SAGE: Senior Advocates for Generational Equity

What SAGE: Senior Advocates for Generational Equity does

SAGE: Senior Advocates for Generational Equity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with a regional presence in Bend. The organization inspires and supports people over 50 to "give forward" with their time, money, and voice for the benefit of younger and future generations. Its program portfolio includes the Visiting SAGE speaker series (featuring thought leaders such as Jane Goodall, Nicholas Kristof, and Robert Putnam), the Citizen Project for bridging political divides, the Leaders Action Board (LAB) for early-career leaders, the Legacy Fellows program, school-based tutoring initiatives (Parkrose Mentors, Diamondbacks Tutors, Tubman Tutors), the Vision 2030 climate education program, and one-to-one Community Connector meetings. Programs are delivered free to participants in homes, community centers, schools, places of worship, and online.

SAGE operates on a donations-based nonprofit revenue model with four streams: individual donations, business sponsorships, foundation grants, and planned giving/legacy gifts (including bequests, charitable gift annuities, gifts of stock, and IRA Required Minimum Distributions). The technology stack is limited to a WordPress-based website for event management, storytelling, and newsletter distribution; SAGE does not disclose any proprietary technology, AI capabilities, or integrations. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, leveraging workshops, welcome events, the Visiting SAGE speaker series, and Community Connector referrals to build a long-tail of volunteers and donors across Oregon.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by Treasurer Jeff Gudman and chaired/attended by founder Ward Greene (who served as President for 12 years prior to a recent leadership transition). Operations are run by Executive Director Steve Higgs and a small staff of program coordinators. SAGE holds no patents, has no subsidiaries, has no disclosed funding rounds, and is not affiliated with a parent organization.

Name

SAGE: Senior Advocates for Generational Equity

Legal name

Senior Advocates for Generational Equity (SAGE)

Website

https://wearesage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAGE: Senior Advocates for Generational Equity is a Portland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that engages people over 50 in intergenerational civic service through volunteer matching, tutoring, climate education, and a marquee speaker series across Oregon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Civic Engagement Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

akta.pro primary industry

Civic Engagement, Volunteering & Leadership Education for Seniors (EDAAAMAK)

Keywords

• Intergenerational volunteering
• Civic engagement programs
• Community tutoring services
• Senior advocacy nonprofit
• Climate education outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals committed to building a better future for younger and future generations.
2. Business Sponsorships: Support from businesses who help engage the talent and experience of older adults. Sponsorships provide operational support or focus on specific events and programs.
3. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations committed to generational equity and community strengthening.
4. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Forward-thinking planned gifts including bequests in wills, charitable gift annuities, and gifts of stock. Required Minimum Distributions from retirement accounts also accepted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAGE is a nonprofit organization that inspires and supports adults over 50 to give forward with their time, money, and voice so that younger and future generations can thrive. It delivers community-based programs including the Visiting SAGE speaker series, the Citizen Project for civic dialogue, mentorship and tutoring programs in schools, climate education, and personalized Community Connector matching to volunteer opportunities.

Product overview

SAGE is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of volunteer engagement and civic leadership programs designed to inspire people over 50 to give forward with their time, money, and voice. The core offerings include the Visiting SAGE Speakers series (featuring notable thought leaders), the Citizen Project (civic engagement across differences), LAB (Leaders Action Board for early career leaders), and Legacy Fellows (fellowship program). Direct service programs include tutoring initiatives (Parkrose Mentors, Diamondbacks Tutors, Tubman Tutors) and climate education (Vision 2030). These programs are complemented by community conversations, workshops, and SAGE Welcomes sessions that connect volunteers with meaningful opportunities. The organization does not operate a unified technology product but rather facilitates in-person and virtual community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visiting SAGE Speakers

