About
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a national nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia, that works to improve the health and economic security of older Americans. Its roots trace to 1950, when President Harry Truman convened the first National Conference on Aging; the organization became independent in 1960, rebranding from the National Committee on the Aging with Ford Foundation support. Since then, NCOA has been a driving force behind some of the most significant advances in aging policy in America.
Mission
NCOA's mission is to create the conditions for all to age well today and into the future. Its vision is a just and caring society in which each of us, as we age, lives with dignity, purpose, and security. The organization has set a goal of 100 million happier, healthier birthdays by 2040, and reports that it has achieved its earlier social impact goal of improving the lives of 40 million older adults.
What they do
- Resources: trusted information for older adults and caregivers on health, benefits, and money.
- Tools: personalized online support for benefits screening, falls prevention, and financial planning, including BenefitsCheckUp, launched in 2001 to connect eligible seniors to benefit programs.
- Best practices: technical assistance for community organizations that serve older adults.
- Advocacy: fighting ageism and working to strengthen federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act.
- Employment: NCOA manages 24 Senior Community Service Employment Program offices nationwide.
History
NCOA successfully advocated for the passage of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act in 1965, mobilizing volunteers to enroll more than 3 million people through Operation: Medicare Alert. It championed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act in 1967 and helped end mandatory retirement in 1986. Later milestones include the Falls Free Initiative (2005) and the Aging Mastery Program (2013). More recently, NCOA helped secure $1.43 billion in pandemic relief for Older Americans Act programs in 2021 and advanced Medicare protections through the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.
Financials
According to its Form 990 filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, NCOA reported total revenue of $77,891,453 and total expenses of $81,488,340 in fiscal year 2025, with net assets of $7,124,097. Contributions made up 93.2 percent of FY2025 income. In fiscal year 2024, revenue was $97,548,522 against expenses of $98,158,194. NCOA is a 501(c)(3) organization; its federal tax exemption was issued in June 1961.
Governance
Ramsey Alwin serves as President and CEO, per the organization's FY2025 Form 990. The executive team also includes CFO Kevin Madden and Chief Customer Officer Joshua Hodges.