Aspen Valley Land Trust
Protecting the places you love
Mission
To permanently preserve open space for agriculture, wildlife habitat, scenic enjoyment, and recreation in the Roaring Fork and Middle Colorado River valleys.
Ruling year
1967
Executive Director
Suzanne Stephens
Main address
320 Main Street Suite 204
Carbondale, CO 81623 USA
Formerly known as
Park Trust Ltd.
EIN
84-0574754
NTEE code
Land Resources Conservation (C34)
Wildlife Preservation/Protection (D30)
Farmland Preservation (K25)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2019, 2018 and 2017.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Conditions We Face The valleys of the Roaring Fork and middle Colorado River are filled with places vital to the life and character of the region. These open lands and landscapes provide habitat for wildlife, are the lifeblood for local agriculture, protect crucial water resources, and provide communities with connection to nature and the great outdoors through recreation and outdoor education. While their value to the region is unmatched, nature and open lands are under severe threat and face an uncertain future. Some of the most important challenges to the community health and character of our communities include: Population growth and development Diminishing habitat and corridors for wildlife Extreme/unpredictable weather and climate change Water quality and quantity Decreasing connection of children to nature A changing and diversifying community with diverse needs
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Land Conservation
Aspen Valley Land Trust's mission is to conserve open land in perpetuity for the benefit of the public. This means that the land we protect possesses conservation values worthy of public investment, including important wildlife habitat, water resources like stream corridors, wetlands and water rights, recreational parks and trails, outdoor educational space, farms, ranches, and scenic vistas.
Most of the land conserved by AVLT is protected with conservation easements, voluntary agreements that restrict development and certain uses on the property. This tool offers an efficient and effective way to protect land under private management, keep it on the tax rolls, and protect it in perpetuity. In fact, a 2017 Colorado State University study revealed that every dollar invested in conservation easements provided a return of between $4 and $12 in environmental benefits such as water purification, soil conservation, access to local foods, and protection of important wildlife habitat.
Donations to AVLT's Land Conservation Fund support this work and help ensure a healthy future for our beautiful valleys, open spaces, and way of life.
Evidence of Program's Success
AVLT has protected over 43,000 acres of open lands for wildlife, agriculture, recreation, and education, including more than 90 miles of river and stream frontage, 30 miles of trails, and 10 public parks. AVLT is accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission and certified by the State of Colorado.
As the oldest land trust in Colorado, AVLT maintains the highest ethical and legal standards, strong fiscal health, and an excellent reputation in the community, positioning the organization to remain successful and sustainable over the next 50 years and beyond.
Connecting Kids and Nature: Chapin Wright Marble Basecamp
In 2016, AVLT purchased a 47-acre property in Marble, Colorado known as Chapin Wright Marble Basecamp, which has been home to outdoor education programs for local youth for 50 years. Nearly 5,000 middle school kids have backpacked into this scenic alpine wonderland, camped, climbed, and practiced team-building and personal challenges designed to enrich lives and deepen connections to the outdoors and to one another. This outdoor experience helps students unplug from daily distractions and develop an appreciation for the natural world that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.
Today, Marble Basecamp offers students and teachers from up and down the Roaring Fork Valley a rare opportunity to experience outdoor education in a magical, remote setting, helping develop and support the next generation of leaders and land stewards.
AVLT has committed to managing Basecamp for wildlife and for children, making it accessible to schools and youth groups throughout the region. Donations to this program will fund long-term management and improvements to the property needed to make it accessible to less experienced groups. Donations also fund a part-time education outreach coordinator who works with local schools and youth groups to provide access and help meet their outdoor education goals.
For more information please see the Marble Basecamp video above or copy and paste the following link into your browser:
https://youtu.be/lWbF4D1Pg7Q
Evidence of Program's Success
AVLT has engaged with more than 14 schools and several youth groups to discuss how outdoor education programs at Marble Basecamp can enhance their programs. Last year, AVLT led a course for 25 educators from Aspen to Glenwood Springs exploring the philosophy, purpose, and logistics of leading outdoor education programs for children in the wild.
Aspen Middle School celebrated 50 years of its 8th Grade Outdoor Ed program this year, most of which has taken place at Marble Basecamp. Conservation of the property means that it will remain available to the school to use for the next 50 years.
