National Indian Council On Aging

What National Indian Council On Aging does

NICOA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1976 by members of the National Tribal Chairmen's Association, focused exclusively on the health, social services, and economic well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native elders aged 55 and older. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico (8500 Menaul Blvd. NE, Suite B-470), the organization operates as a national advocacy body with a small staff (11-50 employees). Its program portfolio spans employment and training (Senior Community Service Employment Program, SCSEP), technical assistance (Technical Assistance and Resource Center, TARC), caregiver support (Family Caregiving Needs, Savvy Caregiver in Indian Country), long-term care resources (Tribal Continuum of Care National Resource Center), disability services (Understanding Disabilities in Native Communities Toolkit), and culturally specific health resources covering Alzheimer's, diabetes, elder abuse, and social isolation. The organization also runs the Story Mapping Project documenting elders living with disabilities and the #ConnectedIndigenousElders social isolation awareness campaign funded by the CDC Foundation.

Revenue is generated primarily through federal grants (Administration for Community Living / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), supplemented by private donations, membership fees, and corporate sponsorships for its biennial American Indian Elders Conference. Programs and resources are delivered at no cost to eligible Native elders through direct community outreach, tribal partnerships, and Title VI program collaboration. Distribution is multi-channel: a primary website (nicoa.org), sub-brand digital properties (nicoacompass.org, connectedindigenouselders.org), bimonthly newsletter, social media presence launched in 2017, an extensive video content library, and the biennial conference. Leadership is currently Billie Tohee (Executive Director), with Desiree Lapahie appointed Programs Director in October 2024. Notable financial events include a $4 million donation received in March 2022 and ACL/HHS funding for the $215,512 Story Mapping Project.

Name

National Indian Council On Aging

Legal name

National Indian Council On Aging, Inc.

Website

https://nicoa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NICOA is a 1976-founded national 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Albuquerque, NM, that delivers aging-related health, social services, economic, and caregiver programs to American Indian and Alaska Native elders through federal grants, donations, and tribal partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior/Aging Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Licensed CNA/HHA Staffing & Credentialed Placement (HSABAMAH), Active Adult / Senior Community Association Management (BPAJAHAJ)

Keywords

• Native elder services
• Senior employment training
• Tribal aging advocacy
• Caregiver support programs
• Long-term care resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: NICOA receives federal funding from agencies such as the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for programs like SCSEP and story mapping projects.
2. Private Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support advocacy work and elder programs.
3. Membership Fees: NICOA offers membership with various benefits for individuals and organizations invested in Native elder welfare.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: The organization receives sponsorship support for its biennial conferences and programs from corporate partners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NICOA delivers a coordinated suite of advocacy programs, employment training (SCSEP), caregiver education, technical assistance, and culturally tailored health and wellness resources for American Indian and Alaska Native elders aged 55 and older. The organization also operates the Tribal Continuum of Care National Resource Center, the NICOA Compass online wellness guide, the Connected Indigenous Elders social isolation campaign, and a biennial elders conference, all at no cost to eligible beneficiaries.

Product overview

NICOA operates as a national nonprofit organization offering a coordinated suite of programs and services focused on improving the health, social services, and economic well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native elders. The portfolio includes employment assistance through SCSEP, caregiver support programs like the Savvy Caregiver training and Family Caregiving Needs initiative, elder resources spanning health topics and economic security, technical assistance for tribal communities via TARC, long-term care resources through the Tribal Continuum of Care National Resource Center, and public education tools including videos and newsletters. NICOA organizes a biennial American Indian Elders Conference and runs awareness campaigns like Connected Indigenous Elders to address social isolation. Key digital resources include NICOA Compass (online wellness guide) and the Story Mapping Project (elder storytelling initiative).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NICOA Compass: A Guide to Native Wellness: An online guide providing wellness resources for Native communities
• Connected Indigenous Elders
• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
• Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC)
• Tribal Continuum of Care National Resource Center

