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Home My WebLink Aboutresolution.council.048-25RESOLUTION #048 (Series of 2025) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GRANTS REVIEW COMMITTEE AND GRANTS STEERING COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE GRANT SUPPORT TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE ASPEN COMMUNITY WHEREAS, the Aspen area is fortunate to have many non-profit organizations that support the community, and WHEREAS, City Council has established an overall program philosophy for the grants program, supported by strategic focus areas for each grant program; and WHEREAS, City Council has established a grants steering committee to support the City's grants program; and WHEREAS, said steering committee has established three volunteer review committees to assess and score submitted applications for alignment with the overall grants program philosophy and strategic focus areas and other review criteria; and WI��F.EAS, these volunteer review committees, in conjunction with the grants steering committee, have issued recommendations of funding for the consideration of City Council NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, That the City Council of the City of Aspen hereby approves the funding recommendations attached hereto. INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Aspen on the 8th day of Apri12025. Torre, Mayor I, Nicole Henning, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held, April 8, 2025. V &AS A M�Mmi Nicole Henning, City Clerk CITY OF ASPEN 2025 Funding Recommendations: Arts and Culture (AC)* AC Organization Funding Request Final Funding Recommendation 5Point Film Festival $18,000 $15,300 AIF - Aspen Indigenous Foundation $30,000 $8,100 Anderson Ranch Arts Center $90,000 $84,500 Aspen Art Museum $100,000 $74,000 Aspen Chapel $8,000 $7,400 Aspen Choral Society $10,000 $8,900 Aspen Community Theatre $19,300 $10,500 Aspen Dance Connection $9,750 $6,700 Aspen Film - Independent Films Inc. $100,000 $74,000 Aspen Hall of Fame $4,500 $3,700 Aspen Historical Society $331?378 $30,400 Aspen Music Festival and School $100,000 $91,600 Aspen Santa Fe Ballet $100,000 $49,500 Aspen Words - The Aspen Institute $70,900 $59,900 Buckhorn Public Arts - NEW $16,350 $121400 Carbondale Arts - Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities $48,000 $25,100 Carbondale Clay Center $49,999 $25,100 CRYSTAL RIVER YOUTH BALLET COMPANY- NEW $4,175 - Dance Aspen $49,000 $40,700 Dance Initiative $17,500 $14,500 High Country Sinfonia $3,000 $3,000 Inspire Aspen Foundation $10,000 $7,300 Jazz at Aspen Snowmass $75,000 $60,800 Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies - The Aspen Institute $40,000 $250,100 Roaring Fork Friends of the Theatre - Thunder River Theatre Company $85,000 $25,100 Roaring Fork Valley Storytellers $4,800 $4,100 Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra $10,000 $84?400 Rock and Roll Academy Aspen $10,000 $7,200 SoL- Stage of Life Theatre Company $40,000 $25,100 Sopris Theatre Company - CIVIC Foundation $7,900 $5,600 The Art Base - Wyly Community Arts $85,000 $68,200 1 427 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 � Phone; 970-920-5000 � aspen.gov CITY OF ASPEN AC Organization Funding Request Final Funding Recommendation The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) $100,000 $93,500 Theater Masters $20,000 $14,500 Theatre Aspen $88,000 $79,400 VOICES $25,000 $17,800 TOTAL AMOUNT AC $1,482,552 $1,087,400 *All applicants to receive cone -year funding term 2 427 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 � Phone: 970-920-5000 � aspen.gov 1 ► CITY OFASPEN 2025 Funding Recommendations: Health and Human Services (HHS)* HHS Organization Funding Request Final Funding Recommendation A Way Out, Inc. $25,000 $13,200 Alpine Legal Services, Inc. - RECEIVED NO FUNDING LY $20,000 $11,500 Aspen Camp of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing $10,000 $5,000 Aspen Family Connections $30,000 $15,800 Aspen Hope Center $30,000 $15,500 Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center. RECEIVED NO FUNDING LY $10,000 - Aspen Strong - HeadQuarters RECEIVED NO FUNDING LY $30,000 $12,000 Bridging Bionics Foundation LLC $10,000 $6,600 Callie's Backyard Foundation Inc. - RECEIVED NO FUNDING LY $25,000 $6,600 CASA of the Ninth $5,000 $5,000 Catholic Charities and Community Services of the Archdiocese of Denver, Inc. -Western Slope - $30,000 $6,600 Community Health Services, Inc. $29,000 $15,900 Family Resource Center of the Roaring Fork Schools $12,000 $8,200 Food Bank of the Rockies - NEW $30,000 $15,900 Great Expectations - Family Visitor Programs $25,000 $13,300 Harvest for Hunger $10,000 $7,300 Hospice of the Valley, Inc. $15,000 $9,400 Huts for Vets $20,000 $5,000 Kids Connect-Connectl $106?000 $7,100 LIFT UP $3008000 $12,000 Mind