A grandfamily is a household in which grandparents or other relatives are the primary caregivers for children, who serve as:
- Legal Guardians
- Informal Caregivers
Grandfamilies step in during moments of crisis—often with little support.
Grandfamilies are formed when parents are unable to care for their children due to:
- Death or serious illness
- Substance use disorder
- Incarceration
- Military deployment
- Economic hardship
or housing instability - Other family crises
By The Numbers
55%
of these grandparents are in the labor force, meaning they juggle caregiving with paid employment**
>50%
of grandparents who are responsible for their grandchildren are age 60 or over**
1 in 10
children
in U.S. is being raised by a grandparent*
87%
of 636 families served by Senior Connection in 2023 reported needing housing suitable for grandparents & grandchildren
Grandfamily Village of Worcester:
Reaching An Overlooked Population
First-of-its-kind
The Grandfamily Village will serve as a national model that can be scaled to serve this growing population across the U.S.
Innovative Housing Community 264 Stafford Street, Worcester:
- Safe, affordable & supportive housing for grandparents and other relatives raising children
- On-site community health workers to service grandparents
- Transformative services to enable children to age-out to a workplace and independent living
Transformative Services
- On-site Grandparents Raising Grandkids Resource Center
- On-site medical clinic
- Trauma-informed supports for children of deceased or addicted parents
- Live-in grandfamily community health workers
- On-site cafe providing youth jobs and generating revenue to support ongoing operations
Capital Campaign
Investment & Capital Campaign Goal
Building Costs:
Land Purchase & Acquisition Cost
$3,000,000
Housing Village / Construction Build-out
$10,500,000
Playground
$500,000
Community Patio
$500,000
Grandparents Raising Grandkids
Resource Center
Resource Center
$1,500,000
Medical Clinic Site Prep
$500,000
Cafe
$500,000
Endowment
$3,000,000
Total Construction Cost:
$20,000,000*
*Final costs of the Capital Campaign may vary from current projections due to potential increases in material prices, construction costs, new regulatory requirements, and changes in supply and demand. The estimate above is based on 2025 forecasts.
Capital Campaign Goal:
Capital Campaign Target Raise
$17,000,000
Federal Funding Received (Congressional Earmark)
$3,000,000
Total Capital Campaign:
$20,000,000
Endowment:
$3.0 million allocated to support ongoing operations and services
Earned Revenue:
On-site cafe generating $150,000–$300,000 annually, while providing youth workforce training and life skills
Funding Opportunities
Founders Circle
Transformational Asset Naming Gifts
These gifts secure naming rights to major physical structures and the long-term sustainability of the Village.
$7,000,000
The Grandfamily Village Campus
Definitive naming of the entire Worcester landmark
$3,000,000
Legacy Sustainability Endowment
Funding the perpetual operations of the Village services
$1,500,000
Innovation & Education Center
Technology labs and youth tutoring zones
$1,000,000
Community Service Wing
The operational core for case management and social work
To Inquire About a Founder’s Circle Donation:
Contact Dr. Claudia Bejarano, Chief of Staff, Senior Connection at cbejarano@seniorconnection.org
Leadership Circle
Community & Programmatic Naming Gifts
These gifts fund specific amenities and critical family-facing infrastructure.
$750,000
The Village Great Hall
The central civic and social gathering hub
$500,000
Village Wellness & Fitness Center
Specialized equipment for both youth and seniors
$250,000
Mobile Community Transit Fleet
Branded vehicles providing vital transport for residents
$100,000
Basic Needs Resource Pantry
Ensuring dignity in access to food and hygiene
$50,000
Individual Residential Unit
Sponsoring the “front door” for one specific family
To Inquire About a Leadership Circle Donation:
Contact Dr. Claudia Bejarano, Chief of Staff, Senior Connection at cbejarano@seniorconnection.org
Path of Generations
Commemorative Masonry
Instead of rooms, these donors secure their names in the physical landscape of the Welcome Plaza and Reflection Gardens.
Goal: $2,850,000 Net Revenue
$10,000
Corporate Entry Block
24″ x 24″ Granite Block: Premium placement at the main entrance with custom logo engraving
$2,500
Legacy Stone Paver
12″ x 12″ Stone: Integrated into the “Central Reflection Circle” within the Community Garden
$500
Grandfamily Square
8″ x 8″ Brick: Located in the “Village Playground & Activity Zone”
$250
Individual Village Brick
4″ x 8″ Brick: Lined along the “Generation Walk” connecting the housing to the clinic
To Inquire About a Path of Generations Donation:
Contact Dr. Claudia Bejarano, Chief of Staff, Senior Connection at cbejarano@seniorconnection.org
Medical Clinic
We’re seeking development financing consultants for the Grandfamily Village. Download the Request for Consultants Form.
