Retirement Research Foundation
RRF Foundation for Aging (The Retirement Research Foundation) is a Chicago-based private foundation that funds work to improve the quality of life for older adults across priority areas such as caregiving, housing, economic security, and social connection. The site outlines grant types (advocacy, direct service, research, organizational capacity) and application requirements including a required Letter of Inquiry.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A nonprofit or charity whose work improves quality of life for older adults (examples: caregiving, housing, economic security, social connection) with projects matching grant types the foundation lists (advocacy, direct service, research, organizational capacity).
Good Fit
- • Clear mission or program focused on older adults or policies affecting older people.
- • Project fits one of the foundation's grant types: advocacy, direct service, research, or capacity building.
- • Willingness to submit a Letter of Inquiry via the website and meet posted deadlines.
- • Project scale aligned with typical awards (many grants in the low-to-mid five-figures, with recurring multi-year grants also awarded).
- • Ability to show measurable outcomes or policy/advocacy impact for older adults.
- • Organizations based anywhere in the U.S. (national and local recipients are funded).
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year went to recipients in 27 states, with only about 2% of dollars remaining in the foundation's home state and notable dollar concentration in DC, NY, and MA but otherwise broad national reach.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 180 distinct recipients and 257 grants, with the majority of recipients appearing independent and many program types funded; financial concentration is low (top recipient ~3%, top five ~13%).
New Applicants
Direct evidence of openness includes a public application process with posted deadlines and a web LOI route, and behavioral evidence shows 155 new recipients in the latest year (about 86%), indicating unfamiliar organizations regularly enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
