The institutional characteristics of postsecondary colleges and universities that were successful in all Administration on Aging (AoA) grant program competitions for career training or personnel in aging through the 1980-81 academic year are analyzed. The sustaining ability of first-time grantees in new AoA program competitions are compared to see if the advantage of prior funding varies by institutional categories. Additionally, the possible relationship between sustaining membership in the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education is examined as an indicator of institutional commitment to instructional programs in gerontology by comparing institutional and funding support characteristics of members and nonmembers among AoA grantees. It is suggested that some of the proposals advanced in recent years as alternatives to AoA's support of long-term training activity can be questioned, given the Reagan Administration's intent to reduce the size and status of the Department of Education and to reduce funding support for health professions training and general student financial assistance. Attention is directed to program transitions and funding history, the 1979 gerontology career preparation program competition, displacement impact of the new multidisciplinary centers program, merging the old multidisciplinary center and career training program, and classifications of institutions that AoA is currently supporting. It is concluded that the ability of institutions to successfully compete in an open competition is linked to the size and duration of initial support by AoA as well as the size of student enrollment, auspices, and level of instruction offered. (Author/SW)