AARP Purpose Prize

Nominees must be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States/District of Columbia and its territories or a US citizen living abroad, who are at least fifty (50) years old as of the date of entry and who started the work for which they are nominated at the age of forty (40) or older.

Nominees must have founded a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) non-profit organization with its principal place of business located in the United States in good standing in its state of origin and tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code at the time of Nominee’s nomination and throughout the Promotion selection process (“Founded Non-profit”). The Founded Non-profit’s mission should be consistent with the Nominee’s social impact work.

Important note: The AARP Purpose Prize award is not a lifetime achievement award. It celebrates people who are currently using their life experience and creativity to make a difference on important social issues.

AARP cannot evaluate the merit of certain types of scientific or technological innovations, academic research, or fine art. If you are an academic researcher, fine artist, or inventor you need to demonstrate the social impact of your research, art, or invention. Otherwise, your application will not be considered. You should also not be involved in work that is exclusively religious or sectarian. However, people working in faith-based settings that have a broader social mission are eligible and encouraged to apply.

The following categories of people are not eligible:
- AARP staff
- AARP Board Members
- AARP consultants and vendors who have received remuneration during the 12-month period preceding the application deadline
- Individuals who work at organizations that share a board member with AARP
- Members of the AARP Purpose Prize award jury
- AARP-appointed volunteers
- Family members (including domestic partners) and business associates of any individuals in the categories listed above
- Current AARP or AARP Foundation grantees
- Elected officials
- Previous AARP Purpose Prize Award Winners
- Individuals that were selected as an AARP Purpose Prize Fellow within the last two years.

Submission Deadline: March 31st, 2021.

Contest Round Administration and Round Winner Notification:

Round 1 (Applicant Round):
All Applicants must submit their applications by 5:00pm ET on March 31, 2021. The failure to complete the application form or comply with the applicable instructions will result in disqualification of said Applicant, the forfeiture of his or her interest in the prize and the selection of a substitute Applicant from among all remaining eligible entries. AARP Reviewers will identify all eligible applications that meet the outlined Purpose Prize Contest criteria. From the eligible applications, the AARP Reviewers will select up to 150 applicants to continue to Round 2. Applicants that are not selected to continue to the next round will be notified via email by approximately April 16, 2021. The failure to complete the application form, provide all requested documents or comply with the applicable instructions will result in disqualification of said Applicant, the forfeiture of his or her interest in the prize and the selection of a substitute Applicant from among all remaining eligible entries.

Round 2 (Candidate Round):
During the Candidate round, approximately 25 Candidates will be selected by AARP Reviewers to continue to Round 3 of internal reviews by no later than April 16, 2021. The Candidates that are not selected to continue to the next round will be notified via email by April 30, 2021.

Round 3 (Semi-Finalist Round):
AARP will notify the Semi-Finalists that they have been selected by approximately May 7, 2021 and schedule site-visits (virtual or in person) to meet the Applicants and to assess first-hand the work of their Founded Non-Profits in action. These site visits will take place throughout May and June, 2021. In addition, Applicants selected as Semi-Finalists will undergo background checks during this round. The results of the site visits and the background checks will be considered in the remaining rounds.

By approximately July 2, 2021 approximately 15 Finalists from the Semi-Finalist round will be selected by AARP Reviewers to continue to Round 4. Candidates not selected to continue to the next round will be notified via email approximately by July 9, 2021.

Round 4 (Finalist Round). By approximately July 9, 2021, Finalists will then be reviewed by AARP Reviewers who will then select 7-10 Finalists to be voted on by the Jury in Round 5. Candidates not selected to continue to the next round will be notified via email by July 16, 2021.

Round 5 (Winner Round): By approximately July 25, 2021, the Jury will select five (5) Winners. By July 29, 2021 the AARP CEO will review the five (5) Winners for final approval to confirm the final Winners.

Winners will be notified by phone and via email on or about July 30, 2021. Winners must email purposeprize@aarp.org within five (5) days of notification to claim prize.