When everyone else is obsessing over “building the next generation of leaders” and encouraging Gen Yers to become social entrepreneurs and social change innovators, one organization out there is quietly redefining the careers and lives of the Boomers.
Civic Ventures, founded in 1998 by Marc Freedman, is working to engage our country’s millions of baby boomers as a vital workforce for social change. Boomers have the incredible wealth of experience needed to become leaders in solving our world’s most critical challenges – and Civic Ventures is making sure that this experience is put to good use.
Today, Americans who are retiring generally want to continue working; 4/5 of people over the age of 50 say they want to work or volunteer in some capacity after retirement. And even better, many people seek to focus on work that gives them meaning and contributes to society during their retirement year. Indeed, more than 75% of those who want to work in retirement want to do work that helps the poor, elderly, and others in need. On the other hand, 48% of Americans between the ages of 50 and 70 believe it will be difficult for them to find good and fulfilling jobs at that age.
Civic Ventures is working to address this gap. Here are a few of their programs:
- Encore.org — A network for people who want work that matters in the second half of life. Encore.org provides news, resources and connections for individuals and organizations establishing “encore careers” that combine meaning, financial security and social contribution.
- The Purpose Prize — $100,000 awards for social innovators over 60 creating new methods for solving the world´s biggest problems and contributing to social change,
- Experience Corps — A national service program engaging adults over 55 as tutors and mentors for elementary school students struggling to learn. Today there are more than 2,000 Experience Corps members helping 20,000 students.
- Encore Career Community College Grants — Grants for innovative community colleges preparing people 50+ for careers in education, health care and social services
I think Civic Ventures has done a wonderful job in targeting a market that no one wants to focus on – the growing population of baby boomers who want a second chance at a more meaningful life and career.
Millennials might be the “next generation of leaders,” but in the meantime, engaging the Boomers who have the right balance of education and passion might be just as effective when it comes to fostering social change.
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