Scott Persons is a Senior Philanthropy Advisor at Prysm Initiative, where he partners with philanthropists to advance ambitious giving strategies that expand access to global reproductive health and strengthen systems supporting families and communities worldwide.

He is an accomplished philanthropic leader with more than 20 years of fundraising and development experience and proven results. Prior to Prysm, Scott spent over twelve years at the University of Minnesota, where he led national and international development efforts for the Carlson School of Management. He managed portfolios of high-net-worth donors across the U.S. and Asia, secured significant leadership and principal gifts, and helped campaigns consistently exceed their goals. His work closely aligned donor priorities with institutional leadership and global initiatives.

Earlier in his career, Scott directed political fundraising for U.S. Congressional and Gubernatorial campaigns, executing complex donor strategies in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. He also served in international leadership roles with the National Democratic Institute in Montenegro and Ukraine, advancing democratic governance and civic engagement.

Scott holds a Master of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Enterprise Education Foundation.

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