The Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute reported $443.8 million in revenue and $234.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $79.19 went to program services, $18.67 to management and general costs and $2.14 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 85.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $911,570 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 254 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 192% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $234MFor context, the median across 54 covered social science charities: $84.80 programs, $13.80 management, $1.40 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $444MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.2% | 81.3% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.7% | 13.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 85.9% | 81.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 10.9% | 4.4% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $911,570 | $467,896 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.39% | 2.13% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 254 | 19 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 33.1 | 16.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 65 of 66 | 96.5% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePolicy programs: the Aspen Institute's policy programs explore and identify solutions for problems ranging from economic distress to educational opportunity, from climate change to racial disparities, in an effort to influence decision-makers in the public and private sectors to advance the best and most inspired proposals. Our policy programs range in size from $100,000 to $15 million in annual revenue and expenses
Campus activities: in addition to its headquarters in washington, dc, the Aspen Institute also conducts much of its work on its founding campus in aspen, colorado, which provides natural beauty and quiet surroundings that encourage thoughtful reflection and refreshes mind, body and spirit. One of our programs that use the campus is our aspen executive seminar which challenges individuals to think more deeply, listen more attentively, and refine their ability to lead in an increasingly complex and conflicting world. Seminar participants engage in challenging conversations about enduring…
Public programs: the institute's public programs are designed to freely disseminate the organization's ideas and to provide the public with opportunities to convene inclusively and engage in thoughtful, nonpartisan dialogue. Our major events include the aspen ideas festival, aspen ideas health, the aspen security forum, city lab and aspen words. These and our other public forums engage over 15,000 members of the general public annually
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $802,875 | $0 | $108,695 | $911,570 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $498,051 | $0 | $87,302 | $585,353 |
| UNTIL 11/24, SEN. ADV. TO PRES/CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $460,588 | $0 | $98,606 | $559,194 |
| EVP FINANCE & EBD, TREASURER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $463,970 | $0 | $65,249 | $529,219 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $378,027 | $0 | $104,283 | $482,310 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $372,292 | $0 | $109,247 | $481,539 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $375,269 | $0 | $106,037 | $481,306 |
| VP, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $391,180 | $0 | $87,343 | $478,523 |
254 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Aspen Institute (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b66 · 65 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5754
- Volunteers Part I, line 6250
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CLOUD FOR GOOD HOLDINGS INC It services | $1,728,101 |
| INMOBILIARIA HOTELERA EL PRESIDENTE SAN Conference services | $1,602,396 |
| ITHAKA HARBORS Aspen leadership program evaluation | $1,444,394 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW STAGING SERVICES Audio visual services | $1,285,981 |
| SALESFORCE It services | $1,144,758 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 166 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
245 private foundations reported grants to The Aspen Institute totaling $73M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Aspen Institute's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Aspen Institute, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Aspen Institute spent in 2024, $79.19 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral SciencesArlington, VA · revenue $437M · programs 81.3% · 2024
- National Opinion Research CenterChicago, IL · revenue $397M · programs 67.1% · 2024
- American Psychological AssociationWashington, DC · revenue $146M · programs 76.0% · 2024
- The Urban InstituteWashington, DC · revenue $130M · programs 79.3% · 2024
- Ithaka HarborsNew York, NY · revenue $126M · programs 91.4% · 2024
All social science charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of The Aspen Institute's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Aspen Institute reported that 79.2% of its $234.3 million in expenses went to program services, 18.7% to management and general and 2.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Aspen Institute pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Aspen Institute reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $911,570, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Aspen Institute get its money?
Of $443.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 85.9% came from contributions and grants (including 1.6% from government grants) and 10.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Aspen Institute a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-0399006 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503019349301850 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412899349300321 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202332869349301233 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202202739349301020 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142809349301909 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012979349301406 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-0399006: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.