The John A. Hartford Foundation 2025 Business Innovation Award
The John A. Hartford Foundation Business Innovation Award acknowledges the achievements of community-based organizations (CBOs) that partner and contract with health care entities, such as health systems, health plans, and accountable care organizations, with the goal of replicating these successful partnerships nationwide. Each year, the award recognizes CBO—health care contracts and partnerships that improve health outcomes and quality of life for older adults, people with disabilities and/or caregivers. Award recipients are recognized for their bold, transformative initiatives designed to align health and social care and increase their organization's sustainability. The award is sponsored by The John A. Hartford Foundation and presented by USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute and engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults. Learn more about past winners.
In 2025, we invite applicants to submit innovations that meet the following criteria:
Promote social connection and/or address social isolation and/or loneliness,
Are associated with a current health care contract and
Include one or more of the 4Ms: (what matters, medication, mentation and mobility).
ELIGIBILITY:
Nominations from a broad array of community-based aging and disability organizations are encouraged. Eligible recipients include, but are not limited to, Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, Community Care Hubs and networks of CBOs, faith-based organizations, and other nonprofit or government-based community-based aging and disability services providers. For-profit entities are not eligible for this award. Organizations are permitted to nominate themselves.
NOMINATION PROCESS:
Please complete the entire nomination form to nominate an entity for The John A. Hartford Foundation 2025 Business Innovation Award. Only complete forms will be considered. Once you submit the nomination online, it cannot be changed. If you have any questions, please email the Aging and Disability Business Institute at businessinstitute@usaging.org.
The nomination deadline is Wednesday, May 28, at 5:00 PM ET.
SELECTION OF RECIPIENT(S):
A review committee of representatives from USAging, foundations and subject matter experts will select the award winners. The committee will choose one winner and up to two runners-up.
Recipients will be announced and recognized at USAging’s 50th Annual Conference and Tradeshow on July 22 in Chicago, IL. All recipients will receive a plaque. The first-place winner will receive a monetary award of $5,000 and each runner-up will get $1,000 (two runners-up maximum).
About the Aging and Disability Business Institute
The mission of the Aging and Disability Business Institute (Business Institute) is to build and strengthen partnerships between aging and disability community-based organizations (CBOs), CBO networks and the health care system. Led by USAging in partnership with the most experienced and respected organizations in the aging and disability networks, the Business Institute provides CBOs with the tools and resources to adapt to a changing health care environment, enhance their organizational capacity and capitalize on emerging opportunities to diversify funding. Funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Business Institute is the home of the Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care, which funds and supports community care hubs and the CBO networks that they lead. Learn more at www.aginganddisabilitybusinessinstitute.org.
About USAGING
USAging is the national association representing and supporting the Area Agencies on Aging network and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Learn more by visiting USAging.org and following @theUSAging on Facebook, X and Instagram.
About The John A. Hartford Foundation
The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the Foundation has three priority areas: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. For more information, visit johnahartford.org and follow @johnahartford.