Aspen, Colo. (July 17, 2025)—The Giving Network has distributed $675,000 to 18 local nonprofits addressing critical gaps in the Roaring Fork community. Hosted by the Aspen Community Foundation (ACF), the Giving Network’s mission is to collaboratively provide a forum for philanthropists to learn about critical community needs, discuss opportunities and through pooled funds, financially support nonprofits in the Aspen to Parachute communities.
2025 is the first year the Giving Network has organized its funding into three cohort priorities:
- Children & Families – Aimed to foster the safety, stability and development of youth and their families, focusing on building capacity, resilience, equity and access.
- Mental Health – Focused on cultivating a healthier regional community by supporting emotional, psychological and social well-being.
- Basic Needs – Addresses essential human needs for living a dignified life in the Aspen to Parachute region, including food, clothing, housing, healthcare and financial stability.
“We are thrilled with the growth of the Giving Network and the streamlined process of this year’s grant cycle,” said Ramona Bruland, Aspen Community Foundation Board Member and Chair of the Giving Network. “The new three-cohort model allowed us to have more intimate meetings in member living rooms with greater participation and conversation, really learning about the gaps and needs of each focus area. Health and human services in our region are really suffering and the opportunity donors have to learn about and connect with both nonprofits and engaged fellow philanthropists is invaluable.”
Since its inception, the Giving Network has previously provided over $3.1 million in funding for nonprofits across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys. In response to the Request for Proposals this year, the Giving Network received 63 grant applications. Applications were open to organizations focused on addressing critical health and human services needs, especially those focused on enhancements or services that are capacity building or strengthen operations, so they can better serve our community.
The list of the Giving Network’s grantee recipients includes:
Basic Needs
Alpine Legal Services
Food Bank of the Rockies
Harvest for Hunger
Mountain Valley Development Services
River Center of New Castle
Safe and Abundant Nutrition Alliance (SANA)
The Farm Collaborative
Mental Health
Aspen Hope Center
A Way Out
DU – Rural MSW Program
La Clinica Del Pueblo – The People’s Clinic
River Bridge Regional Center
Children and Families
Access After School
Children’s Rocky Mountain School
English in Action
Family Resource Center of the RFV
Garfield County School District #16
YouthEntity
The Giving Network’s annual grant cycle opens in January and closes mid-February. More information regarding the Giving Network’s 2026 funding cycle, timeline, and applicant eligibility will be available in early January 2026. To learn more and apply, visit www.giving-network.org.
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About The Giving Network
The Giving Network engages philanthropists in the Aspen, CO, region through collaborative learning in pressing community issues and needs. Founded in 2016 and hosted by the Aspen Community Foundation with the generous support of Laura and Gary Lauder, the Giving Network provides a unique opportunity for philanthropists to pool membership funds and allocate large grants that have a meaningful impact. Learn more at www.giving-network.org.
About Aspen Community Foundation
Since 1980, Aspen Community Foundation (ACF) has invested in a future where everyone from Aspen to Parachute has equitable opportunities to thrive. To ensure this potential is accessible to all, ACF actively listens and learns about the region’s challenges, connects nonprofit and community leaders advancing solutions and partners with donors and funders to catalyze community-led change. To learn more about ACF, visit www.aspencommunityfoundation.org.
