Empowering Possibility

2025 Annual Report

Welcome!

Our Board of Directors and staff are honored to share our 2025 Annual Report, which reflects the incredible impact and outcomes that you—our partners, donors, and supporters—made possible through your belief in our work.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this remarkable year. 2025 can be defined with four words: generosity, joy, fun, and gratitude. Your support empowered the Vail Valley Foundation to dream big and act boldly, and we had fun doing it! Because of you, our annual fundraising remains very strong. We have reached 60% ($43 million) of our $72 million Empowering Possibility Campaign goal, triggering groundbreaking initiatives across our mission of arts, athletics, education, and community supports.

Whether it is the smile on a child’s face enjoying one of our many YouthPower365 education and athletic programs; an attendee moved by the power of the performing arts at our Vilar Performing Arts Center, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, ShowDown Town or Vail Dance Festival performances; an athlete crossing one of our many finish lines with a profound sense of accomplishment during the GoPro Mountain Games or Stifel Birds of Prey; or the sense of community pride as individuals, government, and local businesses come together to solve a major community crisis by breaking ground on our new Avon Early Childhood Education and Development Center—the word that consistently comes to mind is joy.

As we bring 2025 to a close, our Board and staff wish to express our gratitude to everyone who helps us make our valley such a great place to live, work, or visit. As we look ahead to 2026, we carry forward the momentum of this extraordinary year with deep appreciation for your trust and partnership.

Thank you for believing in the power of community. We wish you and your loved ones a season filled with joy, connection, and renewal. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Download Financial Report

Chris Jarnot
Board Chair, Vail Valley Foundation
Mike Imhof
President and CEO, Vail Valley Foundation

Arts

Creativity Takes Center Stage

Throughout 2025, our arts initiatives created unforgettable moments that captivated audiences and enriched our cultural landscape. The Vilar Performing Arts Center in the heart of Beaver Creek Village offered year-round diverse programming in its intimate theater setting. The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (‘The Amp’) in Vail hosted world-class performances against our stunning alpine backdrop. The internationally celebrated Vail Dance Festival once again transformed our valley into a global dance destination in July and August. The Town of Eagle ShowDown Town continued the tradition of fostering connections with free community concerts.

Learn More About Our Year in the Arts:

$38,256,194

Economic impact
165,585

Total attendance
218

Events and performances
10,898

Free or discounted tickets provided via STARS and CAA programs

BEAVER CREEK, USA - DECEMBER 7: River Radamus of Team United States reacts during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on December 7, 2025 in Beaver Creek, USA

Athletics

Celebrating excellence in sports

Our athletic programming continues to energize the community through two signature events: GoPro Mountain Games and Stifel Birds of Prey. These world-class competitions deliver economic vitality, global recognition, and community pride while fostering wellness and active lifestyles through sport, camaraderie, and competitive spirit.

Our valley’s legacy as a premier destination for international competition spans decades, having hosted three Alpine World Ski Championships (1989, 1999, and 2015), World Mountain Bike Championships (1994, 2001), and more. Stifel Birds of Prey has evolved over the years into one of the most challenging and prestigious stops on the FIS World Cup circuit, cementing the course’s reputation among the global ski racing community. The GoPro Mountain Games has likewise grown since its inception as a local whitewater event in 2002 into what it is today: a multi-day celebration of mountain sports and culture, encompassing diverse adventure disciplines, music, and art, that draws athletes and spectators from around the globe. Together, these world-class competitions continue to elevate our valley’s global profile.

Learn More About Our Year in Athletics:

5,523

Athletes participated
$12.8M

Economic impact
108,488

Estimated attendance
44

Competitions

Education

Empowering the next generation

YouthPower365, our education initiative, provides a unique continuum of programs serving youth every step of the way from early childhood to college and career. In 2025, this vital programming engaged 4,000+ students and families in the Eagle River Valley. Your generous support enables YouthPower365 to deliver a comprehensive network of enrichment opportunities and youth development programs, ensuring every young person in our community has access to the resources and experiences they need to reach their full potential.

Learn More About Our Year in Education:

YouthPower365

$850,500

In scholarships for 58 high school seniors
4,000+

Youth and family members served
1,500+

Individual family engagement touchpoints
110,000

Estimated contact hours with youth over summer months

Community Supports

Building a bright future

Since 1981, we have led or championed initiatives that enhance the quality of life for residents, workers, and visitors. In 2023, we formalized “Community Support” as the fourth pillar of our mission.

Our valley is considered a childcare desert, and it is not just a family issue—it’s an economic, workforce, and community issue. Without accessible, quality early childhood education, working parents face impossible choices, businesses struggle to attract and retain employees, and children miss out on the critical developmental foundation they deserve.

That is why we launched the Eagle River Valley Childcare initiative. We broke ground in June 2025 on an Early Learning Center in Avon: a 13,595 square-foot facility with capacity for approximately 165 children ages 0-5, set to open in fall 2026. This collaborative effort with the Town of Avon, Eagle County, local businesses, individuals, and organizations creates a replicable model for expanding early childhood education and development access across the valley, demonstrating how cross-sector collaboration can solve our community’s most pressing challenges.

As of November 2025, we have secured $12.2 million for the construction of the facility, and we need to raise another $1.3 million by March 2026. We are also working to secure $3 million for our Tuition Assistance and Staff Housing Assistance Fund. To learn more or donate, visit empower.vvf.org, or contact Mike Imhof at mimhof@vvf.org or Peter Barclay at pbarclay@vvf.org.

Learn More About Our Year in the Community:

Avon Early Learning Center

13,595

Square footage of new early learning center
2.9

Acres of land reserved for early learning center
165

Childcare slots
12

Classrooms

Overall Impact

Through our four pillars of arts, athletics, education, and community supports, we have created a powerful ecosystem of opportunity that strengthens every aspect of our community. In 2025, this integrated approach delivered measurable results across our valley, touching thousands of lives through a wide variety of programming and positioning the Eagle River Valley as a model for how comprehensive nonprofit leadership can drive both immediate impact and long-term prosperity. Together, these interconnected initiatives don’t just serve our community; they transform it, ensuring the Eagle River Valley remains a place where possibility thrives for residents and visitors alike.

$61,807,662

Estimated economic impact
264

Total events
$850,500

Scholarship dollars awarded
4,000+

Youth and families served through YouthPower365
278,073

Participants in events, performances, and programs
103

Free performances and exhibitions
1,428

Volunteers
34,714

Hours of volunteer service