The Catto Shaw Foundation concentrates funding on Aspen-area environmental education and cultural institutions, with substantial unrestricted operating support for arts organizations and leadership/policy programs. Grants are often sizable and focused on place-based groups in the Aspen/Colorado region (many grantees carry “Aspen” or local ties), reflecting a blend of environmental stewardship, arts & culture, and community services.
A concentrated portfolio of relatively large, general operating grants to a small number of repeat and regionally connected organizations rather than many small gifts; several multi-year or repeated investments in flagship local nonprofits.
Catto Shaw Foundation C/o Woody Creek Management Group’s recent giving is defined by large unrestricted operating grants to Aspen-area institutions, especially Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, which received $278,500 in 2025, $212,000 in 2024, and $236,000 in 2023. That pattern sits alongside support for arts, leadership, and community organizations that connect to the Aspen and Roaring Fork region, including The Arts Campus at Willits, Aspen Words, and Valley Settlement. The foundation’s mission language ties its grants to women’s empowerment, environmental advocacy, social justice, and creativity, and the recent record shows those priorities expressed through general operating support rather than project-specific awards. Its grantmaking also reaches organizations outside Colorado, but the strongest concentration remains in Colorado-based nonprofits and programs. Recent awards show a mix of environmental education, cultural programming, and community service organizations, with several repeat recipients appearing across multiple years. The scale is substantial for a private foundation of this size: annual grants given are listed at $3,179,435, with a median recent grant size of $25,000 and larger awards often reserved for core support at long-standing partners.
Environmental education is a clear pillar. Aspen Center for Environmental Studies received $278,500 in 2025 for general operating fund support, following $212,000 in 2024 and $236,000 in 2023. Arts and literary programming is another recurring area: Aspen Words received $100,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025, both as general operating fund grants, while The Arts Campus at Willits received $172,361 in 2025 and $130,600 in 2024. The foundation also backs broader creative work beyond Colorado, including $149,760 to Creative Capital Foundation in 2024 and $125,014 to Creative Visions in 2023. Community-focused support appears in grants such as $100,000 to Valley Settlement in 2025 and $60,000 to English in Action in 2024, showing attention to local service organizations as part of its broader social-justice and creativity-related grantmaking.
Recent grants cluster around the middle of the foundation’s stated size range, with a p25 of $5,000, median of $25,000, and p75 of $75,000. The current record shows repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. Several grants are explicitly labeled general operating fund, and the active grant programs emphasize invitation-only or general grantmaking rather than unsolicited applications. The foundation also reports that it does not accept unsolicited requests through its grants page. Its structure is consistent with a private foundation making nonprofit grants only; it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$3.2M
$23.9M
$1.4M
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $5K and $75K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$75K
About 57% of grants go to recipients in CO.
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Notable grantees: Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, The Arts Campus at Willits, Creative Capital Foundation, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, Valley Settlement
Colorado is the main recipient state, with 57% of grants going to organizations in the HQ state and the top grant-count state. The largest concentration is in Aspen, Basalt, and Carbondale, including Aspen Center for Environmental Studies in Aspen, The Arts Campus at Willits in Basalt, and Valley Settlement in Carbondale. Outside Colorado, grants also land in New York, California, Washington, DC, Arlington, Virginia, Franklin, Tennessee, and Sacramento, California. All recent grants in the provided record went to US recipients.
The foundation’s active programs and recent grants point to women’s empowerment, environmental advocacy, social justice, and creativity. In practice, that shows up in environmental education, arts and literary programming, leadership and policy work, and community services, with many awards made as general operating support.
No. The grants page is listed as under construction, and the active grant program descriptions say the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Some programs are also described as invitation-only.
The stated grant-size distribution is p25 of $5,000, median of $25,000, and p75 of $75,000. Recent awards include larger operating grants as well, but the middle of the distribution is centered at $25,000.
The recent record shows repeated awards to several of the same organizations across multiple years. Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, The Arts Campus at Willits, Aspen Words, Valley Settlement, and Ascend at the Aspen Institute each appear more than once in the recent grants list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES | ASPEN, CO | $278,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS | BASALT, CO | $172,361 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASPEN WORDS | ASPEN, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASCEND AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| MANU | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| VALLEY SETTLEMENT | CARBONDALE, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SACRAMENTO | SACRAMENTO, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE SHALOM FOUNDATION | FRANKLIN, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL | ASPEN, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| DSA FRIENDS FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES | ASPEN, CO | $212,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $149,760 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS | BASALT, CO | $130,600 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASPEN WORDS | ASPEN, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASCEND AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CATE SCHOOL | CARPENTERIA, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| VALLEY SETTLEMENT | CARBONDALE, CO | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| MANU | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ENGLISH IN ACTION | BASALT, CO | $60,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL | ARLINGTON, VA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| NORTH STATE PUBLIC RADIO | SACRAMENTO, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE SHALOM FOUNDATION | FRANKLIN, TN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| DSA FRIENDS FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER | SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE ART BASE | BASALT, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| INDEPENDENCE PASS FOUNDATION | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASPEN PUBLIC RADIO | ASPEN, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| XERCES SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| FRIENDS OF THE ASPEN ANIMAL SHELTER | ASPEN, CO | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES | ASPEN, CO | $236,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CREATIVE VISIONS | MALIBU, CA | $125,014 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASCEND AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $104,400 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ASPEN WORDS | ASPEN, CO | $98,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CREATIVE CAPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $96,600 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| VALLEY SETTLEMENT | CARBONDALE, CO | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $51,200 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CATE SCHOOL | CARPENTERIA, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS | BASALT, CO | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE ART BASE | BASALT, CO | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE SHALOM FOUNDATION | FRANKLIN, TN | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ENGLISH IN ACTION | BASALT, CO | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| DSA FRIENDS FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| DC CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, CO | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| INDEPENDENCE PASS FOUNDATION | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER | SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| THE COBALT FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
$278,500GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS
$172,361GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASPEN WORDS
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASCEND AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
MANU
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
VALLEY SETTLEMENT
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SACRAMENTO
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE SHALOM FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
DSA FRIENDS FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
$212,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION
$149,760GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS
$130,600GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASPEN WORDS
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASCEND AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CATE SCHOOL
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
VALLEY SETTLEMENT
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
MANU
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ENGLISH IN ACTION
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
NORTH STATE PUBLIC RADIO
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE SHALOM FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
DSA FRIENDS FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE ART BASE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
INDEPENDENCE PASS FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASPEN PUBLIC RADIO
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING FUND
XERCES SOCIETY
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
FRIENDS OF THE ASPEN ANIMAL SHELTER
$500GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
$236,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CREATIVE VISIONS
$125,014GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASCEND AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
$104,400GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ASPEN WORDS
$98,500GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CREATIVE CAPITAL
$96,600GENERAL OPERATING FUND
VALLEY SETTLEMENT
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
NEW VENTURE FUND
$51,200GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CATE SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE ART BASE
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE SHALOM FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ENGLISH IN ACTION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
DSA FRIENDS FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
DC CENTRAL KITCHEN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
INDEPENDENCE PASS FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND
THE COBALT FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING FUND