Next Summit Solutions
Helping organizations reach new heights through strategic fundraising
Next Summit Solutions
Helping organizations reach new heights through strategic fundraising
About
Aaron Epps
Aaron Epps took an unconventional path to fundraising and organizational strategy. A Grinnell College graduate in mathematics and statistics, he began his career in healthcare IT. Looking for more purpose-driven work, he joined Teach For America and spent two years as a high school STEM teacher on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota — the start of what would become a near-decade relationship with the Siċaŋġu Lakota Oyate.
That relationship led Aaron into nonprofit leadership at Siċaŋġu Co. First, he helped launch and raise $7 million for the Wolakota Buffalo Range, now the world's largest Native-managed buffalo herd. From there, he rebuilt the organization's Marketing and Communications department, before founding and scaling its Development department. Under his leadership, annual fundraising revenue grew from $4 million to $8 million and his team managed roughly 120 active grants and impact investments.
Across each role, his focus stayed the same: building the systems, partnerships, and stories needed to sustain the work. He founded Next Summit Solutions, LLC to bring that same approach to other mission-driven organizations.
Outside of work, Aaron is a trail runner and a devoted specialty coffee enthusiast (i.e. snob). He lives in Rutland, Vermont with his wife, their dog, and two cats.