Who we are

Since 2009, Mindaro’s founder and lead strategist Molly Chase has uncovered the most promising funding opportunities for startups and nonprofits through smart, actionable research.

Whether it is Molly or a trusted contractor, Mindaro brings a high-level strategic lens and a meticulous eye for detail.

We thrive on complex challenges—whether that means distilling hundreds of funding records into a shortlist of viable prospects, or translating research into a compelling, funder-ready narrative.

Mindaro’s approach is grounded in analytical rigor and strategic storytelling. Everything we create is by and for humans.

So, whether you need a partner for a one-off research project or a thought partner to shape your fundraising strategy, let us put our energy, clarity, and collaboration to work for you.

A Note From Molly

Hello! Since 2009, I’ve been a grant writer, board liaison, and managing director of nonprofits. I’ve also been in leadership positions on boards of directors and have served on of grant making panels. All to say: I know first-hand many of the challenges nonprofits face.

My approach is transparent, practical, and human. Saving time and money – mine and yours – is a priority.

It’s simple to generate a spreadsheet full of potential leads. But that leaves the work of confirmation and analysis to overworked nonprofits. That’s why I focus on distilling hundreds of funding records into a shortlist of viable prospects.

I also:

  • I reserve customization and deep strategy for research, strategy and deliverables.

  • To support that focus, I keep the process itself steady (boring) and predictable.

  • You’ll see up-front pricing and packages. I believe that negotiating takes time and energy that we both can better spend elsewhere.

Whether it is me or one of my trusted contractors, know that we bring a high-level strategic lens and a meticulous eye for detail. There are no secret shortcuts or AI-generated reports. Everything we create is by and for humans.

Whether you need a thought partner to shape your fundraising strategy long-term, or a grant prospecting report, I hope you’ll allow me to put my energy, clarity, and persistence to work for you.

Case Studies

  • Benchmarking

    Strategic Funder Prospecting for a $1.2M Human Services Nonprofit

    Project:     Benchmark this organization versus a handful of sister organizations nationally plus more local orgs of similar size and mission.

    Process: Drawing on 14 organizations’ funding history, I analyzed 474 contributions from 175 funders, prioritizing those with alignment to the nonprofit’s mission and geographic location. By researching how peer organizations were funded, I uncovered both new opportunities and underutilized opportunities.

    Deliverables: Actionable strategies to improve funding asks. For example, we found that a private foundation gave more to sister organizations that requested Program (rather than General Operating) funds. The report summarized the benchmarking findings, new opportunities, and specific recommendations for next steps.

    Results: The nonprofit reports the benchmarking report and new opportunities helped the Development Director quickly build out her strategy. After two years, they continue to reference the report. Expanding their funder base has allowed them to invest in staffing and training.

  • Grant Prospecting

    Increasing staffing for a $500K Nonprofit Supporting Incarcerated Women

    A small nonprofit making a big impact, this organization was at a critical moment of growth in 2022. They had strong need for new staff, but found themselves in a familiar Catch 22. The need for headcount, without which they were able to keep up with fulfilling their mission, but not growing to meet the larger need.

    Stretched thin, the executive director did not have time for a lengthy onboarding process. In addition, she’d had a poor experience previously, with consultants delivering a spreadsheet with 100+ unvetted leads.

    I kept our meeting to 30-minute and leveraged a downloaded Salesforce report to analyze their funding levels, gap, and prospects. narrowed 350+ opportunities into a top 14 list using criteria such as general operating support, funder behavior with new grantees, and geographic eligibility.

    Deliverables: Calendar-based road map that integrated new opportunities with existing requirements.

    Results: The executive director leveraged the report to secure the funding (and ultimately staffing) she needed. She noted the prospecting report/analysis directly contributed to increased successful fundraising and the hiring of new staff.

  • The Gift of Grant Prospecting for a Cohort

    Cohorts Receive Actionable Next Steps

    Project: An artist-focused $5M nonprofit led a cohort of emerging nonprofit organizations in taking the leap to making a larger impact. As part of an intensive training session, the cohort participants were given a consultation with Mindaro and gifted a grant prospecting report.

    Deliverables: A completely custom funding report for each of four cohort organizations. Each report took into account the nonprofit’s size, geography, and mission. Opportunities identified reflected the local landscape and trends.

    Results: Cohort participants were thrilled by the training overall and appreciated having the reports as a tangible path to increased funding.

    Some used their report as a mini business plan to convince major donors to hire development support. Others had development support who were able to hit the ground running.

    As one participant from California noted: “I put my head down and got motivated by your report. Just thought you'd like to hear the effects of your work. $280,000 requested this week. Thank you for rooting for us!”

What’s the inspiration behind the name Mindaro?

Mindaro is the name of a particular shade of yellow, similar to chartreuse. Think the first leaf shoots in spring. Or, less poetic but may resonate: IKEA accent color of the early aughts.

One reason for the choice is the first syllable Min harkens toward Minnesota. While I work with organizations nationally, Minnesota is home.

The other reason: the URL was available. I prize practicality and efficiency. Values that come through in my work with clients. I’ve worked in and with nonprofits for the last 15+ years and have yet to come across one with extra time or mental capacity for nonsense.

Less Complexity, More Opportunity

Clear away the clutter of inefficient and energy-draining tasks so you can focus on building connection and delivering your mission.