Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Encore is leading the movement to engage people age 50+ for civic good.

Inspiring innovation

Experience Corps

"Experience Corps shows us that we cannot meet the needs of our children alone. Experience Corps members bring the strength of the community into the schools."
– Shirl E. Gilbert, II, Regional Superintendent, Philadelphia

Experience Corps recruits, trains and supervises adults 55 and up who provide 15 hours of tutoring each week to kindergarteners through third-graders.  Members participate in 20 hours of content, skills, and relationship training and use a research-based curriculum in their tutoring.  They receive a small stipend in return for their work.

Supported by an Encore investment, Gerontology Network launched this award-winning program in Grand Rapids.  Independent research shows that Experience Corps boosts student academic performance, helps schools and youth-serving organizations become more successful, and enhances the well-being of older adults in the process.

Read about Grand Rapids Experience Corps volunteer Diane Farr.

185 Oakes Street SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503