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of people engaged annually through events, initiatives, and programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Issues ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE uses National Issues Forum's facilitation frameworks including the Youth & Opportunity framework for discussions on creating a better future for young Americans and the Climate Choices framework for climate change conversations. These structured discussion guides enable constructive dialogue.
• Oregon Psychological AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE volunteer Sandy Ramirez serves on the Public Education Committee, partnering with the association for community health fairs and free workshops on mental health topics.
• YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE partners with YMCA to offer free workshops on mental health and family support topics through community health fairs.
• IntelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntel retiree Ben Manny volunteers through Intel's programs including PC Pals email pen pal program. Intel's volunteer program donates $10 to nonprofits for every hour employees volunteer.
• FIRST LEGO LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE volunteer coaches robotics teams for middle school students through FIRST LEGO League, inspiring future problem solvers.
• Friends of TreesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE volunteer Albert Kaufman coordinates with Friends of Trees for tree planting and urban forestry initiatives in Portland.
• Quiet Clean PDXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE volunteer Albert Kaufman helped lead Quiet Clean PDX coalition that secured a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in Portland.
• Bend-La Pine School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamondbacks Tutors program operates in High Desert Middle School as part of the Bend-La Pine School District, providing literacy and math tutoring support.
• Parkrose School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParkrose Mentors Program supports elementary and middle school students with literacy and math in the Parkrose School District in Portland.
• PayPal Giving FundminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSAGE accepts donations through PayPal Giving Fund for secure online donations.
• City Club of Central OregonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE volunteer Linda Orcelletto is active in City Club of Central Oregon, which focuses on civil dialogue and community education on important topics.
• KPOV 88.9 FM High Desert Community RadiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE volunteer Linda Orcelletto serves as executive director of KPOV, promoting community connections in Central Oregon.
• Braver AngelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working to bridge political divides, referenced in Citizen Project resources for addressing polarization.
• Crossing Party LinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization focused on civil discourse across political differences, referenced in Citizen Project resources.
• Vision 2030coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE team focusing on educating students about local climate goals, solutions, and workforce opportunities.
• Citizen ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE initiative addressing political polarization by bringing people together across differences to solve problems.
• Bend Food ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization fighting hunger and reducing food waste in Bend area through food rescue and sharing programs.
• CASA of Central OregonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourt Appointed Special Advocates supporting children in the foster care system in Central Oregon.
• Oregon Natural Desert AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization protecting and restoring Oregon's high desert for current and future generations.
• NeighborImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity action agency providing services to low-income people in Central Oregon including food, housing, and energy assistance.
• SMART ReadingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer reading program providing one-on-one reading support to elementary students.
• Financial Beginnings OregonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing financial education to help people make informed financial decisions.
• Literary ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored the 2014 Visiting SAGE event featuring Nicholas Kristof.
• Coalition for a Livable FutureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional sponsor for Visiting SAGE events.
• Elders in ActionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional sponsor for Visiting SAGE events.
• Mercy CorpsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional sponsor for Visiting SAGE events.
• World Affairs Council of OregonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional sponsor for Visiting SAGE events.
• Shade Equity CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Portland-based organizations working to remedy disparities in street tree canopies through urban forestry initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Taproot Foundation: Nonprofit enabling skilled pro bono service by professionals to nonprofits. Comparable to SAGE's mission of channeling adult experience and skills toward community benefit through structured engagement.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring organization pairing adult volunteers with young people. Closely comparable to SAGE's Parkrose Mentors and Diamondbacks Tutors programs on intergenerational mentoring structure.
• Encore.org: National nonprofit specifically focused on engaging people 50+ in encore careers and social-impact second acts. Highly comparable mission and target demographic to SAGE's older-adult civic engagement work.
• Points of Light: Global nonprofit focused on volunteer service and civic engagement, including the HandsOn Network. Compares directly to SAGE's community-led, volunteer-mobilization model across diverse cause areas.
• Catchafire: Skills-based volunteering platform connecting professionals with nonprofits. Compares to SAGE on mobilizing experienced adults for pro bono and volunteer service but uses a tech-mediated delivery model.
• Experience Matters: Nonprofit that connects experienced professionals (often retirees) with nonprofits for consulting and volunteer engagements. Directly comparable to SAGE's older-adult matching and mentoring approach.
• VolunteerMatch: Online platform connecting volunteers with nonprofit opportunities. Comparable to SAGE's Community Connector one-to-one matching model but operates as a national technology-enabled intermediary.

Broad incumbents

• AARP: The largest U.S. organization for adults 50+, offering advocacy, community engagement, and volunteer programs. Overlaps with SAGE on senior engagement but at massive national scale with broader scope including policy and benefits.
• National Council on Aging: National advocacy and service organization for older adults, including community programs and economic security initiatives. Comparable target population to SAGE but with broader policy and benefits focus.
• AmeriCorps Seniors (formerly Senior Corps): Federally funded program engaging Americans 55+ in volunteer service through Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion programs. Directly comparable in mobilizing older adults for tutoring and community service roles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/genequity

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 SAGE: Senior Advocates for Generational Equity