Grantmakers In Health's Advocacy for the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act

First signed into law in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) provides critical services that address the social drivers of health for older adults such as nutrition, transportation, senior centers, elder rights protections, caregiver support, and health promotion. Grantmakers In Health (GIH) and Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) are partnering to engage funders in advancing the reauthorization of this critical piece of legislation.

Support GIH and GIA's OAA Partnership

GIH and GIA are raising funds to support our advocacy work on the OAA, and we still need additional investments to reach our goal. Please reach out to Cecilia Kramer at ckramer@gih.org for more information. We are appreciative of the funders who have already supported this partnership. 

OAA News and Updates

Progress Report: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Campaign

January 31, 2025
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In October 2023, Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) and Grantmakers In Health (GIH) launched an 18-month initiative to engage funders in the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA). This report highlights key activities and takeaways and previews future programming.

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Grantmakers In Health’s Partnership with Grantmakers In Aging Highlighted in Inside Philanthropy Interview

July 30, 2024
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Grantmakers In Health’s ongoing partnership with Grantmaking In Aging (GIA) advocating for the renewal of the Older Americans Act (OAA) was featured in a July 19, 2024 Inside Philanthropy interview…

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Fact Sheet: Five Ways Congress Can Strengthen the Older Americans Act, and What Philanthropy Can Do

June 4, 2024
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First signed into law in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) provides critical services that address the social drivers of health for older adults such as nutrition, transportation, senior centers, elder rights protections, caregiver support, and health promotion. A popular, bipartisan, and effective law, the OAA is set to expire on September 30, 2024, if it is not reauthorized. Foundations play a critical role at every stage of the OAA, from the time Congress begins reauthorizing the law, to the appropriation of funding, to the implementation of OAA programs. Now is the time to act.

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Driving Change through Public-Private Collaboration at Age + Action 2024

On May 7, 2024, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) and Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) cohosted a funders-only meeting at the National Council on Aging’s Age + Action 2024 conference. The session, “Driving Change through Public-Private Collaboration,” focused on bridging connections between the public and private sectors to improve the health and well-being of older adults in…

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Grantmakers In Health and Grantmakers In Aging Release Policy Recommendations for Older Americans Act Renewal

On March 21, 2024, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) and Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) responded to a request for feedback about the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

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Opportunities to Engage on the 2024 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act

First signed into law in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) provides critical services that address the social drivers of health for older adults such as nutrition, transportation, senior centers, elder rights protections, caregiver support, and health promotion. If the OAA is not reauthorized, it is set to expire on September 30, 2024. Grantmakers In…

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Grantmakers In Aging and Grantmakers In Health Announce Partnership to Support the 2024 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act

Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) and Grantmakers In Health (GIH) are pleased to announce a new collaboration aimed at mobilizing funders in support of the 2024 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA).

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Cara V. James in The Well News: As the COVID-19 Emergency Ends, We Must Not End Our Commitment to Advance Health Equity

Grantmakers In Health (GIH) President and CEO Cara V. James was quoted in a December 18, 2022 Politico Magazine article about the Black community’s distrust of the health care system.

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Upcoming OAA Events

Upcoming events on the OAA will appear here.

Recent OAA Events

NCOA Age + Action 2024

On May 7, 2024, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) and Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) cohosted a funders-only meeting at the National Council on Aging’s Age + Action 2024 conference. The session, “Driving Change through Public-Private Collaboration,” focused on bridging connections between the public and private sectors to improve the health and well-being of older adults in the U.S.

Resources and Presentations →

Advocacy for the Older Americans Act Reauthorization: What Can My 501c 3 Foundation Do?

Participants convened for a workshop that provided a clear understanding of what advocacy activities your 501(c)(3) organization can engage in, what communications count as lobbying, and how to maximize your non-lobbying advocacy. 

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GIA Member and GIH Funding Partner Meet Up: Older Americans Act Reauthorization

As part of this analysis, leaders from the field convened on January 18 for a meet-up to help shape new partnerships to support the OAA and advance older Americans’ health and social needs.

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