Allison Scholl
Founder
Acorn Group
CNE Programs: Leadership Circles
Allison Scholl formed the Acorn Group to harness the power of philanthropy and positively—even radically—benefit and transform communities. Allison’s dedication to the non-profit sector spans more than 30 years, during which she established several non-profit organizations from the ground up, including the West Valley Child Crisis Center, which provides temporary shelter for victims of child abuse, and Greater Phoenix Family Promise, a temporary haven for homeless children and their families.
Allison’s successful 20-year corporate career helping organizations like PETsMART, Merrill Lynch, and Drake International achieve strategic goals provides a solid foundation for the Acorn Group. Allison is an expert in innovative problem solving, effective change management, and has earned a reputation for building effective teams and systems that get big results.
Since 2005, Allison dedicated her career to mission-based organizations, accepting the Executive Director role for an Arizona non-profit working with at-risk families. She applied skills honed during her corporate career to non-profit endeavors focusing on strategic planning and development strategy. After moving to Charlottesville in 2007, she continued her work with mission-based organizations providing strategic leadership in organizational development, fundraising, and communications. With each new challenge, Allison solidified her knowledge of annual fund management, donor-centric philanthropy, and capital campaigns. She became an expert in major donor cultivation and nonprofit fundraising best practices.