Scott McDonald

Scott McDonald is a nonprofit executive and enterprise leader with more than 20 years of experience leading fundraising and external engagement strategies for mission-driven organizations working at the intersection of health, development and community resilience. As Operation Smile’s global chief development officer, Scott oversees the organization’s fundraising and aligned partnerships to support its mission of expanding access to safe, timely and equitable surgical care around the world.

Before joining Operation Smile, Scott served as chief external affairs Officer at Root Capital, where he led resource mobilization, engagement and communications to advance climate resilience, gender equity and economic opportunity across rural communities in Africa, Latin America and southeast Asia. His career has also included leadership roles at The ONE Campaign, International Medical Corps, the International Rescue Committee and the Guggenheim Museum, delivering growth and sustainability through innovative, integrated approaches to capital mobilization, including philanthropy and innovative finance in support of social change.

Scott brings a collaborative, equity-focused approach to resource mobilization and deployment, building high-performing teams and strategic partnerships that accelerate social impact. His experience spans multiple continents, funding modalities and sectors, and he remains dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that empower communities and transform lives.

Scott holds an MBA from Boston University, as well as master’s degrees from the Royal College of Art, London and the University of Edinburgh. He also completed executive programs in social finance at the University of Oxford and data analysis at the London School of Economics. He resides in Los Angeles, California.