The Encore Opportunity Awards were created to address opportunities and challenges identified in the 2008 MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Career Survey, conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, and the 2005 MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures New Face of Work Survey, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Both surveys look at the plans and priorities of Americans in the second half of life and find a broad and deep interest – especially among leading-edge baby boomers – in beginning encore careers – careers that combine continued income with personal meaning and social impact.

In contrast to this interest, few of those surveyed in 2005 thought it would be very easy to find jobs where they could make a difference. However, the 2008 Tapping Encore Talent: A MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Survey of Nonprofit Employers, also conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, found that nonprofit employers are interested in encore talent – and many have already tapped into it. The Encore Opportunity Awards aim to identify, recognize, and learn from organizations that are successfully engaging the talent of people 50+ interested in encore careers. Our goal is to inspire and help other organizations to do this as well, so that this pool of talent, commitment, and experience can be tapped to work on society’s greatest challenges.