Encore: Work that matters in the second half of life.

Older social innovators working overseas will be eligible for Civic Ventures’ Purpose Prize in 2008. The change will open the two-year-old prize program to a new group of people over 60 who are tackling some of the world’s most pressing problems.

In the last two years, the Purpose Prize has highlighted and invested in social innovators whose work addresses a wide range of issues in the U.S., including education, health care and poverty. The prize program is still seeking such domestic entrepreneurs, of course, and is also eager to identify U.S. residents with innovative projects around the world.

“We know that there are many social innovators in this stage of life who are passionate about issues such as global health, economic development and climate change,” said Jim Emerman, director of the prize program.

Nominations for the prizes of up to $100,000 are open until March 1, 2008.

Created by Civic Ventures in December 2005, The Purpose Prize aims to inspire Americans to use their experience for the greater good in the new stage of life opening up between the end of midlife careers and true retirement. The work is part of Civic Ventures’ effort to motivate and mobilize millions of baby boomers to embark on “encore careers” that provide continued income, new meaning and connections, and greater impact. The Purpose Prize is generously supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation

The 2007 Purpose Prize winners and fellows gathered at Stanford University earlier this month for the second Purpose Prize Innovation Summit. A gallery of photos from the event is available here.