Retirement Research Foundation
The Retirement Research Foundation, also known as RRF Foundation for Aging, is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for older people, and it funds projects focused on aging through advocacy, direct service, research, knowledge sharing and awareness raising, and organizational capacity building.
Retirement Research Foundation at a glance
In short: Retirement Research Foundation gave $7.8M across 256 grants in 2024 (avg $31K), top state Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,838,419
- +17.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 256
- +10.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $30,619
- +6.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $16,113
- Total assets
- $146,522,542
- +4.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Retirement Research Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit an LOI according to the instructions for the relevant grant pathway. The foundation’s filing lists application deadlines of February 1, May 1, and August 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Mary O'Donnell
Mailing address: 8765 W Higgins Road Ste 430, Chicago, IL 60631-4022
Phone: (771) 714-8080
Email: odonnel@rrf.org
Website: HTTP://WWW.RRF.ORG
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from Retirement Research Foundation
Direct Service Grants
Retirement Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Knowledge Sharing & Awareness Raising Grants
Retirement Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Organizational Capacity Building Grants - Standard OCB Grants
Retirement Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Retirement Research Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Consumer Law Center ($388K across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
493 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 332 grants of 493 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website states that advocacy, research, and knowledge sharing opportunities generally require national reach unless the project is in Illinois. Direct service and organizational capacity building opportunities are limited to Illinois. In 2024, 34% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 14% to the District of Columbia, 13% to New York, 9% to Massachusetts, and 7% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 256 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Retirement Research Foundation gives
- 42% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 141% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.6M (2020) to $8.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 256 grants totaling $7.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Consumer Law Center Boston, MA | A two-year grant to lead a strategic initiative, involving research, training, coalition-building and advocacy, to protect older adults against the consequences of medical and student loan debt that undermine economic security in later life. | $143,626 |
| National Consumer Law Center Boston, MA | A two-year grant to lead a strategic initiative, involving research, training, coalition-building and advocacy, to protect older adults against the consequences of medical and student loan debt that undermine economic security in later life. | $143,626 |
| Grantmakers in Aging White Plains, NY | An 18-month grant for phase two of changing the care conversation, a collaborative initiative designed to ensure equitable family caregiving policies are advanced at the state and national level by empowering state-based caregiving coalitions to advocate for family caregiving issues. | $132,500 |
| National Recreation and Park Association Ashburn, VA | A second-year grant to increase social and intergenerational connectedness for older adults through local parks and recreation. | $125,000 |
| University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN | A two-year grant to adapt the savvy caregiver training program to address the unique needs of lgbtqia+ caregivers. | $125,000 |
| The University of Texas Foundation Inc Austin, TX | A two-year grant to address the impact of dementia on african American communities by partnering with public health agencies to disseminate the alter program, which provides education, resources, and support for dementia caregivers. | $125,000 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL | A two-year grant to develop and evaluate a culturally sensitive, self-help web program based on acceptance and commitment therapy to mitigate loneliness and promote connectedness among older korean immigrants in the U.S. | $125,000 |
| Foundation for Social Connection Washington, DC | A three-year grant to mobilize comprehensive advocacy efforts that seek to secure critical support for programs that enhance the well-being and connectedness for older americans. | $124,593 |
| Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL | An 18-month grant to support older people experiencing homelessness by leveraging the expertise of occupational therapists to identify and address the challenges faced by older people transitioning from homelessness to housing. | $110,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Washington, DC | An 18-month grant to continue successful efforts to strengthen tenant organizing through support of a federal and state housing justice campaign led by older tenants. | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Retirement Research Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $146,522,542 | $15,539,039 | $14,349,974 | $7,838,419 | 256 | $9,776,322 | $11,371,580 | $6,928,192 |
| 2023 | $140,682,488 | $4,402,075 | $10,042,050 | $6,673,919 | 231 | $8,510,879 | $953,103 | $6,751,274 |
| 2022 | $133,517,021 | $1,342,271 | $10,591,600 | $8,326,890 | 2 | $10,350,231 | $520,084 | $7,094,821 |
| 2021 | $165,216,640 | $24,266,276 | $14,526,955 | $7,856,332 | 2 | $9,765,943 | $20,227,183 | $7,447,661 |
| 2020 | $154,053,034 | $4,600,406 | $13,385,324 | $6,607,468 | 2 | — | $1,374,724 | $6,742,397 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Retirement Research Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
RRF Foundation for Aging’s mission is to improve the quality of life for older people. Its stated priorities include reducing ageism, supporting care partners through system-level approaches, protecting older people’s economic security and well-being, promoting affordable housing and safe community living, and strengthening meaningful social bonds. It also prioritizes improving the management and governance of organizations in Illinois.
