At The Next Summit, our mission is to promote outdoor safety, environmental stewardship, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. However, maintaining a website that reaches a broad audience while delivering high-quality content requires resources. This is why you might notice advertisements on our site—an essential tool that helps us sustain our operations and amplify our impact.
The Purpose Behind Our Ads
It’s easy to associate website ads with monetization and profit – a lot of what is wrong with the outdoors today. However, for The Next Summit, the decision to display ads is rooted in our mission rather than financial gain. Here’s how:
Supporting Free Access to Content: We believe that everyone should have access to vital information on outdoor safety and environmental conservation. By displaying ads, we can keep our content free for all users, ensuring that our tips, guides, and resources are accessible to everyone who needs them.
Funding Our Initiatives: The revenue generated from ads directly supports the development of new content, community outreach, and educational initiatives. For example, in the past year alone, our Altitude Sickness Prevention campaign reached 54,000 people across Colorado, with 4,000 individuals downloading our full guide. Additionally, our new weekly Leave No Trace Tip ads have reached 20,000 people this year, and last year’s “Care for Colorado” Campaign reached over 120,000 people with Leave No Trace (LNT) tips specific to Colorado. These efforts are directly funded by ad revenue, helping us to continue our work without compromising the quality or quantity of our offerings.
Minimizing Donation Reliance: Many nonprofit organizations rely heavily on donations, which can be unpredictable and limit their capacity to plan for the future. By incorporating ads, we create a more stable revenue stream that complements donations and grants, giving us the flexibility to invest in long-term projects that further our mission. For instance, we donated over $2,500 in funding and resources to the Fix CRUS Coalition in 2023 and 2024, supporting efforts to restore public access to several closed 14ers.
Alex attends the bill signing of SB-58 which restored access to several 14ers in 2024.
Transparency and Trust
We understand that ads can sometimes be seen as intrusive or at odds with the goals of a mission-driven organization. That’s why we are committed to transparency in how we manage and display ads. We prioritize user experience by limiting the number and placement of ads, ensuring they do not interfere with your ability to access the information you came for.
Understanding Ad Revenue: What We Can and Cannot Share
Due to restrictions from our ad provider, Google, we cannot disclose precisely how ad revenue is allocated within our budget. These restrictions are in place to prevent fraud and ensure that ad funds are used appropriately, but they also mean that most of our readers aren’t aware of how we utilize this revenue.
However, to maintain transparency, we provide detailed reports on how our overall budget is spent. This includes a breakdown of our educational programs, conservation campaigns, and advocacy initiatives. For instance, the reach of our campaigns, such as the Altitude Sickness Prevention and Leave No Trace initiatives, showcases the direct impact of our funding sources, including ad revenue.
An example of our new Leave No Trace Tip of the Week ad campaign.
A Shared Journey: Thanks for Your Support
By visiting our website and engaging with our content, you’re not just a visitor—you’re a partner in our mission. The ads you see are a small but vital part of the larger effort to keep The Next Summit thriving and impactful. Together, we can continue to make a difference, one mountain at a time.
Learn more about our work and impact here.
