ABOUT CIVIC VENTURES PROGRAMS
Civic Ventures is leading the call to engage millions of boomers as a vital workforce for change. Through an inventive program portfolio, original research, strategic alliances and the power of people´s own life stories, Civic Ventures demonstrates the value of experience in solving serious social problems – from education to the environment and health care to homelessness. Founded in 1998 by social entrepreneur and author Marc Freedman, Civic Ventures works to define the second half of life as a time of individual and social renewal.
Civic Ventures programs include:
- Encore.org – This website represents the growing network of people who want work that matters in the second half of life. Encore.org provides advice, resources, news and connections for individuals and organizations establishing encore careers that combine personal meaning, financial security and social contribution.
- The Purpose Prize – This program gives $100,000 awards to social innovators over 60 creating new methods for solving the world´s biggest problems. The Prize is awarded to individuals who discover new opportunities, invent new programs and foster lasting social change. More >
- Encore Fellowships – These paid, time-limited assignments place highly skilled, experienced professionals at the end of their midlife careers into social-purpose organizations. Encore Fellows take on roles that bring significant, sustained impact to their host organizations. More >
- Encore College Initiative – This national program fuels innovation in four-year and two-year institutions retraining boomers for encore careers. It provides grants to community colleges helping boomers retool for health, green, education and nonprofit jobs. More >
- Encore Opportunity Awards – Awards for employers that tap experienced employees to help solve serious social problems. Eight nonprofit and public sector organizations were awarded Encore Opportunity Awards in 2009. More >
- Launch Pad – This contest awards $5,000 to budding social entrepreneurs 45 and older so they can get started on their dream encore careers helping address critical social problems in their communities. More >