At the first Boomers Leading Change Forum in June 2007, Rose Community Foundation announced the Boomer Innovation Grants program. The purpose was to provide seed money for creative approaches of engaging the metro Denver baby boom generation in four “next steps” identified in a comprehensive community assessment:

• Boomer Connecting Points and Networks — physical and virtual places where boomers can get information and resources to help them stay engaged
• Restructuring Institutions and Employment — ways to make employment and volunteer service more appealing, flexible and meaningful to boomers
• A Health Initiative — engaging boomers as health care workers, volunteers, exchanging service for health coverage, or as health policy advocates
• Work Force Development — assistance for boomers in seeking new career paths, becoming entrepreneurs, or retraining to remain productive and earn income

In October 2007, Rose Community Foundation awarded 12 Boomer Innovation Grants of $5,000 each from a field of 39 applicants. Recipients included nonprofit organizations, government agencies, consultants and entrepreneurs. The following are summaries of their work.