officer, (2) first grant at a modest level ($25,000-$75,000) to demonstrate organizational capacity and mission fit, (3) renewal and deepening of the partnership over 2-4 grant cycles, (4) potential elevation to a larger multi-year anchor grant ($150,000-$300,000/year). The top 50 grantees all received 2-4 grants over time — no organization jumps to $300,000+ on a first ask.

Geographically, Colorado nonprofits command 71% of the foundation's historical portfolio (468 of 657 tracked grants). If your organization is Colorado-based and serves older adults, you are in the foundation's primary lane. National organizations are funded — particularly through Changing Aging — but must make a compelling case for why their approach represents a model that cannot be replicated locally. When applying nationally, be explicit about any Colorado partnerships, convening presence, or geographic equity footprint.

Next50 welcomes applications through fiscal sponsors, making it accessible to grassroots organizations and community initiatives still building their infrastructure. The foundation has simplified application and reporting requirements specifically to reduce barriers for smaller organizations serving marginalized communities.

NextFifty Initiative's 657 tracked grants totaling $38.7 million reveal a bifurcated giving strategy. The median grant is $25,000 while the average is $58,888 — a gap driven by a heavy-tail distribution where a small number of multi-year anchor partnerships account for a disproportionate share of total dollars.

Grant size tiers observed in the portfolio: - Micro grants (Community Response Fund): up to $30,000 — for Colorado nonprofits facing sudden or urgent needs - Standard programmatic grants: $25,000-$100,000 — the modal tier for first-time and early-stage grantees - Mid-level partnerships: $100,000-$250,000 — for organizations with track records and established programs - Anchor multi-year investments: $250,000-$600,000+ — reserved for high-performing grantees in sustained relationships (e.g., CO Cross Disability Coalition at $600,000 across 3 grants; National Academy of Sciences at $500,000; Project Worthmore at $439,000 across 4 grants)

Annual giving trends (from 990s): - 2019: $6.2M total giving, $4.1M grants paid — early scaling phase - 2020: $11.7M total giving, $9.4M grants paid — significant ramp-up - 2021: $14.9M total giving, $12.0M grants paid — peak year, driven by $18.7M net investment income - 2022: $12.1M total giving, $8.6M grants paid — post-peak normalization - 2023: $12.2M total giving, $8.3M grants paid — stable plateau

With total assets around $244M and investment income stabilizing at $8-9M annually (following strong 2021 market returns), expect 2025-2026 annual giving to remain in the $10-13M range.

Thematic breakdown by grant purpose (estimated from grantee data): - Aging in place / independence: ~35% (housing repair, transportation, food access, care coordination) - Immigrant and refugee older adults: ~12% (Project Worthmore, Spring Institute, CLLARO, Vive Wellness) - Digital equity and technology: ~12% (Senior Planet, ITN America, digital literacy programs) - Health access (dental, vision, behavioral): ~10% (Dental Lifeline Network, Lions Center, Maria Droste) - Narrative change / ageism: ~10% (Colorado Nonprofit Development Center's Changing the Narrative) - Workforce re-entry for adults 50+: ~8% (Second Chance Center, SSAI) - General operating support: ~8% (increasing, particularly through 2025 GO Aging initiative) - Other: ~5%

Geographic concentration: Colorado accounts for 71% of grants (468 of 657). Out-of-state clusters include California (16), New York (13), Florida (13), Missouri (13), New Mexico (13), and Maryland (12).

Next50 occupies a distinctive position among similarly-sized health-category foundations: it is the only major funder in its asset range explicitly focused on aging equity and ageism, rather than direct healthcare delivery or hospital systems support. Its peers by asset size are predominantly community health conversion foundations with broader or hospital-aligned missions.

*Peer annual giving figures are estimates based on standard 5% payout calculations; actual figures vary by year.*

Next50 stands apart from these peers in three key respects. First, its singular aging focus means every dollar goes to adults 50+ — organizations in this space face no program-area competition from healthcare or social services work targeting other populations. Second, its national scope (despite Colorado concentration) is unusual for a regional health conversion foundation. Third, its explicit anti-ageism and equity mandate differentiates it from peers whose health missions are broadly defined. Applicants coming from other health funders should reframe their proposals specifically around aging equity language — clinical health framing alone will not resonate here.

In 2025, Next50 awarded over $5 million through its flagship Changing Aging program, with individual grants ranging from $50,000 (Denver Film, AgeWell Middle Tennessee) to approximately $200,000 (Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, two-year award). A notable 2025 strategic initiative was GO Aging, which directed $2.5 million in general operating support — a departure from the project-specific grants that historically dominated the portfolio — to eight nonprofits serving the most marginalized older adults. GO Aging recipients included Homeward Alliance (homeless older adults, Colorado), Diverse Elders Coalition (national, multicultural), Mountain Resource Center (rural Colorado), and Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center.

In early 2026, Next50 announced that the Changing Aging grant program would shift to invitation-only, with rolling distribution at the end of March, June, and September. This is the most significant program structure change in recent years and signals the foundation's intent to deepen existing relationships rather than expand its grantee pool.

Diana McFail has served as President & CEO with compensation of approximately $207,000-$222,000, providing organizational stability. Ben Moultrie chairs the board; Maureen Hanrahan serves as Vice Chair. The foundation operates from its Denver headquarters at 2000 S Colorado Blvd.

The foundation underwent a rebranding in recent years — moving from "NextFifty Initiative" (EIN 262700185) to "Next50" as its public-facing name, with grantmaking operations now centered at next50foundation.org.

Invitation-only reality check (2026): The Changing Aging program is not accepting unsolicited applications for 2026. If you have not been invited, your most productive action is relationship cultivation — attend Next50 convenings and webinars, follow their social channels, and request an introductory call with program staff to signal interest for future cycles.

Community Response Fund (open now): If you are a Colorado-based nonprofit with an annual budget under $1 million and face a sudden or urgent need related to older adults, the Community Response Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis for grants up to $30,000. The entry point is scheduling a meeting with program staff via the application form at next50foundation.org/ways-we-support/sudden-and-urgent-need/.

Pre-application call is non-negotiable: For any grant of $250,000 or more or any multi-year request, a call with a program officer must occur before submission. Treat this conversation as a diagnostic — listen carefully to what the officer emphasizes, and mirror that language in your proposal. Come prepared with a concise one-page overview of your organization and the specific request.

Lead with the population, then the program: Next50's review starts with who you serve, not what you do. Open your narrative by naming the specific marginalized older adult population — their demographic identity, geography, income level, and why they are underserved. Then describe your program as the vehicle for serving them.

Demonstrate innovation explicitly: The Changing Aging program requires evidence that your approach is more effective, efficient, sustainable, or equitable than existing alternatives. This is not marketing language — provide specific evidence (comparative data, literature citations, or a logical argument) for why your model works better. Anecdotal claims of uniqueness will not satisfy program officers.

Budget discipline: Indirect costs cannot exceed 20% of the request — budget to 18-19% to avoid the ceiling. For multi-year requests, provide annual projections. Remove any line items that cannot be clearly tied to the proposed program activities.

Equity alignment language: Use Next50's own vocabulary in proposals: 'ageism,' 'aging in place,' 'digital equity,' 'most marginalized,' 'general operating support,' and 'systems change.' Review recent grant award announcements on their website to observe how funded organizations frame their work.

One application at a time: Submit only one application per organization. If you have multiple programs that might qualify, identify the strongest fit and hold the others for future cycles.