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…
The Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute Inc: CEO salary, finances and where donations go
“The Aspen Institute ignites human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. We drive change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time in service of a more free, just, and equitable society.”
Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.
Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated
- Top pay
- $803K Daniel R Porterfield, 0.3% of spending
- Revenue
- $443.8M 85.9% from donations and grants
- Spent
- $234.3M 79.2% on programs, as reported
- Net assets
- $647.1M end of 2024
- Savings
- 33.1 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
- People
- 754 employees, 250 volunteers
No red flags in its latest filing.
We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.
No reported asset diversions, no insider transactions, no fundraisers keeping most of the money, and the governance policies we check for are in place.
Of each dollar it spent, 79.2¢ went to programs, as reported.
For each dollar donated, The Aspen Institute spent 1¢ on fundraising.
Fundraising ÷ $381.3M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IXWhat it told the IRS it spent on.
The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.
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.
The center for rising generations is dedicated to ensuring that civil dialogue, civic engagement, and leadership development become a predictable part of the journey to adulthood in our society and around the world. The center for rising generations:- works to expand opportunities for, and elevate the voices of, youth & young adults at the aspen institute,- creates opportunities to convene and build community beyond aspen,- encourages innovation that helps emphasize the assets that young people bring to help address today's challenges.
Other restricted programs, aspen global leadership network and innovation funds, and seminars
Net assets: $206.5M to $647.1M in 11 years.
Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2013 to 2024.
The 8 highest-paid people.
Reportable pay in 2024, from the charity and related organizations.
| Contractor | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The questions people ask about the The Aspen Institute.
Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.
How much does the The Aspen Institute CEO make?
Daniel R Porterfield, President & CEO, received $802,875 in reportable compensation in 2024, 0.3% of The Aspen Institute's $234.3M in spending.
Form 990 (2024), Part VIIWhat percentage of The Aspen Institute donations go to programs?
The Aspen Institute reported 79.2% of 2024 spending as programs, 2.1% as fundraising and 18.7% as management.
Form 990 (2024), Part IXHow much money does The Aspen Institute have?
Net assets were $647.1M at the end of 2024, about 33.1 months of spending.
Form 990 (2024), Part XDoes The Aspen Institute have any red flags in its filing?
Its latest Form 990 triggered none of our twelve screening rules, which cover reported asset diversions, insider transactions, fundraiser costs, governance policies and spending patterns.
Form 990 (2024)Every number, traced.
- The Aspen Institute Form 990, 2024 (IRS e-file)
- The Aspen Institute Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Amir Arani, “The Aspen Institute: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/the-aspen-institute/