In 2023, the Memory Cafe Alliance (MCA) was launched with funding awarded by Maude’s Ventures! Today; the MCA is leading a national initiative to develop robust resources to launch and sustain Memory Cafes, hoping to grow the reach of these low cost, high impact programs for people living with cognitive impairment or dementia and their caregivers.
What Are Memory Cafes?
Memory Cafes offer opportunities for social connection for people people with changes
in their memory or thinking, cognitive decline, or dementia, and their family members,
friends, or professional care partners. For years, Memory Cafes have begun and been maintained within communities solely through grassroots supports. These free, informal, social gatherings often take place in public and third spaces on a regular basis, offering a welcome environment, an activity (such as art, music, physical movement and more), and light refreshments. Memory Cafes have developed organically, and often reflect the communities they were created in, including culturally relevant activities
“There is still a lot of stigma around dementia and caregiving. Many times people will ‘pull back’ to protect their loved ones while navigating these challenges. [Memory Cafés] offer a space that is very social, and gives people a chance to connect to others going through the same things. ”
Memory Cafes provide meaningful benefits within the communities where they operate. For many people struggling with cognitive impairment or dementia or their loved ones, Memory Cafes are often an early place of support during this journey. They are low-barrier by design: typically free of charge, requiring no formal diagnosis, and offering a welcoming environment among others who understand what participants are going through. In many instances, these spaces can offer resources and practical guidance from others with lived experience and knowledge. However, their primary benefit is addressing the social isolation that many often experience; both as people living with cognitive impairment or dementia and as care partners and caregivers.
The Role of the Memory Cafe Alliance
Until now, Memory Cafes have often been sustained by local programs designed to support people living with dementia and local leaders who may have relevant personal experiences. The four founders of the Memory Cafe Alliance are a testament to this spirit. Beth Soltzberg, who was willing to speak with Maude’s Ventures for this feature, credits the Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s (JF&CS) work in the area of Alzheimer’s and dementias. Even as a local organization serving the Greater Boston area, they supported Memory Cafes nationally for 11 years before the creation of the Memory Cafe Alliance. This same dedication is apparent throughout the Memory Cafe Alliance and within Memory Cafes themselves. Sam Goodrich, the Memory Cafe Alliance Project Manager, is helping to guide this national initiative in a part-time capacity, while also serving as the Vice President of Programs with TimeSlips. In order to maintain the low to no cost nature of Memory Cafes, leaders throughout the country are giving of their time and energy to create these spaces and develop community where it is so often needed.
“Here, we’re normal”
– Memory Café Participant
While the benefits of Memory Cafes are vast, the absence of any larger organizational scaffolding has historically created challenges for the individuals responsible for running them. Leaders have been expected to build from scratch and go about advertising and seeking volunteers or external support single-handedly.
With funding from Maude’s Ventures, the Memory Cafe Alliance is working to meet these challenges head-on. The MCA has already increased visibility for the incredible efforts of grassroots Memory Cafes through their online directory – which allows people to easily locate local programs that meet their needs. Additionally, the Memory Cafe Alliance is engaging in work across the country to sustainably increase the number of high-quality Memory Cafes in the US through the creation of free online tools to train leaders interested in beginning programs within their communities.
The Memory Cafe Alliance has also developed pilot projects with training hubs around the country, including the University of Pennsylvania, University of Colorado Boulder, and the University of Washington; with each location serving a region or sector of Memory Cafes and establishing systems to engage cohorts of new leaders.
Ultimately, the Memory Cafe Alliance aims to increase the number of Memory Cafes nationally tenfold, from 500 to 5,000! While this goal is ambitious, it serves an ongoing need in communities across the country. A study published in Nature Medicine in January of 2025 estimates that the number of people living with dementia will double between 2020 to 2060; from 514,000 to over 1 million. Maude’s Ventures is proud to support the Memory Cafe Alliance in its work to meet that need.
Local Spotlight: Memory Cafés in Washington State
To understand how the work of the Memory Cafe Alliance is being experienced at a community level, Maude’s Ventures spoke with Katie Zeitler of the University of Washington. Katie Zeitler is managing the Memory Cafe Expansion project for Washington State, with the joint goals of developing the University of Washington as a training hub for the region, and of creating 100 new Memory Cafes in the state over the next 2 years.
In pursuit of these goals, University of Washington staff have developed in-person and live-virtual training materials, building on the free videos available through the Memory Cafe Alliance website. These trainings incorporate group engagement components and ongoing evaluations to continuously strengthen the University of Washington’s offerings as a training hub.
At the time of our interview in June, the University of Washington had already delivered 3 training sessions to over 30 potential Memory Cafe leaders, nearly all of whom stated intentions to launch Cafes in the next 3-6 months. Additionally, over 3 Cafes have already been founded, serving multiple counties across the state.
The University of Washington also offers a wealth of knowledge within the dementia space. Katie Zeitler also leads the Dementia Friends Washington initiative – during her tenure she has engaged with underserved communities throughout the state and championed efforts to increase access to translated materials to allow information to move across language barriers. As a Memory Cafe Alliance Training Hub, the University of Washington has an ongoing commitment to ensure materials developed are inclusive and accessible to all.
Trainings continue to be offered, in person and virtually, through the University of Washington. If you or someone you know is interested in launching a Memory Cafe, please see the University of Washington website here.
Our 2026 Application Cycle is Now Open!
The 2026 application cycle for both Maude’s Ventures and our Young Founders Program is now open and runs through August 31st!
Check out our FAQ page for more information on applying to both Maude’s Ventures and the Young Founders Program, or reach out directly to our Program Director, Samantha Lafontaine, at samantha.lafontaine@ferryfound.org
About Maude’s Ventures
We invest in new solutions to improve the well-being of people with dementia and their caregivers.
Our Story
Founded by Maude and Richard Ferry, our passion stems from a deep-seated commitment to improving care for those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s while we wait for a cure. Learn more.
Maude’s Ventures Grants
Every year, we provide seed investments of up to $50,000 to kickstart groundbreaking ideas poised to make a difference for the dementia community. Learn more.
Young Founders Program
We award annual grants of up to $2,500 to empower the next generation of dementia care pioneers. Learn more.