So far, Basalt High School, Glenwood High School, Marble Charter School, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, The Buddy Program, and our local ROTC have all sent groups of students to the property for inspirational outdoor experiences. The classes enjoy building campfires, telling stories, working on team building, and helping with land management.
Your support also enables each of these schools to develop community service projects on the property, and provides opportunities for teacher and leadership advancement. It is clear that Marble Basecamp is becoming a treasured community asset that benefits our children and our communities.
Conservation Stewardship
In order to carry out its mission to protect treasured open spaces forever, AVLT is required to monitor each of its conservation holdings on an annual basis and to legally defend them in perpetuity.
AVLT maintains a Stewardship Fund dedicated to the long-term stewardship and maintenance of its conserved lands. Growing this fund will enable the Land Trust to carry out its obligations in perpetuity. We need to be here forever, in order to protect land forever.
Evidence of Program's Success
Successful stewardship is evidenced by excellent relationships with owners of conserved lands and conservation partners, as well as by the continued good stewardship of conserved lands. In the case of a violation or challenge to a conserved property, the Land Trust has shown its ability to respond immediately and achieve successful restoration or resolution of the issue.
Where we work
Accreditations
Land Trust Alliance 2008
Land Trust Alliance 2014
Land Trust Alliance 2019
External reviews
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
1. GOAL: PROTECT the special places and signature landscapes of our region to ensure they remain forever open and vital for wildlife and communities. The health of our future depends on the health of our land, water, air, wildlife, and access to open spaces.
2. GOAL: STEWARD conserved lands to be resilient and forever beneficial to the communities of our region. Sound management of conserved lands and conservation easements ensures that the benefits of conservation and open land extend into the future, and providing resources for a healthy environment and healthy communities.
3. GOAL: ENGAGE diverse communities on the land to inspire broad-based understanding and support for nature and conservation. By exploring and highlighting the shared future of humans and nature, we can strengthen the benefits to both, grow a stronger and more resilient organization, and create a healthier life-long connection between our communities and the environment.
4. GOAL: COMMIT to building an organization capable of fulfilling its mission in perpetuity and maximizing the benefits of conservation to diverse communities. An organization cannot grow or thrive without a strong and broad base of support and sound financial policies and resources.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
PROTECT our special places to ensure they remain forever vital for wildlife and communities.
- Protect ecosystem integrity, wildlife habitat and migration corridors, and natural resources.
- Support landowners commitment to conserve their land.
- Prioritize projects with highest conservation impact and return on investment.
STEWARD conserved lands to be resilient and forever beneficial to our communities.
- Strengthen landowner and partner relationships to further land management and conservation goals.
- Organize volunteer opportunities to help manage conserved lands.
- Help improve the Silt River Preserve to protect wildlife habitat and to provide public recreation.
- Support Highwater Farm in connecting diverse communities and youth to agriculture and increasing local food production.
- Address local water scarcity and water quality issues and needs through the Hause R3 Fund.
- Create resource hub to promote sustainable agriculture and regenerative ecosystem services.
ENGAGE diverse communities to inspire understanding and support for conservation.
- Provide kids outdoor education experiences at Marble Basecamp.
- Establish community land to provide “hands-on” engagement with conservation, land stewardship, habitat restoration, and outdoor education.
- Expand opportunities for community recreation and education on conserved land. Support inclusive and relevant growth in our community.
COMMIT to building an organization capable of fulfilling its mission in perpetuity and maximizing the benefits of conservation for a diverse community.
- Support growth and excellence of board, staff, and volunteers.
- Improve communication channels and frequency to build understanding and support of conservation.
- Increase financial strength and long-term resilience to carry out mission for forever.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As the oldest land trust in Colorado, Aspen Valley Land Trust has worked with landowners and community partners to conserve land in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys since 1967.
Protect
Steward
Engage
Commit
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings/Town halls,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects,
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Aspen Valley Land Trust
Board of directorsas of 1/28/2021
David Chase
No Affiliation
Term: 2016 - 2022
Ellen Dube
Scott Hanley
Equus Private Wealth Management
Cindi Jacobson
Innovative Outcomes
Charles Bantis
First Western Trust
Curtis Kaufman
Amy Krick
Scott Miller
Waterlaw
Richard Shaw
Design Workshop
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
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