The foundation’s grant pathways include advocacy, direct service, research, knowledge sharing and awareness raising, and organizational capacity building. Its website describes eligible applicants as nonprofit organizations tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), as well as certain organizations not required to have that designation, such as state-funded universities and Area Agencies on Aging. It says it does not award grants to governmental agencies except for state universities, Area Agencies on Aging, and programs of the Veterans Administration.
Examples of grantees’ work include the National Consumer Law Center’s consumer justice and economic security work for low-income and disadvantaged people, and Grantmakers in Aging’s efforts to strengthen policies and resources for people as they age. The University of Tennessee received support to adapt caregiver training for LGBTQIA+ caregivers, while Rush University Medical Center received support for work with older people transitioning from homelessness to housing.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 256 grants totaling $7,838,419. Individual awards ranged from $100 to $143,626, with a median award of $16,113.
Notable 2024 grants included $143,626 to the National Consumer Law Center for a strategic initiative addressing medical and student loan debt affecting older adults; $132,500 to Grantmakers in Aging for a family caregiving policy initiative; and $125,000 each to the National Recreation and Park Association for social and intergenerational connectedness, the University of Tennessee for caregiver training, and the University of Texas Foundation for dementia caregiver education and support. Other awards included $124,593 to the Foundation for Social Connection for advocacy supporting programs that promote older Americans’ well-being and connectedness, and $110,000 to Rush University Medical Center for support related to older people transitioning from homelessness to housing.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It directs applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before consideration for funding. Applicants invited to submit a full application have one year to do so. The website says organizations may submit one LOI and corresponding proposal per grant cycle, with common exceptions for separate departments of large universities. Eligibility and application requirements vary by grant pathway. The website states that 10% of direct expenses requested from RRF can be allocated to indirect expenses. Its FAQ lists typical historical awards of $75,000 over 12 months for advocacy, $50,000 over 12 months for direct service, $100,000 over 12 months for knowledge sharing, and $100,000 over 18 months for research; organizational capacity building grants have a stated maximum of $15,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary O’Donnell as president; Ruth Ann Watkins as chairperson; Michael J. Starshak as secretary; and Downey R. Varey as treasurer. Listed trustees are John Bouman, Anthony Perry, Kathleen W. Kolodgy, Thomas D. Kuczmarski, Adrienne Mims, and Michelle Saddler.
Retirement Research Foundation is led by Mary O'Donnell, President on every filing since 2020; all 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary O'Donnell
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$237K (2023) → $250K (2024)
Ruth Ann Watkins
Chairperson
On filings since 2020
9 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $33K (2024)
Adrienne Mims
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Anthony Perry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$22K (2020) → $20K (2024)
John Bouman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$22K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Kathleen W. Kolodgy
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $22K (2024)
Thomas D. Kuczmarski
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$22K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Michelle Saddler
Trustee
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $20K (2024)
Robyn Golden-V
Trustee
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $20K (2024)
Downey R. Varey
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $26K (2024)
Michael J. Starshak
Secretary
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $26K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Thomas R. Prohaska Ph D. (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $250K, to Mary O'Donnell (President). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Retirement Research Foundation
How much does Retirement Research Foundation give each year?
Retirement Research Foundation gave $7.8M across 256 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.7M across 231 grants.
What is Retirement Research Foundation's typical grant size?
Retirement Research Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $16,113, and its average grant was $30,619, across 256 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Retirement Research Foundation give grants?
Retirement Research Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (96 grants), New York, NY (24 grants), Washington, DC (22 grants) and Boston, MA (10 grants).
Does Retirement Research Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 52% of Retirement Research Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (132 of 256) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Retirement Research Foundation's largest grantees?
Retirement Research Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National Consumer Law Center ($388,252 across 6 grants), University of Massachusetts Boston ($229,980 across 4 grants) and Amalgamated Charitable Foundation ($225,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Retirement Research Foundation?
Retirement Research Foundation reported $146.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Retirement Research Foundation fund?
RRF Foundation for Aging’s mission is to improve the quality of life for older people. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Retirement Research Foundation?
Submit an LOI according to the instructions for the relevant grant pathway. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Retirement Research Foundation's EIN?
Retirement Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2429540. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Retirement Research Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/retirement-research-foundation-morg_2d24269c0fe4476785f7dd09fb42f1ec
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_362429540_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Retirement Research Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/retirement-research-foundation-morg_2d24269c0fe4476785f7dd09fb42f1ec},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Retirement Research Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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