OUR 20th
We’re having a big birthday this year and we’re not hiding our age. Many of us can remember a time when very few people were thinking of older adults as assets.
Thankfully, we see progress. And we claim credit for some of it. But there is still a great need for new ways to live with purpose, impact and connection in the encore years.
Join us in launching the next 20 years of innovation, as we continue our work to change the story —
and the reality — of a new life stage.
A quick look at our first 20 years
EXPERIENCE CORPS*
Established program engaging people 50+ to help 30,000 low-income students learn to read each year.
*Now operated by AARP.
THE PURPOSE PRIZE*
Invested $5 million in older social innovators, while telling a new story about the second half of life.
*Now operated by AARP.
ENCORE FELLOWSHIPS
NETWORK
Delivered $170 million in talent to the social sector, while helping thousands of seasoned professionals find their encore careers.
THE ENCORE PRIZE
Identifying and investing in social innovations to bring more people 50+ into the lives of young people who need champions.
GENERATION TO
GENERATION
Mobilizing 1 million adults 50+ to help young people thrive.
ENCORE NETWORK
Uniting thousands of leaders and organizations to learn from one another and build a global encore movement.
Invest in the next 20 years
Join our lead sponsor AARP, and invest in the next 20 years, and beyond.
20 Years of Innovation
1993
The Kindness of Strangers,
by Marc Freedman
1995
Experience Corps launched to
match 55+ reading tutors with
schoolchildren
1998
Encore.org founded
(original name: Civic Ventures)
2000
Prime Time: How Baby Boomers
Will Revolutionize Retirement and
Transform America, by Marc Freedman
—
First national convening
2002
The New Face of Retirement study shows rising interest in volunteerism among Americans 50 to 70 years old
2005
Purpose Prize created to celebrate
later-life innovators
—
New Face of Work survey, in partnership with MetLife, shows that people 50+ want work that helps others
2007
Community College initiative launched to create new pathways for encore seekers
—
Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life, by Marc Freedman
2008
As many as 8.4 million people aged 44-70 are already in encore careers, Encore Career Survey shows
2009
Encore Fellowship program launches with Hewlett Packard, The Packard Foundation
2010
New research After the Recovery: Help Needed projects demand for social-sector jobs that can be met by encore talent
2011
Experience Corps became a program
of AARP
—
The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife, by Marc Freedman
—
Encore Career Choices survey shows that 31 million Americans age 44-70 are interested in encore careers
—
First national encore conference
2012
Civic Ventures becomes Encore.org
—
Innovation contest inspired by the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel film, with
Participant Media
2013
The Encore Career Handbook
by Marci Alboher
2014
The Persistence of Purpose survey documents rising encore interest
—
Encore2014: Building an Encore Nation convening
2015
10th Anniversary, The Purpose Prize
2016
Gen2Gen campaign launches to mobilize adults 50+ to help young people thrive
—
The Purpose Prize moves to a new home, AARP
2017
The Encore Prize: $100K in prizes for Gen2Gen innovation
—
New Encore Network membership launched
2018
Encore celebrates 20 years of innovation
—
1700 Encore Fellows™ matched
$170 million in talent
—
How to Live Forever, by Marc Freedman
—
Encore Public Voices Fellowship launched in partnership with the OpEd Project
1993
The Kindness of Strangers, by Marc Freedman
1995
Experience Corps launched to match 55+ reading tutors with schoolchildren
1998
Encore.org founded (original name: Civic Ventures)
2000
Prime Time: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America, by Marc Freedman
—
First national convening
2002
The New Face of Retirement study shows rising interest in volunteerism among Americans 50 to 70 years old
2005
Purpose Prize created to celebrate later-life innovators
—
New Face of Work survey, in partnership with MetLife, shows that people 50+ want work that helps others
2007
Community College initiative launched to create new pathways for encore seekers
—
Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life, by Marc Freedman
2008
As many as 8.4 million people aged 44-70 are already in encore careers, Encore Career Survey shows
2009
Encore Fellowship program launches with Hewlett Packard, The Packard Foundation
2010
New research After the Recovery: Help Needed projects demand for social-sector jobs that can be met by encore talent
2011
Experience Corps became a program of AARP
—
The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife, by Marc Freedman
—
Encore Career Choices survey shows that 31 million Americans age 44-70 are interested in encore careers
—
First national encore conference
2012
Civic Ventures becomes Encore.org
—
Innovation contest inspired by the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel film, with
Participant Media
2013
The Encore Career Handbook
by Marci Alboher
2014
The Persistence of Purpose survey documents rising encore interest
—
Encore2014: Building an Encore Nation convening
2015
10th Anniversary, The Purpose Prize
2016
Gen2Gen campaign launches to mobilize adults 50+ to help young people thrive
—
The Purpose Prize moves to a new home, AARP
2017
The Encore Prize: $100K in prizes for Gen2Gen innovation
—
New Encore Network membership launched
2018
Encore celebrates 20 years of innovation
—
1700 Encore Fellows™ matched
$170 million in talent
—
How to Live Forever, by Marc Freedman
—
Encore Public Voices Fellowship launched in partnership with the OpEd Project