The awards

Supporting innovative solutions

Every year, the Fit for Life Foundation awards grants of EUR 100,000 each to 3-4 non-profit organizations or social enterprises that are pioneering projects to promote life-long fitness, mobility, and health in aging societies around the world.

The Fit for Life Awards provide multi-year support and international visibility to innovative, impactful projects promoting life-long fitness and health in rapidly aging societies worldwide.

Grants are disbursed over 3 years to facilitate tracking and monitoring of the project’s performance and impact.

This multi-year support enables Laureates to steadily scale up their programs, while building public awareness of the importance of healthy aging for communities.

The Fit for Life Laureates are announced at an annual awards event in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of the Fit for Life ambassadors, donors and partner organizations.

The projects we support are publicized through our website, social media channels and podcast.

Focus on Innovation & Impact

Sourcing: open call through 1000+ networks and organizations globally.

Selection process: rigorous approach, which includes three stages of due diligence and 10 key selection criteria, and lasts approximately a year.

Selection committee: a dedicated and expert committee, supported by the Foundation's Advisory Board, selects the laureates from a pool of vetted finalists.

Grant awards: at a yearly Award Ceremony Laureates receive 100’000 EUR over 3 years, plus recognition.

Monitoring: ongoing performance monitoring and regular evaluations to assess the impact of all grantees.

Our Selection Process

Fit for Life monitors the performance and impact of grants based on criteria used in the selection process. Progress is monitored regularly and consolidated into Annual Impact Monitoring Reports.

We also conduct regular in-depth analysis to assess the impact of all grantees in the Fit for Life Awards portfolio.

Performance & Impact Monitoring

Our Selection Criteria

The Fit for Life examines every aspect of applying organizations (*=main criteria):

  • Accounting

  • Evidence of impact*

  • Financial sustainability*

  • Fundraising

  • Governance and legal structure

  • Human resources

  • Innovation*

  • Leadership

  • Marketing and communication

  • Mission and strategy

  • Monitoring and evaluation methods

  • Operating model*

  • Partnership development

  • Programs

  • Replicability*

  • Scalability*

Vision, scalability and focus on beneficiaries’ needs.

Types of organizations

To apply for the Fit for Life Awards, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

  • The organization or initiative must be legally registered as a non-profit or social enterprise in its country/countries of operations. 

  • We do not accept applications from the following types of organizations:

    • Research institutes

    • Government/public sector institutes

    • Political organizations

    • Organizations that discriminate in their leadership, staffing, or service provision on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, national origin, political affiliation, religious belief or sexual orientation.

We welcome applications from organizations all around the world.

Eligibility

Areas of impact

The mission and activities of the organization or initiative must directly address healthy aging for older (65+ years) or middle-aged people (40+ years).

We welcome solutions relevant to:

  • Physical fitness

  • Exercise and sport

  • Mental health

  • Mental well-being

  • Mobility

  • Nutrition

  • At-home care

  • Community support for older people

  • Prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

  • Other forms of preventative health support

Application

The application form is designed to help us get to know you. A questionnaire will prompt you to provide all the information we need to assess your suitability to become one of our Laureates. If you have any questions, you can contact us here.

Deadline: 15 February 2024

How to Apply

Nomination

Do you know an organization (social enterprise, non-profit) or initiative that directly addresses healthy aging for older (age 65+) or middle-aged people (age 40+)?

If yes, please fill out our nomination form. Nominated organizations are assessed according to our selection criteria and the most suitable candidates will be invited to apply.

Thank you for your contribution!

Award Timeline

Stage 1

Applicants submit the online application form by 15 February 2024

Stage 2

February to March 2024. Organizations shortlisted by the Fit for Life Foundation are requested to provide additional detailed information through the “stage two” on-line form. Applicants not selected to the next round are informed immediately.

Stage 3

March to June 2024. The Fit for Life Foundation team carries out more in-depth due diligence on selected shortlisted organizations, through onsite visits and/or virtual interviews. The Foundation team draws up a list of finalists for consideration by the Selection Committee, which chooses the Laureates.

The Laureates are publicly announced during the annual Fit for Life Awards Celebration in Geneva, typically in September/October.