Scot Chisholm

Chisholm was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts and raised in Hull and Hingham. He graduated from Hingham High School and later earned a degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2004. {{cite web |title=Scot Chisholm: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=241372547&privcapId=118799010 |access-date=30 October 2017 |website=www.bloomberg.com}}{{cite web |title=A CEO shares the best-kept secret about startups |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/a-ceo-shares-the-best-kept-secret-about-startups-2015-6 |access-date=30 October 2017 |website=Business Insider |language=en}}

Following graduation, Chisholm worked as a senior consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton in San Diego, California, where he contributed to the development of the firm's Lean Six Sigma practice on the Economic and Business Analysis Team from 2004 to 2007.{{cite web|title=Raising Money for Nonprofits on Shoestring Budgets {{!}} College of Engineering {{!}} UMass Amherst|url=http://engineering.umass.edu/news/raising-money-nonprofits-shoestring-budgets|website=engineering.umass.edu|language=en|access-date=30 October 2017}}

In 2006, Chisholm founded Classy with his college friend Pat Walsh. The idea originated from a local charity pub crawl in San Diego, inspired by the movie Anchorman, aimed at raising money for cancer research{{Citation |title=Becoming an Empowered Citizen - Cause/Action: Scot Chisholm at TEDxSanDiego |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3mMWKJGnjc |access-date=2022-10-17 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-21 |title=San Diego startup Classy corrals $118m for software to help nonprofits with digital fundraising |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2021-04-20/san-diego-startup-classy-corrals-118m-for-software-to-help-nonprofits-with-digital-fundraising |access-date=2021-12-06 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=Trahant |first=Grant |date=21 May 2019 |title=Interview with the Founder of Classy on Raising $50 Million to Build Technology That Deploys Digital Innovation Into Nonprofits - Causeartist |url=https://causeartist.com/founder-classy-nonprofit-technology-platform/ |access-date=2021-12-06 |website=causeartist.com |language=en-US}} Over time, the charity events evolved into a software platform for nonprofit fundraising, and Classy was formally launched in 2011 as a technology company.{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Justin |title=The Biggest Startup You’ve Never Heard Of |url=https://www.justgogrind.com/p/scot-chisholm |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Just Go Grind |language=en}}

By 2021, organizations were raising over $1 billion annually through Classy.{{Cite web |last=Classy |title=Nonprofits Raised $1 Billion in 2020 on Classy Platform |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nonprofits-raised-1-billion-in-2020-on-classy-platform-301200934.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} The company raised more than $200 million in venture funding from investors including Bullpen Capital, Salesforce Ventures, Mithril Capital, JMI Equity and Norwest Venture Partners.{{Cite web |title=Classy Gets $18 Million In Class B Funding |url=https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/classy-gets-18-million-in-class-b-funding/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=The NonProfit Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=2016-11-01 |title=Classy raises $30 million to help nonprofits raise donations, make a greater impact |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/01/classy-raises-30-million-to-help-nonprofits-raise-donations-make-a-greater-impact/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=jhaxell |date=2021-04-26 |title=Classy scores $118m Series D to continue product development of fundraising technology |url=https://fintech.global/2021/04/26/classy-scores-118m-series-d-to-continue-product-development-of-fundraising-technology/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=FinTech Global |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Scot |date=2014-09-08 |title=We're In Great Company: Salesforce.com Invests in Classy |url=https://www.classy.org/blog/were-in-great-company-salesforce-com-invests-in-stayclassy/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Classy |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=jmi_ppob5p |date=2016-11-01 |title=Classy Raises $30 Million to Help Social Enterprises Scale Their Impact |url=https://www.jmi.com/classy-raises-30-million-help-social-enterprises-scale-impact/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=JMI Equity |language=en-US}} In January 2022, Classy was acquired by GoFundMe. Chisholm transitioned into an advisory role following the acquisition.{{Cite web |last=Silberling |first=Amanda |date=2022-01-13 |title=GoFundMe acquires Classy, a nonprofit giving platform |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/13/gofundme-acquires-classy/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

Classy has served as a fundraising platform for several high-profile nonprofit campaigns, including Kony 2012, a viral advocacy movement by Invisible Children.

In 2024, Chisholm launched [https://joinhighland.com/ Highland], a private community and educational platform for startup founders.{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Justin |title=The Biggest Startup You’ve Never Heard Of |url=https://www.justgogrind.com/p/scot-chisholm |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Just Go Grind |language=en}} The program provides curriculum, coaching and peer support. The curriculum is based on an operating framework called the Northstar Operating System that Chisholm developed at Classy.

Chisholm developed the Northstar Operating System (OS), a business operating framework designed to help startup teams scale effectively. The system is structured around three core pillars: Operating Clarity, Operating Rhythm, and Operating Mindset.

