IONA Senior Services
Iona Senior Services adapts to provide ever-expanding services to a growing older population in Washington, D.C.
Iona Senior Services began in the 1970s with a single Washington, D.C., building. Named for a tiny Scottish island known for its community welcoming all people and traditions, Iona uses Blackbaud solutions to ensure that all older Beltway residents can access services when and where they need them.
Iona Senior Services launched decades ago with a goal of serving aging people in the Washington, D.C., area and with the foresight of a now-pressing need. “The entire nation is dealing with the question of how to support older people,” said Annual Giving Manager Rosie Aquila. “As more and more people get older, the question is, what support do we have available to older people?”
In fact, U.S. Census data shows that by 2060 the number of people aged 65 or older will comprise nearly 25% of the U.S. population—including nearly 20 million people at least 85 years old.
Iona has expanded and adapted since its beginnings in the mid-1970s—from a single clapboard building called Iona House into a comprehensive community center. Iona Senior Services provides residents across the Beltway region with resources ranging from day services to wellness programs and arts activities, plus a helpline connecting the entire United States. As Iona’s programming has grown increasingly robust, its engagement and fundraising needs have become increasingly sophisticated. And with Blackbaud as its partner, Iona is ready to meet the challenge.
