Hidden Gem: The Next50 Foundation

Sydney Byer is the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives at the Next50 Foundation. They’ve answered a few questions to help librarians learn more about their organization.

What is the Next50 Foundation?

Next50 Foundation is a private foundation based in Colorado with a national focus on making aging more affordable. We work at the intersection of philanthropy, policy, research, and narrative change to improve the economic well-being of older adults, particularly those who have been historically marginalized. Our work spans housing, healthcare affordability, workforce participation, digital access, and ending ageism, with a strong emphasis on systems change and partnerships.

How can the Next50 Foundation partner with a library to offer resources or programming to the local community of library visitors and users?

Libraries are trusted community anchors, and we see them as critical partners in reaching older adults where they already gather. Next50 can partner with libraries through public education events, community conversations, speaker series, and resource sharing focused on aging, affordability, digital access, and intergenerational connection. We can also support libraries by connecting them to research, toolkits, and nonprofit partners who specialize in aging-focused programming.

What needs or challenges can the Next50 Foundation help libraries address for their communities?

It is expensive to age! Next50’s most recently released report Altitude at Aging, highlights the costs that older adults face in Colorado as they age. Libraries play an important role in the nonprofit ecosystem addressing barriers to digital access, navigating aging-related systems like housing, healthcare, benefits, and can provide crucial programs that provide social connection. Next50 has a polycapital approach to our work and can offer various ways to support libraries and nonprofits through connection, collaboration, convening, and capital.

What regions – cities, counties, areas – of Colorado does the Next50 Foundation reach?

Next50’s work reaches communities across Colorado, including urban, suburban, rural, and mountain regions. While we are based in Denver, our partners and initiatives span the Front Range, Western Slope, Southern Colorado, and Eastern Plains.

80% of our funding is restricted to work supporting older adults in the state of Colorado, while 20% is unrestricted, allowing us to fund programs and initiatives outside of the state.

Do the services or resources from the Next50 Foundation cost any money to the participant?

No. Next50 is a private foundation and serves as a funder for philanthropic work across the state. Next50 does not offer any direct services but rather supports the nonprofit ecosystem in Colorado to ensure older adults can age in the community affordably.

Do libraries have to provide any funds or apply to any grants to work with Next50?

Many partnerships are informational or collaborative in nature. If a project involves deeper programming or a multi-partner initiative, we would discuss options for one of our funding opportunities that we have throughout the year. We recommend that any nonprofit that works with older adults in one of our three priority areas (ending ageism, digital access, and aging in place) connect with our team to explore funding opportunities.

Let’s say one of our librarians, directors, or staff contact you and says, “We want to bring your organization to our community!” What will the next step look like?

We would start with a conversation to understand the community’s interests, needs, and goals. From there, we would explore appropriate partnership options—such as a speaker event, resource sharing, or connection to aligned nonprofits—and co-design an approach that fits the library’s capacity and the community context.

How can people reach you?

People can reach Next50 through our website at https://next50foundation.org or by emailing [email protected].