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.
Dominique Petersen
Development SpecialistBio coming soon!
Mariele Healy
Grants CoordinatorAs Grants Coordinator for Rockrose, Mariele Healy puts her love of writing and attention to detail to good use.
Sparked with injustice after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Mariele decided to get her A.A. in Social and Behavioral Science from the College of Marin. Outside of classes, she discovered her love for nonprofit work while interning at a local LGBTQ+ and AIDS organization. Her desire to understand how the world works and her passion for change came together when she attended UC Berkeley, where she recently earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Inequality Studies. Through her research in this program, her dedication to fighting for equity and helping disadvantaged communities grew tenfold. During her time at Cal, she combined her devotion to her work and her love of music by leading the operations department of a student-run magazine aiming to uplift marginalized voices in the music industry. Outside of work, she loves making playlists, baking, or curling up with a book.
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.