The Age Friendly Certification logo identifies employers that have adopted a dozen “best practices” and want 50+ candidates to know they are valued for their knowledge, experience, maturity, reliability and productivity.

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public provides fellowships to social entrepreneurs worldwide.

Encore Fellowships are a central feature of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009. The act is designed to help catalyze new solutions to major social challenges by calling Americans of all ages to serve their country and their communities.

Encore Fellowships are a central feature of the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Act, first proposed by Senators Chris Dodd and Thad Cochran, along with Kennedy, and signed into law by President Obama.

Individuals and employers would get tax credits and other incentives to save money for the training and education needed to launch their encore careers under the Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2008, introduced by Reps. Rahm Emanuel and Jim Ramstad. The legislation fills gaps in other government programs such as Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 529 college accounts, Hope scholarships and other programs.

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act, passed into law in 2007, provides incentives for lower-income older workers who want to get more training, but don’t want to be saddled with long-term debt. Those who work in public service may have part of their loans forgiven. Key provisions include:

• Pell Grant increase – It increases the maximum federal grant to $5,400 by 2012.
• Income-based repayment – It assures past, present and future students with federal loans that their payments will be manageable and will not extend indefinitely.
by: Terry Nagel | Read more >>

Civic Ventures, 2007. This report profiles 10 nonprofits engaging experienced workers to help meet their missions. Available here.

From a cursory read of the full announcement, it appears that colleges are eligible for these grants. A relationship with the local Workforce Investment Board is highly recommended.

The Purpose Prize, a project of Civic Ventures, awards five prizes of $100,000 and 10 awards of $10,000 for people over 60 who are taking on society’s biggest challenges and proving that creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation for the common good are not simply the province of the young.