named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Senior Planet
Flagship program offering in-person and virtual technology education for older adults, focusing on financial security, social engagement, creative expression, health and wellness, and civic participation through classes, workshops, and affinity groups.
Senior Planet Centers
Technology-themed community centers in New York City, Plattsburgh (NY), Denver (CO), and Miami (FL) providing free tech help, classes, and social activities for older adults.
Senior Planet Licensing Program
Partnership-based initiative that licenses Senior Planet curriculum and programming to 400+ local organizations across the U.S. to expand digital literacy access for older adults.
Virtual Programming via SeniorPlanet.org
Live online classes and self-paced learning resources on Zoom and the website, including fitness, tech support, financial literacy, and social connection activities for older adults nationwide.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
- Conduct research on technology use and social engagement among older adultsAuthors academic and public articles and conducts longitudinal research on the impact of technology training on older adults, including surveys and impact analyses in collaboration with institutions like Cornell University, Columbia University, and AARP Foundation. The organization tracks over 200 outcome variables across health, civic engagement, and financial security using Qualtrics and Salesforce.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- License and support Senior Planet programming for delivery by partner organizationsOperates a licensing program that enables local organizations to implement Senior Planet technology training for older adults, supported by a Partner Portal with curriculum, digital content, and technical resources. As of the latest evidence, programming is delivered through over 400 licensed partner sites across the U.S., including in Montgomery County, MD; San Antonio, TX; and Santa Clara County, CA.
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Elder Care Financial Support 1 activity
- Provide strategic consulting and solution development for organizations serving older adultsOffers consulting services to help organizations improve technology systems and services for older adults, including curriculum design and implementation support. This includes international consultancy efforts and tailored solution development for aging-focused institutions.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advocate for aging and technology integration through public presentations and cross-sector engagementPresents at international conferences and forums on aging and technology, sharing insights from Senior Planet programming and research. The organization has delivered presentations across five continents and consults globally, including in Israel and Spain, to promote technology adoption among older adults.
- Deliver technology training programs for older adults through in-person and virtual Senior Planet centersOperates four physical Senior Planet centers in New York City, NY; Plattsburgh, NY; Denver, CO; and Miami, FL, and delivers free weekly virtual classes via Zoom on topics such as telemedicine, online banking, and technology use. The program includes live lectures, fitness classes, and self-paced digital resources like video tutorials and quizzes, serving tens of thousands of older adults annually.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$18.69M
Contributions & grants$16.96M91%
Program service revenue$1.65M9%
Investment income$68K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$15.76M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$10.77M
Grants paid out$443K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$15.16M
Cash$5.02M
Investments$0
Liabilities$8.56M
Net assets$6.59M
Liquid reserves3.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +40.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 9
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott M Frisch | Director & AARP EVP & COO | 1 | $1.10M |
| Thomas Kamber | OATS Executive Director | 40 | $617K |
| Frederick Fields | VP - Strat, Planning & Adm | 40 | $524K |
| Sarah Shaw | Secretary & AARP SVP Legal | 1 | $464K |
| Alexander Glazebrook | VP - Program Operations | 40 | $292K |
| Marisa Giorgi | Director - Curriculum | 40 | $227K |
| Jesse Werthman | Finance Director - NYC | 40 | $226K |
| Suzanne Myklebust | Director - Communications | 40 | $209K |
| Ines Escandon | Director - Impact & Learning | 40 | $198K |
board members · 12
- Amanda Del Balso Cantwell — Director
- Anita L Holt — Director
- Aviva Sufian — Director
- Ginna Baik — Chair until 1/19/2024
- Jared Goralnick — Director
- Jeannee Parker Martin — Director
- Lenard Kaye — Director until 9/10/2024
- Michele Thomas — Director
- Najia Orr — Director - 3/5/2024
- Neil Harrison — Interim Chair as of 1/19/2024
- Rigo Saborio — Director - 3/5/2024
- Robert DiMatteo — Director
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- AARP Network — Operates as OATS from AARP, indicating organizational affiliation
- AARP Partner — Collaborates on technology education and community programming for older adults, including the Senior Planet initiative.
- AARP Partner — Collaborates with AARP to deliver the Senior Planet program.
