About Us

Aspen Digital empowers policy-makers, civic organizations, companies, and the public to be responsible stewards of technology and media in the service of an informed, just, and equitable world. A program of the Aspen Institute, we shine a light on urgent global issues across cybersecurity, the information ecosystem, emerging technology, the industry talent pipeline, tech and communications policy, and urban innovation. We then turn ideas to action and develop human solutions to these digital challenges.

2020 Impact

We have built on the Aspen Institute’s legacy programs in cybersecurity, tech policy, and media to expand our work and innovate for greater outcomes. During a time of crisis, Aspen Digital has risen to the moment, launching new initiatives that focus on current and real needs, including:

  • COVID-19 Challenge Grant – Funding tech solutions to help mitigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic
  • Anti-racism Pledge Tracker – Monitoring commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion from US tech and media companies
  • The Day After – Preparing every major US newsroom and tech platform for a potential contested election
  • Fail Forward – Fostering innovation in local government by helping officials embrace their mistakes
  • Axios Codebook – Leading the national conversation on cybersecurity and our future

We’re driving timely conversations to help the public make sense of this fast-changing world, and have already hosted more than 30 virtual programs since March. Over 6,000 have joined us live, with 21,000+ YouTube views after the fact.

Our secret sauce, we’re convening decision-makers to drive change. This year alone, we’ve held more than 40 off-the-record virtual roundtables with over 1,700 expert participants.

  • Government officials (Members of Congress, Secretaries of State)
  • Law enforcement – Department of Justice, FBI, Secret Service
  • Major newsroom executives from Associated Press, CNN, New York Times
  • The big social media platforms: Facebook, Google, Twitter
  • Industry leaders from Apple, IBM, Verizon

Want to learn more about how we’ve been making waves during a time of crisis? Download our 2020 Impact Deck.

Thank You to Our Funders

Aspen Digital would like to thank the following organizations, who support our work toward the responsible stewardship of technology and media in service of an informed, just, and equitable world. Certain efforts are funded exclusively by foundations. These efforts are: the Commission on Information Disorder, the Aspen Cybersecurity Group, and the Aspen Tech Policy Hub. We do not receive any financial support from the broader Aspen Institute.

Aspen Digital has received funding of $1,000 or more from the following organizations in 2020 and 2021 to date. Aspen Digital retains full editorial control of its work, programs, and publications.

Foundations Companies
Carnegie Corporation American Gas Association
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan ASIS
Craig Newmark Philanthropies AT&T
Ford Foundation Axios
Knight Foundation BetterUp, Inc.
Kresge Foundation Charter Communications
Mastercard Impact Fund Comcast
New Venture Fund Deloitte
Omidyar Network Facebook
Rockefeller Brothers Fund FireEye
Schmidt Family Foundation Google
Schmidt Futures Hughes
Siegel Family Endowment IBM
Silicon Valley Community Foundation Intel
Surdna Foundation Microsoft
William & Flora Hewlett Foundation New Street Research
Pivotal Ventures
PwC
ProofPoint
SICPA
Snap
T-Mobile
Verizon
US Telecom

Our Team