Our Results

Founded in 1986 by leaders at the National Council on Aging, Child Welfare League of America, Children’s Defense Fund and AARP, Generations United’s work inspires, empowers, advocates and engages.

Learn more about our impact in our Annual Reports.

Inspires

Generations United develops thought-leader pieces to inspire policymakers, media, and champions of change to use intergenerational strategies to tackle some of our country’s most pressing economic issues.

Signature Reports:

• Intergenerational Programs & Sites
• Changing Demographics
• Grandfamilies
• Interdependence of Generations
• Hunger and Nutrition
• Multigenerational Families

Garner media coverage on a wide range of intergenerational issues

Generations United’s executive director Donna Butts named to the NonProfit Times Top 50 Power and Influence in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Generations United is a recipient of the 2015 Eisner Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Intergenerational Advocacy, the 2017 Dr. Arthur Kornhaber Grand Advocacy Award from GRAND Magazine, and was named 2019 Advocate of the Year by the North American Council on Adoptable Children.

Discussed aging issues and recommendations with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in 2013.

Developed Stronger Together: A Call to Innovation for Funders of Children, Youth, Families, and Older Adults to challenge funders to think and operate differently.

Granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council. Generations United contributes to the work, programs and goals of the United Nations by serving as technical experts, advisers, and consultants to governments and the UN Secretariat.

Elevate critical issues by convening national expert symposiums – grandparents and other relatives raising children in 1997, 2004, and 2013; intergenerational shared sites (2001); affordable housing for relatives raising children (2005); and Summit on Generations (2010).

Empowers

Generations United’s National Center on Grandfamilies offers tools, training and capacity building support to organizations serving grandfamilies and helps elevate voices of these families around a range of economic, social and legal issues.

Grand NETWORK helps to elevate voices of our growing network of grandfamily caregivers and four national GrandRallies, each bringing close to 1000 caregivers, youth and advocates to Capitol Hill to speak out in support of grandfamilies.

Grandfamilies.org serves as a national legal resource in support of grandfamilies within and outside the child welfare system. It is a collaboration among Generations United, The American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, and Casey Family Programs.

Advocates

With the guidance of Generations United’s Policy Committee, Grandfamilies Advisory Group, and GRAND Network, Generations United has successfully advocated for policy changes that help grandfamilies, children, and older adults.

Through Generations United’s National Center on Grandfamilies Generations United has successfully advocated for legislation to support grandfamilies including:

• The inclusion of grandfamilies in the National Family Caregiver Support Program
• LEGACY Intergenerational Housing legislation for grandfamilies
• Grandfamilies Provisions in the Fostering Connections and Increasing Adoptions Act
• Grandfamilies Provisions of the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act

Worked with a coalition of aging and children’s organizations to protect the Social Services Block Grant from cuts $1.7 billion in funding to serve older adults, children, and people with disabilities.

One of the few voices elevating the intergenerational aspects of Social Security – that it is more than a retirement program. More than 6.5 million children in the United States receive part of their family income from Social Security through survivors, retirement, and disability benefits.

Engages

By showcasing model practices and providing mentoring and technical assistance Generations United engages all ages to address critical economic and social needs in communities.

Program Directory features more than 600 intergenerational programs across the U.S.

Intergenerational Program Resources help strengthen intergenerational programs.

Youth Projects have inspired more than 40 young intergenerational leaders to address community needs across the country.

Best Intergenerational Communities Awards recognize innovative communities around the United States for their intentional work to promote meaningful connections between generations and enabling people of all ages to be engaged in their communities.

Programs of Distinction designation helps programs elevate visibility, improve evaluation and impact, and increase capacity. 

Biennial international intergenerational conferences that connect and support.

Learn more about our impact in our Annual Reports.