- AARP Partner — OATS formally joined AARP as a charitable affiliate in 2021, one of only four organizations nationwide with this status.
- AARP Foundation Partner — Collaborated in 2013 with Cornell University to create the first comprehensive survey instrument measuring the effect of technology training on social engagement of seniors.
- Age-Friendly New York Commission Partner — Works with the commission to shape age-friendly policies in New York City.
- American Society on Aging Partner — Engages with professional society to advance knowledge and practice in aging.
- Banks Partner — Partners with banks to develop solutions addressing the technology needs of older adults.
- Capital One Partner — Collaborates with OATS on community development initiatives related to digital access for older adults.
- Chicopee Council on Aging Partner — Licensee implementing Senior Planet curriculum to serve older adults in Western Massachusetts.
- Columbia University Institute on Aging Partner — Collaborated in 2014 to develop field-ready surveys tracking participant outcomes in health, civic engagement, financial security, and lifelong learning.
- Consumer Technology Association Foundation Funder — Funded the development of OATS' Partner Portal.
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborated in 2013 with Professor Erin Cornwell and the AARP Foundation to develop a national survey instrument on technology training and social engagement.
- Foundations Partner — Works with foundations on projects aimed at improving the lives of older adults through technology.
- Google Government — Partnered with Google Fiber on community impact initiatives, with Older Adults Technology Services serving as National Program Manager.
- Google Partner — Partners with OATS through Google for Education to support digital skills training for older adults.
- Government agencies Partner — Works with government agencies to improve systems that meet the needs of older adults through technology.
- Healthcare providers Partner — Collaborates with healthcare providers to deliver technology solutions for older adults.
- LEARN Partner — Tech education program using Senior Planet curriculum to bridge the digital divide for older adults.
- LiveOn NY Partner — Collaborates to advance policy initiatives supporting older adults.
- Macquarie Group Partner — Philanthropic partner collaborating with OATS on employee engagement and community impact initiatives.
- National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) Partner — Works with N4A to support aging services at the local level.
- National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Partner — Partners to influence telecommunications policy affecting older adults.
- National Council on Aging Partner — Collaborates on initiatives addressing challenges faced by older adults.
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance Coalition — Member organization working to expand digital access for underserved populations.
- New York Academy of Medicine Partner — Collaborated on a 2010 Social Impact Analysis of OATS programs.
- New York City Mayor’s Broadband Task Force Partner — Collaborates to influence policy supporting older adults through broadband access.
- New York City Mayor’s Non-Profit and Social Services Sector Advisory Council Partner — Advises on policy matters affecting nonprofit and social services for older adults.
- New York Law School Partner — Sponsored a 2014 phone survey of 1,200 older Americans on technology use and social outcomes.
- Nonprofits Partner — Partners with nonprofits to address challenges related to older adults and technology.
+ 6 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Data-Driven Iterative Improvementmethodology: data_driven_program_evaluationBy continuously collecting data and collaborating with academic researchers, we produce more effective programs because evidence-based refinement ensures responsiveness to older adults’ evolving needs and strengthens program accountability.
- Design-Centered Approach to Counteract Ageismmethodology: design_for_inclusionBy applying design thinking and intentional program design, we produce shifts in self-perception and societal views of aging because thoughtful structures make older adults feel seen, capable, and creative, countering narratives of frailty and dependency.
- Participatory, Peer-Driven Empowermentmethodology: participatory_empowerment_modelBy centering older adults as co-designers and peer leaders in technology learning, we produce transformative individual and community change because it fosters identity as powerful and creative, counters ageism, and builds confidence through social connection and mutual support.
- Relationship- and Resource-Intensive Collaboration Modelmethodology: relationship_centered_collaborationBy investing deeply in personal relationships, shared capacity, and mutual reinforcement with partner organizations, we produce durable, scalable change because strong collaborations enable sustained learning, trust, and institutional transformation.
- Technology as a Transformative Lever for Agingmethodology: technology-enabled_aging_empowermentBy using technology not just as a skill to teach but as a core tool to reshape aging experiences, we produce improvements across financial security, health, civic participation, and creative expression because it enables older adults to resist marginalization and engage fully in society.