Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano
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Name	Frank Thomas Golisano
Birth date	May 14, 1941
Birth place	Rochester, New York
Occupation	Businessman, Philanthropist, Political Activist
Known for	Founder of Paychex
Spouse	Mary Golisano (m. 1963)

Tom Golisano is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political activist best known as the founder of Paychex. He built a national payroll and human resources services company from a small startup into a publicly traded corporation and has been active in campaign finance, third-party politics, and nonprofit philanthropy. His career spans corporate growth, electoral initiatives, higher education giving, and civic engagement across New York (state) and the United States.

Early life and education

Golisano was born in Rochester, New York and raised in a working-class family in the Rochester area, an upbringing parallel to figures associated with Upstate New York industry such as leaders connected to Eastman Kodak and Bausch & Lomb. He attended Gates Chili High School before enrolling at Syracuse University where he studied accounting and management, joining peer networks linked to alumni like executives from Carrier Global Corporation and National Grid (company). Following graduation, he worked in small business environments and regional finance offices connected to local firms and municipal institutions in Monroe County, New York.

Business career

Golisano founded Paychex in 1971, launching operations in Rochester, New York and serving small and medium-sized businesses with payroll processing, human resources, and tax services, in competition with providers such as ADP, Intuit, and regional brokers tied to firms like Ernst & Young and KPMG. Under his leadership, Paychex pursued growth strategies including service diversification, acquisitions of regional payroll firms, and listing on the NASDAQ; the company’s trajectory attracted comparisons to other American technology-enabled service companies such as Automatic Data Processing and software integrators like Oracle Corporation. Golisano served as chairman and CEO, overseeing expansion into national markets, strategic partnerships with banks including Bank of America and Wells Fargo, and the adoption of cloud-based and SaaS models paralleling companies like Salesforce. Paychex’s scaling involved regulatory compliance with Internal Revenue Service reporting requirements and collaboration with state agencies across jurisdictions like New York (state) Department of Taxation and Finance and California Franchise Tax Board.

Political activity and public service

Golisano has been an active political donor and candidate, engaging with electoral processes and independent party formation. He was a founder and substantial backer of the Independence Party of New York and supported third-party initiatives, aligning with figures in third-party movements such as leaders in the Libertarian Party (United States), Green Party (United States), and independents including those who have run in New York gubernatorial elections. He ran multiple times for governor of New York (state), entering contests that also featured candidates from the Democratic Party (United States), Republican Party (United States), and notable officeholders from New York City and Albany, New York. As a campaign donor, he contributed to ballot access efforts, independent expenditure committees, and civic reform groups associated with campaign finance debates in the era of decisions like Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

In public service, Golisano has supported criminal justice and law enforcement reform initiatives, working with county executives and state legislators in Monroe County, New York, collaborating with sheriffs and prosecutors, and funding programs involving municipal authorities in cities such as Rochester, New York and Buffalo, New York. He has participated in policy conversations with university faculties at institutions including Syracuse University and Rochester Institute of Technology, and has served on advisory boards that intersect with federal agencies and state offices.

Philanthropy and nonprofit work

Golisano is a major philanthropist, donating to healthcare, education, and disability causes through foundations bearing his name and through direct gifts to institutions like Rochester General Hospital, Syracuse University, and the University of Rochester. He established philanthropic initiatives focused on developmental disabilities and autism, collaborating with organizations such as National Council on Disability, advocacy groups connected to Autism Speaks, and regional service providers affiliated with state developmental services offices. His giving includes capital gifts for facilities, endowments for research programs linked to medical centers and business schools, and support for nonprofit management groups like United Way chapters and community foundations across counties including Monroe County, New York.

Golisano’s foundation has funded criminal justice programs and juvenile offender rehabilitation projects involving partnerships with local courts and municipal agencies. His nonprofit engagement extends to arts and culture, supporting museums and performing arts venues in Rochester, New York and contributing to scholarship programs at institutions such as LeMoyne College and Nazareth College.

Personal life

He is married to Mary Golisano, and the couple has been active in regional civic life in Rochester, New York, participating in charitable boards alongside business leaders from firms like Paychex, Kodak, and regional healthcare systems. They have family ties that include involvement with local philanthropic trusts and community development projects in suburbs such as Gates, New York and municipalities within Monroe County, New York. Golisano has been known to support collegiate athletics and alumni initiatives at Syracuse University and to engage with professional associations tied to corporate governance, ethics, and entrepreneurship.

Honors and recognition

Golisano has received multiple honors for business leadership and philanthropy, including awards from regional chambers such as the Rochester Business Alliance, recognition by university alumni associations at Syracuse University and the University of Rochester, and listings in business publications alongside leaders from Fortune 500 companies. He has been inducted into local halls of fame and been the subject of civic commendations from municipal bodies in Rochester, New York and county governments. Nationally, his entrepreneurial success and philanthropic profile have been noted in media outlets and industry groups associated with small business advocacy and corporate philanthropy.

Category:American billionaires Category:Businesspeople from Rochester, New York Category:1941 births