This Sol del Valle article has been translated for English readers.
The Giving Network is an initiative organized by the Aspen Community Foundation, whose mission is to bring together philanthropists from the Roaring Fork Valley to jointly learn about the community’s most urgent needs and collectively fund nonprofit organizations.
Since its creation in 2016, it has distributed more than $3.1 million in funding aimed at strengthening the overall well-being of communities between Aspen and Parachute.
Ramona Bruland, president and director of The Giving Network, explained the specifics of the program. According to Bruland, this year the initiative awarded $675,000 in grants to 18 organizations working in three priority areas:
Children and families: Supporting programs that strengthen the holistic development of children and youth by providing educational resources, parental support, extracurricular activities and services for families in vulnerable situations. The goal is to create safe, stable and equitable environments from early childhood.
Mental health: Funding initiatives that expand access to emotional and psychological health services, including crisis care, community support and professional training. The priority is overall well-being, especially in areas with limited access to these services.
Basic needs: Supporting projects that ensure access to food, housing, medical care, legal assistance and financial stability.
These actions seek to guarantee minimum living conditions for individuals and families at risk or facing exclusion.
Bruland highlighted that “the new three-cohort model allowed for deeper and more meaningful conversations between donors and organizations.” She also pointed out that health and human services are scarce or in crisis, and that this collaboration is vital to meeting the region’s needs.
Among the organizations benefiting from the grants are Food Bank of the Rockies, La Clínica del Pueblo, Aspen Hope Center, English in Action and the Family Resource Center of the RFV, among others. Bruland reiterated the network’s commitment to the Latino community, as many of these organizations serve Hispanic individuals and use funds to strengthen their work.
This year, The Giving Network received 63 applications in response to its annual call, which opens each January. The selection process prioritizes organizations working in health and human services that aim to strengthen their operational capacity.
The organization is currently expanding and seeks to involve more entities for next year, as well as broaden its network of philanthropists. The leadership invites the donor community to get involved and help spread the network’s mission.
For more information or to participate in the next funding cycle of 2026, visit www.giving-network.org