City of Aspen Awards More Than $1.49 Million Dollars in Grants to Valley Non-Profits
Contact: Gena Buhler, Executive Director, Wheeler Opera House, 970-920-5790 or gena.buhler@cityofaspen.com
Aspen, Colorado – February 4, 2020 – In 2020 the City of Aspen is awarding more than $1.49 million in cash funds and in-kind support to non-profit organizations throughout the Roaring Fork Valley from the City of Aspen’s General Fund, Wheeler Opera House Fund, and Parks & Open Space Fund.
“It is the mission of the City of Aspen grant program to help Aspen thrive,” said Gena Buhler, Executive Director of Wheeler Opera House. “Not only are these grants representative of significant dollars but they also show that as a community we believe in building social capital throughout the valley. Fostering the organizations that give back to the residents and visitors here is part of what makes Aspen such a diverse, vibrant, and supportive place to live and visit. We are grateful that our taxpayers support this type of community-building.”
Once a year the City of Aspen volunteer citizen board appointed by the City Council meets to review a majority of grant requests. The Citizen Grant Review Committee evaluates each non-profit grant request for demonstrated financial need, fiscal viability, and adherence to the goals and values of the City of Aspen and value added to the community. The Health and Human Services grants are reviewed by Pitkin County and members of Aspen City Council.
The categories of grants include arts non-profits, general non-profits, health and human services non-profits and specific environmental projects supported by the Parks and Open Space fund.
This year’s breakdown of grant funds include: Arts Non-Profits - $370,000 in cash funds and $17,500 in in-kind donations; General Non-Profits - $477,460 in cash funds and $103,000 in in-kind donations; Environmental Projects - $33,000; and Health and Human Services - $486,291 and a onetime capital grant of $5,000. Total funds of cash and in-kind donations is $1,492,251.
“I’m so pleased that we are able to increase the amount of grant support we offered to our area non-profits this year,” said Buhler. “The additional funds represent the Committee’s ability to fulfill grantees requested amounts, which better helps the City support these organizations.”
The 2021 application process will begin in May 2020. To find out more about the 2021 application process, please contact Julie Gillespie, Wheeler Sr. Administrative Assistant, at julie.gillespie@cityofaspen.com or visit www.cityofaspen.com/383/Grants.
A list of all 2020 grants is attached.
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