Support Us

Support the Work of the Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute mission is to promote enlightened leadership through informed dialogue by seeking common ground at home and around the world.

The support of our donors is critical to sustaining our work. We thank you for your contribution and participation and invite you to join us at our year-round roundtable discussions, book talks, festivals, seminars, forums, symposia, and special event dinners. We welcome you to learn more about our many programs including The Aspen Leadership Network/Seminars Campaign.

All donors to the Aspen Institute will receive a subscription to our magazine, The Aspen Idea, advance notice of events, and recognition in the Institute's Annual Report. Additional benefits are available based on donor type and level.

Download a full menu of ways to support the Aspen Institute.

Annual Giving

Annual Fund
The Annual Fund is an unrestricted fund in support of various programs at the Institute. A gift to the Annual Fund supports the Aspen Institute most broadly.

Aspen Community Programs
Donations to Aspen Community Programs make it possible to realize the Institute's mission of fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue within Aspen and the broader Roaring Fork Valley community.

Aspen Wye Fellows
The Aspen Wye Fellows are Chesapeake Bay area residents who share the Aspen Institute's interest in global dialogue and who play a key role in sustaining the Institute's mission, expanding its programs, and ensuring its future.

Society of Fellows
Our largest donor group, the Society of Fellows (SOF) is made up of Institute supporters who play a key role in sustaining our mission, expanding our programs, and ensuring our future. Society of Fellows enjoy a wide range of benefits which include custom symposium and advance notice for tickets to the Institute's public forums and festivals.

Annual Benefit Dinners

The Institute hosts two annual special events-the Summer Celebration in Aspen each August and the Annual Awards Dinner in New York City each November. There are a range of opportunities for individuals, foundations, and companies to support these two events.

Other Giving

Capital Projects: The Paepcke Building Renovation
In June 2010, the Institute completed a much needed renovation of the Walter Paepcke Memorial Building. This building-the namesake of the Institute's founder-houses the Paepcke Auditorium, which is used by both the Aspen community and the Institute throughout the year. There are seats in the auditorium that can be "named" for a donation to the renovation.

Planned Giving: The Heritage Society
The Heritage Society recognizes donors who make gifts in a way that is most advantageous tax-wise to the donor and their families while still furthering the mission of the Institute. Some examples are gifts of cash, securities, property, life insurance policies, and estate gifts.

Scholars & Scholarships 
With a new initiative, Scholars & Scholarships, the Aspen Institute aims to build a pool of scholarship funds and program resources that can be used to advance values-based leadership through a wide range of programs and partnerships. This cross-programmatic support will advance the Institute's work with leadership initiatives around the globe, and around key issues such as the arts, education, the environment, health, the Middle East, poverty, social enterprise, and women and children.