Products and services

• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) A federally funded job training and employment placement program for American Indian and Alaska Native elders aged 55+ that provides paid work experience and bridges participants into unsubsidized employment.
• Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC) A program providing technical assistance, disability toolkit guides, Pacific Northwest tribal information, and fact sheets to tribal communities and elder-serving organizations.
• Family Caregiving Needs in Diverse Older Communities A program providing resources, training, and support for family caregivers of American Indian and Alaska Native elders, addressing caregiver burden and care technique training needs.
• Tribal Continuum of Care National Resource Center A national resource center providing tools and information for long-term services and supports in tribal communities, helping Native elders continue living life as fully as possible.
• NICOA Compass: A Guide to Native Wellness A comprehensive online guide to Native wellness providing health information, social services resources, and economic wellbeing resources tailored for American Indian and Alaska Native elders.
• Understanding Disabilities in Native Communities Toolkit A toolkit guide providing resources and information for tribal leaders and community members on understanding and addressing disabilities in Native communities.
• The Savvy Caregiver in Indian Country Trainer's Manual A professional-level dementia care training manual adapted specifically for caregivers in Indian Country, providing practical skills and knowledge for caring for elders with dementia.
• Connected Indigenous Elders Campaign A social isolation and loneliness awareness campaign targeting Native elders and their caregivers, funded by the CDC Foundation with videos and radio announcements.
• American Indian Elders Conference NICOA's flagship biennial conference bringing together American Indian and Alaska Native elders, caregivers, tribal leaders, and service providers for education, networking, and advocacy. The 2025 conference is scheduled for September 29 to October 3 at Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.
• Story Mapping Project A digital storytelling initiative seeking American Indian and Alaska Native elders living with disabilities to share their experiences, focused on culture, community, resilience, and aging well. Funded by ACL/HHS.
• Elder Resources Portal A comprehensive online collection of elder resources covering health topics including Alzheimer's and Dementia, caregiving, diabetes education, disabilities, elder abuse, fall prevention, social isolation, economic security resources, federal programs, and elder equity information.
• NICOA Video Content Library An extensive library of video content organized by topic including caregiving, conferences, continuum of care, disabilities, finance, fitness, health, interviews, elder storytelling, political participation, SCSEP, and social isolation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34 nonprofit organizations in membership network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Native Leadership Collective of AlbuquerquecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 October 2024NICOA became the 34th member of the Native Leadership Collective of Albuquerque, a Native-led collective of nonprofit organizations advocating for the Native community in Albuquerque. NLC represents over 8.2% of the city's Native population and serves as a voice for all generations of Native Americans.
• GetSetUpsupportingTechnology or Integration · 10 March 2022NICOA partnered with GetSetUp, a virtual social learning platform designed specifically for elders, to help SCSEP participants access technology training and virtual learning classes. This partnership supports elder job training and digital literacy.
• CDC FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2021CDC Foundation provided grant funding for NICOA's #ConnectedIndigenousElders social isolation and loneliness awareness campaign. The campaign includes videos and radio announcements targeting elders, caregivers, and tribal leaders, with a focus on addressing isolation worsened by COVID-19.
• Alzheimer's AssociationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNICOA collaborates with the Alzheimer's Association New Mexico Chapter to provide caregiver training programs including the Savvy Caregiver curriculum and free classes for dementia caregivers.
• Benjamin Rose Institute on AgingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and Family Caregiver Alliance to promote Best Programs for Caregiving website, connecting family caregivers with free or low-cost care programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Indian Health Board: National tribal-advocacy organization focused on Indian health policy. Comparable in tribal-government relationships and federal advocacy posture but broader in scope (all tribal health, not specifically aging) and a larger, more established body.
• AARP: The largest U.S. aging-advocacy organization with deep policy reach and AARP Foundation programming — competes for the same donor and policy attention and hosts 'Indian Elders Honors' events. Dominant scaled incumbent even though not AI/AN specific.
• Family Caregiver Alliance: National caregiver-services and policy organization partnering with NICOA on the Best Programs for Caregiving site; comparable caregiver-education content and federal advocacy, with broader populations and a more established national brand.
• Indian Health Service (IHS): Federal agency delivering health services to AI/AN people — an obvious federal partner and adjacent provider that touches many of the same elders NICOA serves; broader mandate and far larger budget create natural ecosystem positioning but also make IHS the structural anchor of AI/AN elder care.
• Alzheimer's Association: National leader in dementia care and research — partnered with NICOA to deliver the Savvy Caregiver in Indian Country curriculum. A scaled incumbent in the same caregiving-content adjacency, with far greater research and fundraising capacity.

Direct peers

• National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA): Ethnically focused national aging-services nonprofit serving Asian American and Pacific Islander elders — directly analogous in mission, federal grant work, SCSEP program administration, and policy advocacy to NICOA's AI/AN focus.
• National Council on Aging: The closest direct counterpart and historical near-namesake: a national nonprofit advocating for older Americans across all populations, including operating the largest national aging services network. Highly comparable mission, advocacy posture, and funding base (federal + philanthropic), though NICOA uniquely serves AI/AN elders.
• Diverse Elders Coalition: Advocacy coalition focused on aging within communities of color and LGBTQ+ elders — including AI/AN populations. Comparable mission, policy advocacy posture, and elder-services focus, though operating as a coalition rather than a direct service provider.
• National Caucus and Center on Black Aging (NCBA): National minority-focused aging-services nonprofit serving Black elders with federal workforce and caregiver programs. Directly comparable business model (SCSEP administrator, caregiver support, advocacy) and federal funding pattern.

Others

• Grantmakers in Aging: Membership association of philanthropies focused on aging — not a direct competitor, but a natural partner/funder network that NICOA could leverage to expand its philanthropic revenue base beyond individual donations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NICOA_Aging
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTEgc6x6nsrxperW8K2zcSQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/NICOAAging
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-indian-council-on-aging-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/nicoa_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Indian Council On Aging