Development staff often work behind the scenes, stewarding relationships, steering organizational strategies, and securing resources that fuel nonprofit missions. At Summit Speech School, a New Providence-based nonprofit organization that provides specialized education and therapy services to empower children with hearing loss, Senior Development Officer Ellen Tepper brings a unique blend of passion, candor, and personal experience to the role. Through her work, she ensures that children with hearing loss are set up for success, receiving the support they need early in life to communicate verbally and thrive.
“Development work is about more than just raising money,” Ms. Tepper said. “It’s about building relationships, understanding donors’ values, and aligning them with the mission of the organization.”
Ms. Tepper believes effective development professionals, integral to the success of nonprofits, serve as both organizational strategists and nonfiction storytellers, connecting donors to the mission through conversation. By scaling this work, fundraisers ensure that resources are available not only for immediate program needs, but also for long-term sustainability.
At Summit Speech School, where she has returned three different times to contribute in various fundraising capacities, Ms. Tepper plays a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s work, which focuses on teaching children with hearing loss to develop listening and spoken language skills. Her responsibilities include managing fundraising campaigns, nurturing donor relationships, and creating opportunities for supporters to witness the impact of their generosity. With two decades of fundraising experience, as well as having a child of her own who graduated from the school, Ms. Tepper views her role as a blend of responsibility and privilege, knowing that every dollar raised contributes to transforming lives.
“Summit Speech School, besides family, is at the core of who I am and runs through my veins,” Ms. Tepper said. “There is something so unique and so special about the mission we serve — the families, the staff. I am not the only staff member who has left and come back. There is something in the water here — in the hearts of the children and the families — that captures you. You really understand what it is like to have a positive impact and see the dollars raised at work, every day.”
Looking ahead, Ellen is focused on ensuring the school’s programs can benefit even more children and families. She envisions broadening the scope of their services while maintaining the high standards of education and support that define Summit Speech School.
“When I first started here, we didn’t have our itinerant mainstream support program, which is now our largest program,” Ms. Tepper said. “I remember when it had one student and the first teacher was hired. I remember when we didn’t have our audiology booth. None of this would have happened without funding. So, I think my role has been gatekeeper to the future and possibilities. Or co-gatekeeper because there’s no ‘I’ in team. I’m cognizant that I stand on the shoulders of people who have sat in my chair before me and our dedicated Boards of Trustees both past and present.
Ellen Tepper’s contributions to Summit Speech School highlight the vital, behind-the-scenes role of development work as a catalyst for nonprofit success. By securing resources, nurturing relationships, and championing the organization’s mission, she helps ensure that children with hearing loss have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Through her dedication, Ms. Tepper continues to make an indelible impact, both within the school and on the lives of the families it serves.