Letter from Eric Motley

As we reflect on all that we have accomplished together in 2019 and over the past few months, I would like to thank you for your dedicated support and leadership, which empowers the Aspen Institute to be a driving force for change. At the end of last year, certainly none of us could have predicted the challenges the world would undergo or the tribulations our society would face. But it is through your renewed support and commitment in our work that the Aspen Institute has risen to meet the present moment and to lean into our institutional promise of building a more equitable society.

Philanthropy enables the Institute to take bold steps toward solving some of society’s greatest challenges — economic inequality, technological change, the climate crisis, educational inequity, and more. We build spaces for dialogue that break down the supposed divides of difference, inspire the next generation of values-based, purpose-driven leaders to claim their futures, and elevate stories and ideas that will change the world. As our society continues to navigate through a global recession, an unprecedented pandemic, and a public reckoning on race and equality, this work—and your commitment to it—is more critical than it has ever been.

The global impact of the Aspen Institute would not be possible without the support of our Trustees, Society of Fellows, Paepcke and Heritage Society members, and other close friends who are dedicated to helping us fulfill our mission. Thank you for making 2019 an exceptional year—and for working so closely with us to help the Institute meet the societal needs of today and guide us into a new future together.