Meet the Team
A boutique firm, a passionate team, and millions raised for good. Move your mission forward with Rockrose.
Karen Gardner
Founder and Principal ConsultantKaren Gardner, MPA, is the owner and lead consultant of Rockrose Nonprofit Services. Her career has spanned program and development roles across a wide variety of causes, including education, environment, social justice, health care, arts and culture, and more. From working for international organizations with large development departments to supporting small teams, Karen has coordinated annual funds, secured 7-figure contracts, and raised millions to support the work that makes our world a better place.
In addition to her 20+ years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Karen has taught grant writing through Sonoma State University's Master of Public Administration program and is a frequent speaker in professional development spaces.
Her work is rooted in a commitment to equity, and she is passionate about community-centric fundraising, a framework that helps nonprofits secure resources that advance both organizational success and build a more just and inclusive world.
Based in Santa Rosa, California, Karen proudly serves nonprofits both locally and globally. When she is not working, she enjoys tending to her garden and spending time with family.
Skylar Mittlestead
Grants AssociateAs Rockrose’s Grant Associate, Skylar Mittlestead brings six years of experience in the nonprofit sector and a background in community outreach. She has supported many causes close to her heart, with animal welfare holding a special place.
At Rockrose, Skylar supports everything from researching new grant opportunities to drafting proposals. She loves the behind-the-scenes work that helps nonprofits keep moving forward. Whether it’s highlighting the small details that make a big difference or connecting with people at the heart of the work, Skylar’s specialty is in precisely identifying what makes each organization unique.
What drives her work is the belief that actions can lead to lasting change. Helping organizations secure the funding they need is one way of helping make more space for kindness in the world.
Skylar earned her B.A. in Communications and Media Studies from Sonoma State University and is currently working toward her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. Originally from the Central Valley, she now calls Santa Rosa home. Outside of work, you'll usually find her cuddling her two cats or planning her next travel adventure.
The Rockrose Promise
Clarity
We create clearer, more credible language that presents your work with confidence.
Alignment
We build stronger alignment between your mission, your message, and the funders who share your values.
Authenticity
We craft language rooted in community agency, accountability, and equity.
Viability
We conduct funder research using a variety of tools, to surface the best funder leads.