Commitment to community has always played a large role in the partnership between Jim Light and Jim Chaffin. At CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate, community and non-profit support is highly valued. Life can’t be all about work. It’s something that Jim and Jim have understood since they first entered the real estate business. For them, family, community and environment weigh enormously on their decisions.

Spring Island Trust

In pursuit of true conservation-based development and real estate with a community focus, Chaffin Light Associates and CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate have dedicated time, money and manpower to create several non-profits and trusts in its communities. Chaffin Light Associates co-founded the Spring Island Trust in 1990 and the Roaring Fork Conservancy in 1996. Both focus on land conservation and environmental education, and are funded, in part, through Chaffin Light Associate’s self-imposed real estate transfer tax. Chaffin Light Associates has also dedicated substantial open space and trails protected by conservation easements and/or deed covenants within their communities, all the while promoting green-building principles.

Anderson Ranch Arts Center Snowmass Chapel

Jim Chaffin and Jim Light have also responded to the need for strong arts and cultural aspects in their communities. In the late 1970s, as a part of their development of Snowmass Village, they personally donated land for a new conference center, a chapel and community center, and fostered the growth of the Anderson Ranch Arts Center. To this day, Jim Chaffin’s wife, Betsy, an honorary trustee of Anderson Ranch, has been instrumental in this highly respected arts organization. In addition, Jim Light is on the executive committee of the Snowmass Chapel.

Tomorrow’s Voices
With leadership skills in mind, CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate is a sponsor of a community program for children known as Tomorrow’s Voices. This program teaches kids to think. The program provides extracurricular education to students and teachers in the Roaring Fork Valley, focusing on civic, ethical and intellectual development. Even at a young age children are learning to be self empowered, an echo of CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate’s passionate belief in investing in people and community.

Roaring Fork Conservancy

“For the entire team at CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate the commitment continues. Every year since 1996, many have personally given their time and support to river clean-ups, preservation of riparian habitat and attention to the issues of healthy water running freely in our streams. Great thinkers protecting the great beauty of the Roaring Fork Valley, they honor both our history and our environment." - Carlyle Kyzer, Roaring Fork Conservancy Major Gifts Director Habitat for Humanity

CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate is one of our premier sponsors for our extensive program in the Roaring Fork Valley. "We have been able to accomplish many goals because of their concerns. We are very grateful for their generous support.“ “ - Scott Gilbert, Habitat for Humanity, Executive Director

Grassroots TV Aspen

“CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate is the exclusive underwriter for our Free Range Forum. This program empowers the valley’s non-profits to post messages and information on Grassroots TV about their missions, services and their events. The response to the Free Range Forum has been just tremendous.” <- Brad Manosevitz, Free Range Forum Manager, Grassroots TV

Mastering the FutureIn 2004, CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate extended opportunities for “thinking outside the box” to area nonprofit organizations by inviting nonprofit staffers to attend “Mastering the Future” workshops led by business and personal coach Jonathan Clark. Typically this type of professional development is out-of-reach for most small non-profits, but CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate has opened workshops to Roaring Fork Valley non-profits, free of charge.

As an added benefit, these workshops are a great opportunity to bring together for-profit entrepreneurs with those in the nonprofit arena. We are encouraged and empowered to think together in innovative ways.

Roaring Fork Leadership

“I attended a session of “Mastering the Future” that CHAFFIN LIGHT Real Estate had sponsored for our non-profit community leaders. The program was so impactful to me personally that I committed to making it part of Roaring Fork Leadership’s curriculum.” - Terri Anuszewski, Roaring Fork Leadership Executive Director