Giving Network

The Giving Network engages philanthropists in the Aspen, CO, region about pressing community issues and needs through collaborative learning. By pooling funds and resources, we make impactful grants to regional nonprofits who serve to catalyze change.

Mission

Through collaborative learning, the Giving Network provides a forum for philanthropists to learn about critical community needs, discuss opportunities, and decide where to grant pooled membership funds.

Vision

The Giving Network envisions a region where committed philanthropists are actively engaged in learning about and supporting the local nonprofit sector to address the critical needs from Aspen to Parachute.

Learn, Discuss, Decide

High-Impact Philanthropy

We are a group of committed philanthropists in the Aspen region who are interested in making a difference by supporting the work of nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3)) serving our community from Aspen to Parachute, CO.

Giving Network members meet several times a year to learn from experts and practitioners who are dedicated to finding solutions for the region’s most pressing issues and needs. Members listen, review data, discuss the challenges and seek to identify promising solutions through peer conversations and collaborative learning.

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 funds and allocate large grants that have meaningful impact (over $500,000 annually).

Since our inception, over $3,100,000 in Giving Network investments have advanced health and human services outcomes by supporting youth and families, social-emotional well-being, and nonprofits supporting basic needs.

Giving Network Grants

We are an independent group of philanthropists who lean on the support and expertise of the Aspen Community Foundation. Our grant process is exclusively run by Giving Network members, who score and vote on outcomes.

Applications for 2025 Giving Network Grants will open on January 10, 2025, and close on February 20, 2025.

Organizational Criteria

In 2025, the Giving Network is looking for organizations that serve our region and can demonstrate a need to fund a program or service that supports any pressing community issue or need, especially enhancements or new services that better support our community. We want to see you take your organization to the next level of sustainable operations. How can we help fund this next step for you?

For information on the current 2025 grant cycle, please review our granting timeline breakdown.

2024 Grantees

Giving Network awarded $575,250 to 15 local nonprofits, filling gaps and needs in the Roaring Fork community. In 2024, Giving Network funded the following nonprofits:

Harvest for Hunger
Alpine Legal Services
English In Action
Stepping Stones
Raising A Reader

RESPONSE
Challenge Aspen
FocusedKids
CASA of the Ninth
Valley Settlement

Aspen Valley Land Trust
Aspen Youth Center
Pathfinders
The Meeting Place
Early Learning Center of Aspen

Join the Giving Network

Contact Ramona Bruland, the Giving Network Chair, at ramona@giving-network.org or call Ramona at c.970-497-6775. Giving Network membership starts at $5,000 annually, with additional giving levels available.

Resources

2024 Giving Network Members

Pam Alexander

Sonya Auvray

Kalah Espinoza and David Agger

Jill and Paul Aschkenasy

Tasia Bade

Jennifer Moses and Ron Beller

Meredith Berman

Jody and Jeffrey Black

Elizabeth Bohart

Julia Pirrung and Bob Bridger

Courtney and Michael Brown

Robin and Neal Buchalter

Glenn Bucksbaum

Diana Bulman

Lauren and David Chazen

Kate and Ryan Craft

John Cresap

Susan Crown and William Kunkler

Megan DiSabatino

Tony DiLucia

Heather and Todd duBoef

Minnie Dubiliere

Gail and Alfred Engelberg

Laurel Gilbert and Bruce Etkin

Jaimie and David Field

Kristen and Andrew Firman

Vanessa Obregon and Edgar Farah

Carla and George Frampton

Anna and Matt Freedman

Barbara and Karl Friedman

Dale Genet

Lynn Nicols and Jim Gilchrist

Rachel and Ephraim Gildor

Barbara Gold

Ramona Bruland and Michael Goldberg

Andi and Jim Gordon

Lisie and Michael Gottdenker

Jerry and Glenda Greenwald

Jane and Allen Grossman

Amanda and Brett Hirsh

Jackie Merrill and Jay Hughes

Laura and Mike Kaplan

Robin and Jeffrey Kaplan

Christine Karnes

Laura and Gary Lauder

Melony and Adam Lewis

Susan and Fred Lodge

Katherine Lorenz

Morgan Fixel and Duncan Mendelson

Martha and Adam Metz

Sissy and Brent Miller

Wendy Mitchell

Ellen-Jane and Ben Moss

Marcie and Robert Musser

Esther and Craig Navias

Helen and Wally Obermeyer

Laurie Crown and Rick Ortega

Casey and Michael Patak

Laura and Michael Paulus

Susan Espinoza and Marc Piatkowski

Sarah Broughton and John Rowland

Stephen Sander

Kirsten and Chad Schmit

Rick and Zibby Schwartz

Jen and Paul Sciarra

Marina and Oliver Sharpe

Hillary Helsing and Scott Simon

Lesley and Tommy Slatkin

Katya and Zach Sternberg

Jacqueline Neuwirth and Stephen Swire