Scot Chisholm

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Scot Chisholm
Scot Chisholm Photo.png
Born(1981-06-15)June 15, 1981
Education UMass Amherst
University of Manchester
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, Investor, Industrial Engineer
Known for Classy, GoFundMe, Northstar Operating System, Highland, Haskill Creek, Save Farmland
SpouseCarolyn Garner Chisholm
Children2 sons
Website https://scotchisholm.com/

Scot Chisholm (born June 15, 1981) is an American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the co-founder and former chief executive offer of Classy, a fundraising software company for nonprofit organizations. Chisholm was named one of Glassdoor's 'Highest Rated CEOs' in 2017 for small and medium-sized businesses, and served as CEO until 2021. [1] In 2022, Classy was acquired by GoFundMe. [2] As of 2024, the companies had collectively raised over $30 billion for individual and nonprofit causes. [3] [4]

Contents

Chisholm also founded Highland, a community and educational platform for startup founders, Haskill Creek, [5] a modern health and wellness retail brand, and Save Farmland, a nonprofit organization focused on protecting agricultural land. [6] He is the co-owner of Albion Soccer Club, a youth soccer organization in the United States, alongside partner Noah Gins. [7]

Chisholm is also the creator of the Northstar Operating System, a business operating system (BOS) used by early-stage and growth-stage companies.

Early life

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. [8] [9]

Career

Early career

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. [10]

Classy

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 [11] [12] [13] Over time, the charity events evolved into a software platform for nonprofit fundraising, and Classy was formally launched in 2011 as a technology company. [14]

By 2021, organizations were raising over $1 billion annually through Classy. [15] 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. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] In January 2022, Classy was acquired by GoFundMe. Chisholm transitioned into an advisory role following the acquisition. [21]

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

Highland

In 2024, Chisholm launched Highland, a private community and educational platform for startup founders. [22] 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.

Northstar Operating System

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. [22]

Haskill Creek

In 2021, Chisholm launched Haskill Creek with his wife, Carrie, and high school friend Craig McViney. [23] Haskill Creek is a holistic health retailer, offering wellness products such as premium supplements, organic beauty items and herbal remedies. [24] Haskill Creek opened its first store in Whitefish, Montana. [25]

Save Farmland

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. [26] In 2022, Chisholm launched Save Farmland, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on protecting agricultural land. [27] [28]

Board roles

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

Recognition

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. [33]

In 2018, he was named an Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year' finalist. [34]

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. [35]

In 2024, Chisholm was named a 'Top Executive Coach' by Real Leaders, as part of the Real Leaders Impact Awards. [36]

References

  1. ↑ "Highest Rated CEOs at SMBs 2017 | Glassdoor". www.glassdoor.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  2. ↑ Silberling, Amanda (2022-01-13). "GoFundMe acquires Classy, a nonprofit giving platform". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  3. ↑ "GoFundMe says $30 billion has been raised on its crowdfunding and nonprofit giving platforms". AP News. 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  4. ↑ "How GoFundMe Raised $30B in Crowdfunded Donations". Observer. 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  5. ↑ "Fundraising to Save Farmland". Flathead Beacon. 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  6. ↑ ENGLAND, WHITNEY (2021-11-17). "Save Farmland nonprofit aims to protect agricultural land while promoting small farming". Whitefish Pilot. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  7. ↑ "ALBION PROS BECOMES ASC SAN DIEGO - KICKS OFF THIRD SEASON • SoccerToday". SoccerToday. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  8. ↑ "Scot Chisholm: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "A CEO shares the best-kept secret about startups". Business Insider. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "Raising Money for Nonprofits on Shoestring Budgets | College of Engineering | UMass Amherst". engineering.umass.edu. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  11. ↑ Becoming an Empowered Citizen - Cause/Action: Scot Chisholm at TEDxSanDiego , retrieved 2022-10-17
  12. ↑ "San Diego startup Classy corrals $118m for software to help nonprofits with digital fundraising". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  13. ↑ Trahant, Grant (21 May 2019). "Interview with the Founder of Classy on Raising $50 Million to Build Technology That Deploys Digital Innovation Into Nonprofits - Causeartist". causeartist.com. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  14. ↑ Gordon, Justin. "The Biggest Startup You've Never Heard Of". Just Go Grind. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  15. ↑ Classy. "Nonprofits Raised $1 Billion in 2020 on Classy Platform". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  16. ↑ "Classy Gets $18 Million In Class B Funding". The NonProfit Times. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  17. ↑ Kolodny, Lora (2016-11-01). "Classy raises $30 million to help nonprofits raise donations, make a greater impact". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  18. ↑ jhaxell (2021-04-26). "Classy scores $118m Series D to continue product development of fundraising technology". FinTech Global. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  19. ↑ Chisholm, Scot (2014-09-08). "We're In Great Company: Salesforce.com Invests in Classy". Classy. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  20. ↑ jmi_ppob5p (2016-11-01). "Classy Raises $30 Million to Help Social Enterprises Scale Their Impact". JMI Equity. Retrieved 2024-12-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ Silberling, Amanda (2022-01-13). "GoFundMe acquires Classy, a nonprofit giving platform". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  22. 1 2 Gordon, Justin. "The Biggest Startup You've Never Heard Of". Just Go Grind. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  23. ↑ Dresser, Maggie (2022-05-26). "Fundraising to Save Farmland". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  24. ↑ ENGLAND, WHITNEY (2021-11-17). "Save Farmland nonprofit aims to protect agricultural land while promoting small farming". Whitefish Pilot. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  25. ↑ Dresser, Maggie (2024-06-25). "High-Class Cannabis". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  26. ↑ "About". Save Farmland. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  27. ↑ None (2022-07-15). "Save Farmland nonprofit partners with Under the Big Sky Festival". Daily Inter Lake. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  28. ↑ Chisholm, Scot (2024-12-02). "(Re) Introducing Save Farmland". Save Farmland. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  29. ↑ "Paul Martino, Serial Entrepreneur & VC @Bullpen Capital, investors in Marketo, Zynga, Desk.com, Udemy, etc. & Scot Chisholm, CEO of Classy & Angel Investor". Eventful. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  30. ↑ Magee, Christine (30 June 2015). "Making Nonprofits SaaS-Savvy, Classy Raises $18 Million". TechCrunch. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  31. ↑ "Street Soccer USA | Our Boards". www.streetsoccerusa.org. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  32. ↑ Chisholm, Scot (2024-12-02). "(Re) Introducing Save Farmland". Save Farmland. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  33. ↑ "Highest Rated CEOs at SMBs". Glassdoor. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  34. ↑ "Classy CEO Up for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award". Classy. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  35. ↑ staff-author (2018-01-08). "SD 500: Scot Chisholm". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved 2022-10-17.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  36. ↑ "Top Executive Coaches 2024 List - Real Leaders". 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
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