Annual Report Foundation 2009

> For those who were already struggling to make ends meet,
the “Great Recession” hit them hard. Thanks to the generosity
of our donors and the dedication of caring volunteers, the
AARP Foundation provided proven and innovative ways to
help vulnerable adults remain self-sufficient. Together, we
worked to improve economic security.

Our 2009 efforts included free tax-preparation assistance, job-search help and scholarships to help women earn their way to financial security.

Free Tax Help

In 2009, 2. 6 million people received assistance from AARP Tax-Aide. AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service. This remarkable feat was made possible through 34,600 dedicated volunteers, most of who participate year after year.

One client, teacher Charlene Douglas-Flynn, received more than free help with filing her personal tax return at a Tax-Aide site in northern Virginia. She also got money-saving tips for the future from Debbie Herman, a full-time certified public accountant who has helped others complete their tax returns for more than 20 years. The gift of service keeps giving: Herman’s daughter is now a Tax-Aide volunteer, too.

2009 Tax-Aide by the Numbers

• 2,627,000 taxpayers were assisted.

• $650 million in total refunds were achieved.

• 193,000 people with low incomes received a total $200 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (a 9 percent increase over 2008).

• 34,600 IRS-trained volunteers made it all happen, averaging 75 clients each.

Fraud Fighting Heroes These AARP members from Washington State warned potential victims of telemarketing fraud from one of the AARP Foundation’s Fraud Fighting Call Centers.

Fighting Fraud

We achieved a milestone in preventing fraud in 2009, by contacting our 2 millionth consumer about the dangers of telemarketing, Internet and other types of fraud. One by one since 2006, dedicated volunteers in our Consumer Fraud Prevention Project have called potential victims, whose names typically show up on con artists’ “mooch lists” seized by law enforcement officials.