Our History

ReServe was founded in 2005 by three social entrepreneurs who saw few opportunities for older adults who wanted to put their professional skills to work for the greater good once their primary careers came to an end.

Launched as a small pilot at the Blue Ridge Foundation, ReServe has evolved into a new workforce strategy, connecting continuing professionals age 55+ with part-time, service opportunities in community-based organizations, public institutions, and government agencies.

ReServe’s pioneering partnership with New York City’s Department for the Aging (DFTA) was launched in 2007. Since then, nearly two dozen city agencies have tapped into a talent pool of older adults for short-term projects that require specialized skills.

In 2008, ReServe launched its online Opportunity Board which allows ReServists to search for potential positions and Partners to search for talent. Over the past five years, 1,300 individuals have held ReServe assignments in more than 350 organizations, providing more than 714,000 hours of service. Over the next five years, the Opportunity Board will expand to include postings from affiliates across the country.

In 2009, ReServe received a grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies to expand its model and impact to other localities. In addition to serving New York City, ReServe now operates in Miami, FL, Newark, NJ, Baltimore, MD and Westchester County, and plans to launch an affiliate in Southeast Wisconsin (Milwaukee) later this year. ReServe is also working with stakeholders in Boston, Chicago, Denver and Seattle. Together, ReServe and its affiliates are helping create a new workforce strategy for the 21st century, one that redefines a career arc to include civic engagement.