FiftyForward

What FiftyForward does

FiftyForward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1956 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, that delivers a comprehensive continuum of services to adults aged 50 and older across Middle Tennessee. The organization operates seven accredited lifelong learning centers in Davidson, Williamson, and Rutherford counties, offering more than 100 instructional classes, fitness programs (including SilverSneakers), social activities, day trips, and arts programming to over 6,500 adult participants annually, with approximately 20,000 individuals and families served each year through its combined programs and 1,200 volunteers. Beyond center-based programming, FiftyForward provides an integrated suite of supportive care services: licensed FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services for adults with cognitive or physical needs, FiftyForward Fresh (Meals on Wheels) home-delivered meals at $5/meal, a fee-for-service Care Team for geriatric care management, free Living at Home Care Management, and court-appointed Conservatorship services established in 1995.

The organization's revenue model blends earned income with philanthropic support. Annual membership is priced at $205 per individual (payable upfront or via 12-month installments), with full or half scholarships available based on income and insurance benefit acceptance (SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, Renew Active) for eligible members. Additional fee-for-service revenue comes from adult day services, care management, conservatorship, and meals. The funding base is diversified across individual donations (including the Everyday Guardians monthly giving program and Fountain Society planned giving), foundation grants (United Way of Greater Nashville, United Way of Williamson County, R.H. Boyd Family Endowment, Food Lion Feeds), corporate sponsorships, government funding, and special events such as the annual Barry Coggins Golf Tournament and the Forward Creative Commons capital campaign, which has raised over $5.1 million toward a $7 million goal.

FiftyForward's technology footprint is intentionally modest: the organization relies on standard nonprofit management systems and uses Zoom for virtual programming, with no proprietary technology platform. Its strategic differentiators are physical (seven centers across three counties), relational (70-year brand and 1,200-volunteer base), and credentialed (NISC accreditation for five of seven centers, Alzheimer's Foundation of America Excellence in Care distinction, AmeriCorps Foster Grandparent and RSVP program affiliations, and a unique intergenerational hub at Forward Creative Commons co-located with Creative Girls Rock). The organization employs between 51 and 100 paid staff and is led by CEO Sallie Hussey, with Teresa McDaniel (CFO of the Year) as CFO and Gretchen Funk as Chief Program Officer.

Name

FiftyForward

Legal name

FiftyForward

Website

https://fiftyforward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FiftyForward is a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1956, operating seven accredited lifelong learning centers and a continuum of supportive care services for adults 50+ across Davidson, Williamson, and Rutherford counties in Middle Tennessee, serving roughly 20,000 individuals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK), Community & Senior Center Lifelong Learning Programs (EDAAAMAB), Caregiver Support & Education Programs (Center-Based) (HSABANAN), Meals, Nutrition & Congregate Dining Day Programs (HSABANAM), Technology & Digital Skills for Seniors (Devices, internet safety, telehealth) (EDAAAMAH)

Keywords

• Senior services
• Lifelong learning
• Adult day care
• Caregiver support
• Aging services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees of $205 per year (or spread over 12 months via automatic credit/debit card drafts). Some insurance benefits (SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, Renew Active) may cover membership costs.
2. Program Fees: Fees for specific programs including adult day services, care management, conservatorship, and meals. FiftyForward Fresh meals available for $5/meal or free based on income eligibility.
3. Donations and Grants: Individual donations (one-time, monthly Everyday Guardians program, estate/planned giving through Fountain Society), foundation grants (United Way, R.H. Boyd Family Endowment, Food Lion Feeds), corporate sponsorships, and government funding.
4. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Barry Coggins Golf Tournament (raised over $25,000), Older Americans Month Celebration, Hats Off to Bordeaux, and other special events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FiftyForward is a Middle Tennessee nonprofit that operates seven lifelong learning centers and a suite of supportive services for adults aged 50 and older. Offerings include adult day services, home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels / FiftyForward Fresh), care management and conservatorship, caregiver education, member fitness and learning classes, and volunteer programs such as Foster Grandparent and RSVP. Services are delivered on-site at centers, in homes, and virtually.

Product overview

FiftyForward is a Nashville-based nonprofit organization operating a platform of seven lifelong learning centers across Middle Tennessee plus multiple supportive care programs for adults 50 and older. The core offering consists of FiftyForward Lifelong Learning Centers (accredited by NISC), which provide over 100 instructional classes and activities. The portfolio extends through supportive care services including FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services, FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels, Care Team geriatric care management, Living at Home Care Management (free), and Conservatorship services. Additional offerings include the Squeeze the Day podcast, volunteer programs (Foster Grandparent Program and RSVP under AmeriCorps), and the Powerful Tools for Caregivers virtual educational series. Membership-based center access is available at $205/year with scholarship options, and services range from free to fee-for-service depending on program type.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services: Licensed adult day services program for adults 50+ with cognitive, memory, health or physical needs
• FiftyForward Fresh
• Forward Creative Commons
• Squeeze the Day Podcast
• Everyday Guardians
• Fountain Society

