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About

Marc Freedman Portrait

What if older and younger generations worked together to solve the problems that no generation can solve alone?

We’re living in the most age-diverse society in human history — and one of the most age-segregated. We’re missing out on the complementary skills and talents people of all ages can bring to the table, the power and energy they can create, the divides they can bridge, the communities and country they can build together. No more. At CoGenerate, we envision a world where older and younger people join forces to solve problems, bridge divides and co-create the future.

Programs

We accelerate cogenerational solutions to pressing social problems.

Events

We showcase the ideas and people bringing generations together for mutual benefit and social impact.

Media

We tell a new story about generational solidarity.

Programs

We accelerate cogenerational solutions to pressing social problems.

Events

We showcase the ideas and people bringing generations together for mutual benefit and social impact.

Media

We tell a new story about generational solidarity.

The latest from CoGenerate

BIG IDEA WINNER: Live Together, Inc.

BIG IDEA WINNER: Live Together, Inc.

When the interim president of Frostburg State University in Western Maryland asked Jane Rohde to tour an empty residence hall in 2023, he posed a question facing many rural campuses across the country: “What do I do? Do I tear it down? Refurbish it?”  Rohde – founder...

Big Idea Winner: Humans of VUU: Conversations Across Generations

Big Idea Winner: Humans of VUU: Conversations Across Generations

At Virginia Union University (VUU), an HBCU founded in 1865 to educate formerly enslaved people, Dr. Hollee Freeman had a powerful observation: The university is full of untapped knowledge. That knowledge, she feels, doesn’t come in the form of lectures or textbooks...

BIG IDEA WINNER: Hope Chicago

BIG IDEA WINNER: Hope Chicago

Aaron Kuecker thinks the economics of higher education are broken. As CEO of Hope Chicago, he's on a mission to fix that. Founded in 2022, the nonprofit sends two generations — a student and a parent, guardian or grandparent — to college at the same time, offering...

From generations apart to generations together

We’re catalysts seeking to change the societal norm for our age-diverse nation from one characterized by generations apart to one built by generations together. We shift the cultural narrative and tell a new story about cogenerational action. We support innovators bringing generations together for mutual benefit and social impact. And we build a leadership community of people, organizations and funders to scale this work and sustain it.

Our staffing model is powered by a co-generational, co-leadership duo and a diverse, multigenerational, accomplished team.

Our Board

Our Board of Directors — chaired by Susan Gianinno, former chair at Publicis North America and The Advertising Council’s Board of Directors — includes authors, business leaders, nonprofit executives, scholars, even a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Our Funders

We are grateful for the following funders who have partnered with us in our work over the years.

  • Ares Charitable Foundation
  • AmeriCorps Seniors
  • M Center for Excellence
  • New Pluralists
  • Eisner Foundation
  • AGE, Association for Growth & Education
  • The Skoll Foundation
  • The Carnegie Corporation of New York
  • Sobrato Family Foundation
  • MetLife Foundation
  • Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation
  • Templeton Religion Trust
  • Bezos Family Foundation
  • The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
  • John Templeton Foundation
  • May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
  • MacKenzie Scott
  • RRF Foundation for Aging
  • Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Programs
  • AARP

Our Funders

We are grateful for the following funders who have partnered with us in our work over the years.

  • Ares Charitable Foundation
  • AmeriCorps Seniors
  • M Center for Excellence
  • New Pluralists
  • Eisner Foundation
  • MacKenzie Scott
  • The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
  • John Templeton Foundation
  • May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
  • RRF Foundation for Aging
  • Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Programs
  • MetLife Foundation
  • Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation
  • Templeton Religion Trust
  • Bezos Family Foundation
  • AARP
  • AGE, Association for Growth & Education
  • The Skoll Foundation
  • Sobrato Family Foundation
  • The Carnegie Corporation of New York

Review CoGenerate’s audited financial statements and 990s here. If you have additional questions, please write to us at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

Hey, what happened to Encore.org?

On Oct. 12, 2022, we changed our name from Encore.org to CoGenerate. As Encore.org, we helped change cultural expectations for the years beyond 50 and expand the contributions of older people. Now, as CoGenerate, we’re focusing on what the vast and growing older population can do in collaboration with younger generations to solve our nation’s most pressing problems.

What does “cogenerate” mean?

“Co” means together in Latin. Think collaboration, connection, community. We define cogeneration as a strategy to bring older and younger people together to forge bonds across differences, combat polarization and ageism, and help solve today’s toughest problems.

What does CoGenerate do?

As one of the nation’s leading social-impact organizations dedicated to making the most of our increasingly multigenerational society, CoGenerate brings older and younger people together to solve problems, bridge divides and co-create the future. Our goal is to put the idea of cogeneration on the map, build momentum around it, and change the social norm from generations apart to generations together.

We accomplish our goals in three ways: First, we work as a catalyst to shift the cultural narrative and tell a new story about cogenerational action. We write books and essays, sponsor research, partner with media, speak out, and hold virtual and in-person events.

Second, we support innovators bringing generations together for mutual benefit and social impact. Check out our Innovation Fellowships and Generations Serving Together incentive grants.

And third, we build a community of leaders, organizations and funders to scale this work and sustain it. We hope you’ll join us by signing up for regular updates and invitations, coming to one of our events, and taking cogenerational action in your own life and in your community.