As we grow, we’re changing the way people think about aging.
Tufts Health Plan Foundation launched in January 2008. That year, we awarded $2.5 million to 60 Massachusetts nonprofits and pledged to focus on improving the lives of people over 60.
By 2013, we had expanded to include Rhode Island and had invested $14 million to support 150 organizations serving more than 65,000 older people.
We made our first New Hampshire grants in 2016. That year, we announced 21 new grants representing collaborations with more than 200 community organizations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
Our investments had evolved. Our board had moved us to fund fewer, larger multiyear grants that were based in collaboration. These grants were focused on efforts to improve systems and scale best practices. And we saw how powerful it can be when older people are trained to advocate for policy changes.
It’s been a decade of milestones we’re so proud to look back on, but we’re especially excited about looking forward. And we’re proud to have played a role in something truly enduring: changing the way people think about getting old.
In geographic terms, we’ve grown way beyond our expectations in our first 10 years, diversifying and expanding to new communities. This year, we introduced the Momentum Fund, a new mini grant program to support early-stage initiatives and innovative age-friendly efforts. We also launched a program to engage Tufts Health Plan employees in grantmaking. Each of the company’s five business resource groups recommended a nonprofit organization for a grant of up to $5,000. Next year, we’ll begin funding in Connecticut.
It’s been a decade of incredible momentum. With each passing year, we’re growing and learning — and so are the communities we serve.