In 2021, Chisholm launched Haskill Creek with his wife, Carrie, and high school friend Craig McViney.{{Cite web |last=Dresser |first=Maggie |date=2022-05-26 |title=Fundraising to Save Farmland |url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2022/05/26/fundraising-to-save-farmland/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Flathead Beacon |language=en}} Haskill Creek is a holistic health retailer, offering wellness products such as premium supplements, organic beauty items and herbal remedies. {{Cite web |last=ENGLAND |first=WHITNEY |date=2021-11-17 |title=Save Farmland nonprofit aims to protect agricultural land while promoting small farming |url=https://whitefishpilot.com/news/2021/nov/17/save-farmland-nonprofit-aims-protect-agricultural-/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Whitefish Pilot |language=en}} Haskill Creek opened its first store in Whitefish, Montana.{{Cite web |last=Dresser |first=Maggie |date=2024-06-25 |title=High-Class Cannabis |url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2024/06/25/high-class-cannabis/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Flathead Beacon |language=en}}

In 2021 the owners of Haskill Creek painted “Save Farmland” on the side of their building to raise awareness for the disappearing farmland across Flathead County, Montana.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://savefarmland.org/about/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Save Farmland |language=en-US}} In 2022, Chisholm launched [https://savefarmland.org/about/ Save Farmland], the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on protecting agricultural land.{{Cite web |last=None |date=2022-07-15 |title=Save Farmland nonprofit partners with Under the Big Sky Festival |url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2022/jul/15/save-farmland-nonprofit-partners-under-big-sky-fes/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Daily Inter Lake |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Scot |date=2024-12-02 |title=(Re) Introducing Save Farmland |url=https://savefarmland.org/reintroducing-save-farmland/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Save Farmland |language=en-US}}

Chisholm has served on several nonprofit and organizational boards, including:

• Team Rubicon (2011-2015) - which connects skilled military veterans with medical professionals to form teams that respond better to disaster situations.{{cite web|title=Paul Martino, Serial Entrepreneur & VC @Bullpen Capital, investors in Marketo, Zynga, Desk.com, Udemy, etc. & Scot Chisholm, CEO of Classy & Angel Investor|url=http://sanjose.eventful.com/events/paul-martino-serial-entrepreneur-vc-bullpen-capi-/E0-001-083609387-3|website=Eventful|access-date=30 October 2017|language=en}}{{cite web|last1=Magee|first1=Christine|title=Making Nonprofits SaaS-Savvy, Classy Raises $18 Million|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/30/making-non-profits-saas-savvy-classy-raises-18-million/|website=TechCrunch|date=30 June 2015 |access-date=30 October 2017|language=en}}

• Street Soccer USA (2017-2021) - a nonprofit organization that uses sports to improve health, education, and employment outcomes for disadvantaged Americans.{{cite web |title=Street Soccer USA {{!}} Our Boards |url=http://www.streetsoccerusa.org/our-boards/ |access-date=30 October 2017 |website=www.streetsoccerusa.org}}

• Nature Conservancy California (2018-2023) - a nonprofit working to protect the lands and waters on which all life depends.
• [https://abundantmontana.com/ Abundant Montana] (2023 - present) - a nonprofit organization that connects Montanans with local food and farms.

• [https://savefarmland.org/ Save Farmland] (2022 - present) - a agricultural conservation nonprofit that he founded in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Scot |date=2024-12-02 |title=(Re) Introducing Save Farmland |url=https://savefarmland.org/reintroducing-save-farmland/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Save Farmland |language=en-US}}

In 2011, Chisholm was named by Businessweek as one of the 'Top 5 Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs in America'.

In 2017, he was named 'Top Rated CEO' in the United States for small and medium-sized businesses by Glassdoor.{{cite web |title=Highest Rated CEOs at SMBs |url=https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Highest-Rated-CEOs-at-SMBs-LST_KQ0,26.htm |access-date=30 October 2017 |website=Glassdoor |language=en}}

In 2018, he was named an Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year' finalist.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-22 |title=Classy CEO Up for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award |url=https://www.classy.org/blog/classy-ceo-finalist-entrepreneur-of-year/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=Classy |language=en-US}}

Chisholm was recognized as one of the '500 Most Influential Business Leaders in San Diego' by San Diego Business Journal in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.{{Cite web |last=staff-author |date=2018-01-08 |title=SD 500: Scot Chisholm |url=https://www.sdbj.com/sd-500/sd-500-scot-chisholm/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=San Diego Business Journal |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Chisholm was named a 'Top Executive Coach' by [https://real-leaders.com/ Real Leaders], as part of the Real Leaders Impact Awards.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-21 |title=Top Executive Coaches 2024 List - Real Leaders |url=https://real-leaders.com/top-executive-coaches-2024/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |language=en-US}}

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Category:Living people

Category:University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Engineering alumni

Category:American social entrepreneurs

Category:1981 births