Products and services

• FiftyForward Lifelong Learning A network of seven lifelong learning centers across Middle Tennessee offering educational classes, fitness programming, social activities, and trips for adults aged 50 and older. Members and participants attend on-site at the centers, with some classes offered virtually.
• FiftyForward Friends (Adult Day Services) Community-based adult day program providing supervised daytime care, activities, and socialization for older adults with cognitive or physical support needs, while giving family caregivers respite.
• Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels / FiftyForward Fresh) Nutrition program that delivers meals to homebound older adults in Middle Tennessee to address food insecurity and support independent living.
• FiftyForward Care Team Care coordination team that supports older adults and families in navigating aging-related needs and connecting them to appropriate services.
• FiftyForward Living at Home Care Management Professional care management services for older adults living at home, including assessment, planning, and ongoing coordination of in-home supports.
• FiftyForward Conservatorship Conservatorship services for older adults who can no longer manage their personal or financial affairs, providing guardianship and fiduciary support.
• Powerful Tools for Caregivers Structured educational program that teaches family caregivers skills, self-care techniques, and resources for managing the caregiving role.
• Squeeze the Day Podcast Original FiftyForward podcast covering topics relevant to older adults and family caregivers, distributed as audio content.
• Foster Grandparent Program Federally-supported volunteer program placing older adult volunteers as mentors with children and youth in community organizations across Middle Tennessee.
• RSVP Volunteer Program AmeriCorps RSVP program engaging older adult volunteers in a range of community service activities across Middle Tennessee.
• FiftyForward Membership Annual membership providing access to lifelong learning center programming, fitness classes, trips, and member benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of center members report improvements in overall well-being
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Creative Girls RockcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Girls Rock is a partner in the Forward Creative Commons (formerly Bordeaux Collaborative), a 9,000-square-foot intergenerational hub where FiftyForward Bordeaux Senior Center and Creative Girls Rock operate together. This is an innovative intergenerational programming partnership.
• YMCA of Middle TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiftyForward J.L. Turner Center is a unique partnership between FiftyForward and the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. Located at the Bellevue Family YMCA, this was the first partnership of its kind in the country. All Bellevue YMCA members 50+ can enroll as FiftyForward members at no additional cost.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiftyForward is a partner agency of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. This partnership supports the FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels program with food sourcing and distribution resources.
• Meals on Wheels AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels is a member of Meals on Wheels America, receiving program support, resources, and networking benefits from the national organization.
• Tennessee State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Tennessee State University for evidence-based nutrition and wellness programs at FiftyForward Bordeaux, focusing on healthy portions, quality proteins, and low-fat, low-sugar alternatives.
• University of Tennessee KnoxvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Tennessee Knoxville for evidence-based nutrition and wellness programs at FiftyForward Bordeaux supporting long-term well-being of members.
• AmeriCorps (Foster Grandparent Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiftyForward Foster Grandparent Program is a proud member of the AmeriCorps family. Volunteers serve 15-40 hours per week in classroom settings helping students with academic and social-emotional development. Part of AmeriCorps Seniors programs.
• AmeriCorps Seniors (RSVP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiftyForward RSVP is a volunteer program engaging adults 55+ in select service opportunities in Davidson and Williamson Counties. RSVP is a division of AmeriCorps Seniors, a federal agency dedicated to engaging older adults in service.
• Tennessee First Lady Maria LeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTennessee First Lady Maria Lee partnered with FiftyForward for day of service events, with rising K-6th graders assisting local seniors. Also donated to FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Amedisys: National home health and hospice provider serving older adults in their residences. Comparable to FiftyForward's home-delivered meals and Living at Home Care Management offerings but operates as a large-scale clinical home health platform rather than a community-center-based nonprofit.
• AARP Foundation: National nonprofit arm of AARP addressing hunger, income, and isolation among adults 50+. Comparable mission and target population but operates at national scale through grants and advocacy rather than direct service centers.
• Brookdale Senior Living: Largest U.S. operator of senior living communities offering assisted living, memory care, and independent living. Overlaps with FiftyForward in serving older adults needing supportive services but is a for-profit, publicly traded residential operator rather than a community-based nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Help at Home: Leading provider of personal care services to seniors and individuals with disabilities, often contracting with state Medicaid programs. Comparable to FiftyForward's care management and adult day services lines in serving older adults needing daily living support, though operating as a for-profit personal care agency rather than a community-center nonprofit.
• JASA (Jewish Association Serving the Aging): New York-based nonprofit providing senior centers, social services, care management, and Meals on Wheels to older adults across multiple boroughs. Comparable scale and service mix (centers + care management + meals) make it one of the closest direct peers to FiftyForward in mission and operating model.
• Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio: Regional Area Agency on Aging operating senior centers, supportive services, meals, and care management in the Cincinnati region. Directly comparable to FiftyForward as a community-based nonprofit delivering the same continuum of active and supportive care for adults 50+ in a defined metro area.
• Senior Services of Alexandria: Nonprofit operating senior centers, social programs, meals, and supportive services for older adults in Alexandria, Virginia. Closely mirrors FiftyForward's model of multi-center senior services under one membership with programming, meals, and care coordination.

Emerging players

• Honor Technology: Tech-enabled home care platform combining caregiver matching, care management, and partner network for older adults. Comparable to FiftyForward's care management and caregiver support services but differentiated by proprietary technology platform and franchise-style partner network.

Others

• Meals on Wheels America: National membership organization of which FiftyForward Fresh is a 2025 member. Comparable as a Meals on Wheels program operator and broader ecosystem coordinator, though operating at the national federation level rather than as a single regional agency.
• National Council on Aging (NCOA): National nonprofit advocating for and supporting older adults through programs like NISC accreditation, Falls Free Initiative, and benefits access. Provides the accreditation framework under which Five of FiftyForward's seven centers are credentialed.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FiftyForward
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FiftyForwardTN
• Facebookfacebook.com/FiftyForward
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fiftyforward
• Instagraminstagram.com/fiftyforward
• Pinterestflickr.com/photos/fiftyforward

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FiftyForward