Aspen Daily News Journalism Fund

Because when local news thrives, our whole valley does too.

For nearly five decades, the Aspen Daily News has done more than report the headlines — we’ve helped our valley understand itself. Every day, our reporters show up in meeting rooms, courtrooms, and neighborhoods to keep Aspen informed, connected, and engaged.

Your support keeps local journalists telling the stories that matter most — yours.

Why it matters

When we asked readers what ADN means to them, you told us loud and clear:

• 69% said they’d lose a source of news they can’t find anywhere else if we disappeared.

• 83% have shared ADN reporting with friends or family.

• 49% have supported a local cause or business because of something they read here.

• 35% have voted or changed their perspective on an issue because of our coverage.

That’s not just journalism — that’s community impact. Every story we publish ripples outward, informing neighbors, shaping conversations, and strengthening the civic fabric of the Roaring Fork Valley. 

And it happens because of supporters like you.

Your impact in 2025

Because of community support, this year we were able to:

• Publish more than 1,000 original stories and 31 in-depth Sunday features, plus 63 articles from partner newsrooms (as of Oct. 17).

• Launch a paid internship program for local students and early-career journalists.

• Add multilingual translation tools to make reporting accessible across the Roaring Fork Valley.

• Collaborate with Aspen Journalism and Aspen Public Radio to launch the Social Justice Desk, expanding coverage of equity and representation.

• Serve as a founding partner of the COWest Noticias Collaborative, supporting Sol del Valle, our region’s standalone Spanish-language newspaper.

• Earn 14 Colorado Press Association awards — proof that local, independent journalism here isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving.

When you give to the Aspen Daily News Journalism Fund, you’re supporting the valley’s largest newsroom of full-time, local reporters — people who live, work, and raise families right here.

Where your dollars go

Every dollar fuels the work that keeps Aspen informed:

• 77% — Reporter salaries: the people doing the digging, writing, and storytelling.

• 6% — Sunday features: deep-dive reporting made possible by the Journalism Fund.

• 5% — Social Justice Desk: strengthening collaboration and coverage through our local partners.

• 4% — Summer internship: mentoring the next generation of journalists.

• 3% — Translation tools and community events: ensuring everyone in our valley stays informed.

• 5% — Fiscal stewardship via Tiny News Collective: providing donor management, transparency, and tax-deductible giving.

Every dollar is local, and every cent is accountable.

Double your impact

Your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000, thanks to a generous local donor — plus an extra $1,500 from the Colorado Media Project.

Your gift doesn’t just sustain the news — it doubles its reach.

Join your neighbors

More than 400 readers have already donated — and nearly 100 give monthly.

❤ Monthly gifts keep us steady through every season and let our newsroom plan ahead with confidence.

 Choose “Monthly” when you give to make the biggest impact. 

From our summer intern, Hannah Brennan:

“Writing on a deadline challenged me to sharpen my storytelling and research skills — but more importantly, it showed me how local journalism connects people and helps them become more informed citizens.”

— Hannah Brennan, CU Boulder journalism student and ADN intern

Your support gives young reporters like Hannah a start — and gives Aspen its future storytellers.

Together, we keep Aspen informed

Your daily paper. Your community’s voice. Your chance to invest in the stories that keep the Roaring Fork Valley informed — and free for everyone.

Join your neighbors today. And thank you for investing in local journalism.

We're eternally grateful to The Tiny News Collective, which serves as the fiscal sponsor for the Aspen Daily News Journalism Fund.