Springs Health - Colorado West Regional Mental Health, Inc. $12,000 $7,800 Mountain Valley Developmental Services, Inc. $15,000 $9,000 Pathfinders $10,000 $7,600 Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains $30,000 $16,300 Response $20,000 $11,500 3 427 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 � Phone: 970-920-5000 � aspen.gov CITY OF ASPEN HHS Organization Funding Request Final Funding Recommendation River Bridge Regional Center, Inc $10,000 $7,600 Shining Stars Foundation $10,000 $6,600 Smiling Goat Ranch $10,000 $6,500 The Meeting Place - Roaring Fork Recovery Support Services $10,000 $7,300 West Mountain Regional Health Alliance $30,000 $16,100 Western Slope Veterans Coalition - RECEIVED NO FUNDING LY $11,000 $5,000 WindWalkers Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy Center $12,000 $6,600 YouthZone - Garfield Youth Services $13,000 $8,200 TOTAL AMOUNT HHS $599,000 $308,000 *All applicants to receive cone -year funding term C� 427 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 (Phone: 970-920-5000 � aspen.gov ►A►,►, 1 ► CITY OF ASPEN 2025 Funding Recommendations: Community IVon=Profit (CIVP)* CNP Organization Funding Request Final Funding Recommendation Access AfterSchool $50,000 $14,300 Aspen Cancer Conference, Inc. $2,000 - Aspen Center for Environmental Studies $30,000 $24,600 Aspen Cycling Club Inc. $7,000 $5,900 Aspen Journalism $30,000 $14,300 Aspen Public Radio - Roaring Fork Public Media, Inc. $60,000 $27,500 Aspen Science Center $40,000 $27,500 Aspen Sister Cities Program, Inc. $20,000 $14,300 Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club $60,000 $27,500 Aspen Youth Center $35,000 $29,000 AspenOUT - Roaring Fork Gay and Lesbian Fund $30,000 $9,900 Basalt Education Foundation $40,000 $14,300 Best Buddies International, Inc - NEW $14,500 Carbondale Community Nonprofit Center $40,000 $9,900 Challenge Aspen $10,000 $8,600 College Outreach $3,500 $3,100 Colorado Fourteeners Initiative $5,000 $4,600 Cook Inclusive $25,000 $9,900 Early Learning Center of Aspen, Inc $49,900 $27,500 English in Action $10,000 $8,900 Explore Booksellers Aspen $45,000 - FocusedKids $35,000 $18,700 FOREST CONSERVANCY $6,000 $5,600 Friends of CAIC $10,000 $80300 Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Football Club $10,000 $7,800 GrassRoots Community Network $43,448 $14,300 High Country Volunteers $40,000 $91t900 Independence Pass Foundation $15,000 $12,400 427 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 � Phone: 970-920-5000 � aspen.gov 1 1 CITY OF ASPEN CNP Organization Funding Request Final Funding Recommendation Junior Achievement of the Roaring Fork Valley $7,500 $6,100 K®NK - Carbondale Community Access Radio, Inc. $45,000 $18,700 Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife Foundation $6,500 $4,900 Project Graduation - Aspen High School $1,500 $1,400 Raising A Reader Aspen to Parachute $12,000 $10,200 Roaring Fork Cycling $10,000 $7,500 Roaring Fork Leadership $35,000 $18,700 Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association - RFMBA $7,500 $6,100 Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers $12,000 $10,600 Roaring Fork Show Up - NEW $41,295 - Rocky Mountain Sport Riders - NEW $2,273 - Science in Schools - Aspen Elementary School $2,000 $1,600 Sopris Sun Inc $49,999 $18,700 Spring Gulch Nordic Trail System - Mt Sopris Nordic Council $8,000 $5,900 Stepping Stones of the Roaring Fork Valley $9,000 $8,200 Summit54 $60,000 $18,700 The Aspen Institute $20,000 $15,600 The Buddy Program (TBP) $30,000 $14,300 The Farm Collaborative $49,500 $18,700 Valley Settlement $20,000 $16,500 Wilderness Workshop $10,000 $8,700 YouthEntity $20,000 $14,300 TOTAL AMOUNT CNP $1,225,415 $584,000 *All applicants to receive aone-year funding term 427 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 � Phone; 970-920-5000 � aspen.gov CITY OF ASPEN 2025 Funding Recommendations: In - Kind Organization Facility Funding Request Funding Recommendation AIF - Aspen Indigenous Foundation Wheeler $6,700 $6,000 Aspen Choral Society Wheeler $3,000 $1,800 Aspen Community Theatre Wheeler $12,500 $3,250 Aspen Figure Skating Club Recreation $27,600 $27,000 Aspen Film - Independent Films Inc. Wheeler $10,000 $9,000 Aspen Historical Society Parks $4,000 $4,000 Aspen Junior Hockey Inc. Recreation $46,000 $46,000 Aspen Mother Puckers Recreation $4,240 $4,240 Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center - RECEIVED NO FUNDING LY Wheeler $4,500 $1,500 Aspen Public Radio - Roaring Fork Public Media, Inc. Wheeler $4,955 $1,500 Aspen Words - The Aspen Institute Wheeler $44?666 $4,000 AspenOUT - Roaring Fork Gay and Lesbian Fund Recreation $15,000 $15,000 Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Football Club Parks $3,883 $3,883 Inspire Aspen Foundation Wheeler $5,620 $4,250 Jazz at Aspen Snowmass Wheeler $5,600 $4,750 Revolutions Skating Club, Inc. Recreation $14,000 $7,500 Roaring Fork Show Up - NEW Wheeler $8,682 $3,000 Silver City Gymnastics Recreation $1,000 $1,000 Sopris Theatre Company - CIVIC Foundation Wheeler $4,500 $2,750 The Aspen Swim Club Recreation $20,000 $20,000 TOTAL AMOUNT IN -KIND $206,446 $170,423 Ire 427 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 � Phone: 970-920-5000 � aspen.gov 1 | Page In Effect: September 2024 -August 2025 City of Aspen Grants Program: Review Guidelines and Funding Process Review and Funding Process 1.Step 1: After submittal, each application is reviewed by city staff to ensure eligibility and organizational financial health. All applications meeting minimum requirements are passed on to the appropriate grants review committee. 2.Step 2: Each application is reviewed by a committee community volunteers according to the scoring definitions and rubric included below. Committee members assess each application on a score of zero to five for each review criterion. All scores are weighted and combined, to create a final aggregate score. 3.Step 3: These scores are then input into an objective funding formula, designed to provide consistency and equity for all grant applicants. This formula is used to provide recommendations on funding amounts for each application based on review committee scores, total funding requests, and the grants program budget. 4.Step 4: Then funding recommendations are reviewed by the grants steering committee, and City Council, for final approval. 5.Step 5: Grant awardees are notified, contracts are signed, and funds are dispersed. Committee Scoring Definitions Score Title Criteria Description 5 Exceptional Many strengths and no impactful weaknesses or flaws. 4 Great Many strengths and few impactful weaknesses or flaws. 2 | Page In Effect: September 2024 -August 2025 3 Good Some strengths and some impactful weaknesses or flaws. 2 Average Few strengths and several impactful weaknesses or flaws. 1 Poor Minimal strengths and many impactful weaknesses or flaws. 0 Inadequate Is not suitable for funding of any kind. 3 | Page In Effect: September 2024 -August 2025 Committee Scoring Rubrics Δ Before the grants review process begins, committee members are trained in how to use the scoring definitions and rubrics, as well as in best practices to ensure that each application is assessed on its own merit against the scoring criteria. Applications with a high degree of scoring variability will be selected for further discussion among committee members prior to finalization. 0 – Inadequate 1 – Poor 2 – Average 3 – Good 4 – Great 5 – Exceptional Communit y Impact (30%) Application will not have meaningful positive community impact. Application is likely to have little meaningful positive community impact. Application demonstrates some potential to have a meaningful positive community impact. Application demonstrates moderate potential to have a meaningful positive community impact. Application demonstrates strong potential to have significant positive community impact. Application demonstrates strong potential to have exceptional positive community impact. Alignment (20%) Application has no alignment to grants program philosophy and relevant strategic focus area. Application has little alignment to grants program philosophy and relevant strategic focus area. Application has some alignment to grants program philosophy and relevant strategic focus area. Application has moderate alignment to grants program philosophy and relevant strategic focus area. Application has strong alignment to grants program philosophy and relevant strategic focus area. Application has exceptional alignment to grants program philosophy and relevant strategic focus area. Feasibility (20%) Application has no chance of being viable and sustainable. Does not demonstrate Application has little chance of being viable and sustainable. Does not demonstrate Application has some chance of being viable and sustainable. Does not demonstrate Application has a moderate chance of being viable or sustainable. Demonstrates appropriate Application is likely to be viable and sustainable. Demonstrates appropriate organizational Application is nearly certain to be viable and sustainable. Demonstrates appropriate 4 | Page In Effect: September 2024 -August 2025 appropriate organizational capacity to implement grant. appropriate organizational capacity to implement grant. appropriate organizational capacity to implement grant. organizational capacity to implement grant. capacity to implement grant. organizational capacity to implement grant. Impact and Outcome Report (20%) Outcomes are not achieved according to the stated objectives, with unclear explanations and no evidence. The impact is described vaguely and disorganized, with no examples. The report lacks meaningful recommendation