Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES)

The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies Endowment Fund is a related organization of ACES, the primary purpose of which is to raise funds to support ACES. According to tax filings, in 2024 the ACES Endowment Fund granted $546,721 to ACES. ²

Background

The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies was established in 1968 to promote environmental responsibility. ACES provides environmental education programs at three locations in the Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado. Its programming is concerned with issues like regenerative agriculture, forest and ecosystem health, land restoration, and environmental leadership. ³

ACES partners with organizations to bring its programs to local schools, summer camps, and adult classes, and claims that its programming reaches 140,000 people annually. This also includes community engagement through public lectures and events. Additionally, ACES works to achieve its mission through collaboration with land trusts, public agencies, and other nonprofits.  ³

Programs

ACES Naturalist Programs train 12 college graduates each summer to become “Summer Naturalists.” The Naturalists are trained on local ecology, environmental issues, human history, and the physical landscape in order for them to lead groups in the wilderness, discuss the natural world, and promote the Aspen area to more than 41,000 locals and visitors each year. ⁴

ACES absorbed the Aspen-based nonprofit For the Forest in 2012 to support its Forest and Ecosystem Health program. For the Forest was founded by former Aspen Mayor John Bennett, who sat on the board of ACES through the organizational transition. ⁵

ACES’ Forest program includes restoration efforts, educational outreach, and ongoing research. ACES claims that climate change and human actions are the largest threats to forest health, including warmer temperatures, drier conditions, and fire suppression. ⁶

ACES models regenerative agriculture production systems at its Rock Bottom Ranch location. ACES states that its systems for vegetable and livestock production are based on natural cycles that are designed to mimic nature. ACES further claims that its systems promote land stewardship, ecosystem health, carbon sequestration, and animal welfare. ⁷

Financials

According to its 2024 tax return, ACES generated $4.5 million in revenue from contributions and grants. ⁸

In 2024, ACES paid out $2.6 million in salaries and compensation. Its total expenses were $4.2 million. ⁹ Its biggest expense was $3 million spent on its environmental educational programs across its three locations. ¹⁰

Funding

In 2024, tax filings confirm that ACES received some of its largest contributions from the Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($577,750), the ACES Endowment Fund ($546,721), and the Islands Fund ($300,000).  ^{11 2 12}

ACES also receives funding from the Penner Family Foundation, the charitable foundation of Walton family heiress Carrie Walton Penner and her husband Gregory Penner, the chair of Walmart as of 2026.  ¹³

ACES also receives funding from corporate and government sponsorships. In 2025, sponsors that donated over $100,000 included Alpine Bank, the City of Aspen, Clark’s Market, and the Little Nell. ¹⁴

Leadership

As of 2026, Chris Lane was the CEO of ACES. Lane was previously vice president of sustainability for Xanterra Travel Collection and director of environmental affairs at Aspen Skiing Company. Lane is a former member of the Colorado Governor’s Pollution Prevention Board. ¹⁵

As of 2026, Diane Moore was the chair of the board of ACES. Moore was previously president and CEO of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, community development director for the City of Aspen, and a member of the board of the Roaring Fork Conservancy. ¹⁶