Every year through its National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC), NCOA honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. 

By sharing best practices, we will elevate the impact and image of senior centers across the country.

Receiving recognition for our Program of Excellence has brought our Senior Center and organization to the national spotlight. This visibility has fostered new partnerships within the community, enabling us to provide more innovative programming for our members." --Jenny Macias, Senior Friendship Centers 

Submission

The deadline for submission was Feb. 24, 2025. Winning programs will be announced in May 2025.

"We are thrilled every year to recognize the innovation and creativity of senior centers as they improve the lives of older adults in their communities," said Dianne Stone, NCOA's Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement. "These programs impact the lives of older adults in so many ways and provide example and inspiration for senior centers across the country."

The award categories:

1. Marketing/Public Relations

This award category highlights the innovative ways senior centers have reached their communities—through marketing campaigns, branding, positioning, and outreach that has raised the visibility of the center, attracted new participants, or brought in new partners. 

2. Social and Support Services

This award category highlights innovative ways senior centers have addressed economic security and basic needs in their communities. Included are programs and strategies that might be one time or systemic. Special emphasis on strategies that expanded reach in terms of new partners, new participants, or increased engagement.

3. Health and Wellness

This award category highlights programs and services that improve the health and well-being of older adults through programs, screenings, and education. Special emphasis on strategies that expanded reach in terms of new partners, new participants, or increased engagement.

4. Intergenerational

This award category highlights programs that create opportunities for meaningful multigenerational engagement. While this always includes older adults, it might also include young children to adults. Programs in this category may include one-time events or new frameworks for operations. Special emphasis on strategies that expanded reach in terms of new partners, new participants, or increased engagement.

5. Nutrition

This award category highlights programs that address the nutritional needs of older adults including and especially through direct food services. Special emphasis is on initiatives that have increased participation in senior nutrition program meals, improved nutrition status, increased access to food, or decreased malnutrition.

6. Technology, Virtual and Hybrid Programming

This award category highlights programs that have engaged older adults in virtual or hybrid (both online and in-person) programming. This category can include instructional programs, programs using technology, and assistance programs that support access.

Highlighted Category—Modernizing Senior Centers Innovation Award

This broad award category highlights innovative programs, services, approaches, and strategies senior centers have used to “modernize” an aspect of their programs, operations, facility, workforce, resources, partnerships, policies, or research/evaluation that have created an impact. The emphasis in this category is on sustainable change in the senior center.

Eligibility

This competition is open to all NISC Affiliate senior centers. If your senior center is not a NISC Affiliate, learn more about our free Affiliate Membership and how you can join.

Review process

A group of peers, NISC Affiliate members, review all applications and score them based on an established rubric.

Judges look for:

• Programs that are new and innovative or that take a new spin on existing approaches
• Programs that can be replicated by other centers
• Programs that have demonstrated impact and outcomes

More about the Programs of Excellence Awards

Our recent Programs of Excellence winners share how they brought innovative programs to the older adults in their communities.

Questions about the awards or the selection process? Please email membership@ncoa.org.