Aspen Community Foundation builds philanthropy and supports nonprofit organizations by connecting donors to community needs, building permanent charitable funds and bringing people together to solve community problems.
Our Mission
The Region: Aspen to Parachute
Aspen Community Foundation’s service area spans an 80-mile corridor of ranch land and mountain slopes along the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers, comprising nearly 4,000 square miles. Our region is characterized as a “rural-resort" region, encompassing two counties, a portion of another, four school districts, and 14 communities, all serving an economically, politically, and ethnically diverse population.
The Aspen to Parachute region is home to working families, many of whom are employed in businesses and industries serving tourism in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley. There are substantial disparities in wealth in this region, which leads to dramatic differences in youth development and education outcomes for the region’s 20,000 children ages 0-18.
A profound educational achievement gap opens in kindergarten; and, too often, this gap is never closed. The preschools, afterschool enrichment programs, academic tutoring, summer camps, and college and career counseling that many affluent families take for granted are largely unavailable to low-income parents.
A profound educational achievement gap opens in kindergarten; and, too often, this gap is never closed. The preschools, afterschool enrichment programs, academic tutoring, summer camps, and college and career counseling that many affluent families take for granted are largely unavailable to low-income parents.
- DEmographics
- Self Sufficiency standard
- Free and reduced lunch (FRL)
Garfield
- Total Population
- 58,984
- Child Population (under 18)
- 15,378
- White
- 69%
- Hispanic/Latino
- 28%
- Other Race/Ethnicity
- 3%
- Language other than English
- 25%
- Foreign Born
- 15%
Eagle
- Total Population
- 53,928
- Child Population (under 18)
- 12,701
- White
- 67%
- Hispanic/Latino
- 30%
- Other Race/Ethnicity
- 3%
- Language other than English
- 29%
- Foreign Born
- 18%
Population
- Colorado
- 5,400,000
- USA
- 321,000,000
Pitkin
- Total Population
- 17,773
- Child Population (under 18)
- 3,033
- White
- 86%
- Hispanic/Latino
- 10%
- Other Race/Ethnicity
- 4%
- Language other than English
- 16%
- Foreign Born
- 17%
Garfield
- Self-Sufficiency Standard
- $75,239
- Median Household Income
- $69,161
- Unemployed
- 2.9%
- Poverty Rate
- 11%
- Children in Poverty
- 13%
Eagle
- Self-Sufficiency Standard
- $76,608
- Median Household Income
- $79,556
- Unemployed
- 2.3%
- Poverty Rate
- 8%
- Children in Poverty
- 10%
Population
- Colorado
- 5,400,000
- USA
- 321,000,000
Pitkin
- Self-Sufficiency Standard
- $95,667
- Median Household Income
- $74,576
- Unemployed
- 3.1%
- Poverty Rate
- 9%
- Children in Poverty
- 7%
Garfield
- Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL)
- 46.7%
- CCCAP Enrolled
- 154
- Medicaid Enrolled
- 10,101
- Uninsured
- 16%
- Uninsured Children
- 14%
Eagle
- Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL)
- 42.2%
- CCCAP Enrolled
- 188
- Medicaid Enrolled
- 5,523
- Uninsured
- 13%
- Uninsured Children
- 17%
Population
- Colorado
- 5,400,000
- USA
- 321,000,000
Pitkin
- Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL)
- 4.2%
- CCCAP Enrolled
- 20
- Medicaid Enrolled
- 1,024
- Uninsured
- 11%
- Uninsured Children
- 17%
WHY DO THESE DATA POINTS MATTER?
Population Data
Our regional population is diverse and our communities have nuanced strengths and needs. It is important that we acknowledge these subtleties as we work with each community to strengthen the region. Many people live in one community, work in another, and their children attend school in a third. Therefore, ACF works with multiple partners to address needs through a regional lens. Data source: 2010 census
Self-Sufficiency Standard
The self-sufficiency standard is a more accurate measure of the threshold for needing government or community support to meet basic living needs. Most federal programs use a percentage of the national poverty rate to determine eligibility. In expensive areas, people need more income to make ends meet; therefore, the self-sufficiency rate for each county is calculated based on housing, healthcare, groceries, childcare, transportation to establish a more realistic baseline income needed to afford basic needs. Often, in more expensive areas, people make too much to qualify for federal programs, but not enough to afford the basics. The self-sufficiency standards in the map are for a family of four: two adults, one infant, and one preschool child. The full range of standards for each county can be found below: Data source: Colorado Center on Law and Policy
Garfield
Eagle
Pitkin
Free and Reduced- Priced Lunch
Free and Reduced- Priced Lunch (FRL) is used as an indicator of children who live in low-income or poverty households. This is an important measure as these children tend to have additional stress, food and housing insecurity as an example, that interferes with their ability to maximize learning potential. This does not mean they are not capable of learning; it means they have more barriers to learning than many of their middle income and wealthy peers. Data source: CDE
Language Other Than English
Speaking more than one language is an asset in life. However, attending school and learning in a second language can be challenging and at times isolating. We note this population in our demographics to help demonstrate the diverse needs that our schools and community partners are striving to meet.
Population Data
Our regional population is diverse and our communities have nuanced strengths and needs. It is important that we acknowledge these subtleties as we work with each community to strengthen the region. Many people live in one community, work in another, and their children attend school in a third. Therefore, ACF works with multiple partners to address needs through a regional lens. Data source: 2010 census
Self-Sufficiency Standard
The self-sufficiency standard is a more accurate measure of the threshold for needing government or community support to meet basic living needs. Most federal programs use a percentage of the national poverty rate to determine eligibility. In expensive areas, people need more income to make ends meet; therefore, the self-sufficiency rate for each county is calculated based on housing, healthcare, groceries, childcare, transportation to establish a more realistic baseline income needed to afford basic needs. Often, in more expensive areas, people make too much to qualify for federal programs, but not enough to afford the basics. The self-sufficiency standards in the map are for a family of four: two adults, one infant, and one preschool child. The full range of standards for each county can be found below: Data source: Colorado Center on Law and Policy
Garfield
Eagle
Pitkin
Free and Reduced- Priced Lunch
Free and Reduced- Priced Lunch (FRL) is used as an indicator of children who live in low-income or poverty households. This is an important measure as these children tend to have additional stress, food and housing insecurity as an example, that interferes with their ability to maximize learning potential. This does not mean they are not capable of learning; it means they have more barriers to learning than many of their middle income and wealthy peers. Data source: CDE
Language Other Than English
Speaking more than one language is an asset in life. However, attending school and learning in a second language can be challenging and at times isolating. We note this population in our demographics to help demonstrate the diverse needs that our schools and community partners are striving to meet.