Ethics in Action

In 1976, John Denver co-founded the Windstar Foundation, a non-profit environmental education and research center. The Windstar Foundation’s mission was to create a venue for innovative thinkers to collaboratively solve some of the world’s social and environmental problems.

At its peak in the 1980s, the foundation was an incredible force for good. Visionary and inventor Buckminster Fuller joined the organization and helped to shape the foundation of the program. Seminars on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, environmental conservation, and much more were held on the picturesque Windstar property. From 1986-1995, Windstar presented the Choices for The Future Symposium; a conference of knowledgeable speakers and participants eager to live sustainably on the earth.

In 2013, the Windstar Foundation as a physical entity was laid to rest with the sale of its headquarters. The proceeds generated from the sale became part of the John Denver Aspenglow Fund, which distributed the money to local social, environmental, and educational organizations such as Aspen TREE, Aspen Global Change Institute, and EcoFlight—just to name a few. Through supporting the visions of other nonprofits and changemakers, John Denver’s legacy of the Windstar Foundation continues to effect positive change in the world.