s and future actions, and many essential details are missing. Outcomes are not achieved according to the stated objectives, with unclear explanations and minimal evidence. The impact is described vaguely and disorganized, with few or no examples. The report lacks meaningful recommendation s and future actions, and many essential details are missing. Outcomes are partially achieved according to the stated objectives, with vague explanations and evidence. The impact is in a basic manner, with limited examples. The report includes relevant recommendation s and future actions, though some details may be missing. Outcomes are partially achieved according to the stated objectives, with well- supported explanations and evidence. The impact is described clearly. The report includes relevant recommendation s and future actions, though some details may be missing. Outcomes are mostly achieved according to the stated objectives, supported by detailed explanations and evidence. The impact is described clearly and thoroughly, with specific examples. The report includes relevant recommendation s and future actions, though some details may be missing. Outcomes are fully achieved according to the stated objectives, with detailed explanations and evidence. The impact is described clearly and comprehensively , with specific examples. The report includes well-founded recommendation s and clear plans for future actions. Innovation (10%) Application shows no creativity and does not attempt to address community issues or needs. Application shows little creativity and does not attempt to address community issues or needs. Application shows weak creativity and does little to address community issues or needs. Application shows some creativity and attempts to address community issues or needs Application is creative and will likely meaningfully address community issues or needs. Application is creative and is nearly certain to significantly address community issues or needs. 5 | Page In Effect: September 2024 -August 2025 Committee Criteria Scoring Considerations Δ In the event the scoring rubric does not provide sufficient detail to make a determination between scores, review committee members may consult or reference or access the below additional considerations for each criteria to complete their assessment. Criteria Higher Scoring Applications Will: Community Impact 1. Clearly articulate the meaningful and durable impacts in the lives of those directly served. 2. Provide a coherent explanation of the broader community benefit of their application. 3. Have a track record of success during previous City of Aspen grant cycles, if applicable. Alignment 1. Align with more aspects of the overall program philosophy and strategic focus areas. 2. Clearly articulate their alignment with each aspect of the overall program philosophy and strategic focus areas. Feasibility 1. Align with best management practices and have practical timelines. 2. Have a higher probability of success. 3. Demonstrate, with sufficient detail, organizational capacity to implement proposal. Impact and Outcome Report 1. Shows clear alignment between reported outcomes and the original project 6 | Page In Effect: September 2024 -August 2025 objectives, with detailed evidence of how goals were achieved. 2. Provides a well-defined plan for sustaining outcomes beyond the grant period, including strategies for continued funding or support. 3. Provides a clear, concise, and transparent report that effectively communicates both successes and challenges, including lessons learned. Innovation 1. Address an issue or need that is demonstrably unmet currently. 2. Address community issues or needs through innovation and creativity. 3. Provide an effective and compelling rationale for funding. Financial Stewardship & Equity Δ The City of Aspen understands that organizations which apply for smaller funding amounts may not have the same organizational resources dedicated to grant writing compared to organizations applying for larger funding amounts. This imbalance of resources could lead to inequities in scoring and funding results. Further, in recognition of the City’s organizational value of stewardship, it is essential to ensure that applicants requesting significant amounts of funding are held to an elevated standard to ensure grant funds are used as responsibility and effectively as possible. To address this, the funding formula has been designed so that smaller requests receive a higher percentage of their funding request, at an equivalent final review score, than a larger request. Example: A smaller funding request of $5,000 may need a review score of 4 out of 5 for the funding formula to recommend that 90% of the request be awarded, while a larger request of $50,000 may require a review score of 4.8 out of 5 in order to receive the same funding percentage.