Meet the team
Claire Carretti - Founder and Director
Claire brings over 20 years of hard-won expertise to every client engagement, starting on the frontlines of child welfare and crisis intervention, and building from there into senior fundraising and strategic development leadership across some of the most diverse and demanding sectors in the non-profit world: children’s services, faith-based organisations, environmental education, ocean conservation, community-based conservation and biosphere stewardship, transfrontier conservation, youth mentoring, community health and international programme scale-up. She founded The Grant Lab on a simple but powerful conviction: that most organisations don’t have a funding problem, they have a systems problem. Claire brings structure to complexity, designing the strategies, systems and processes that turn fundraising effort into consistent, sustainable results. Her approach is warm but rigorous, relational but deeply strategic, and always anchored in what actually works.
Kea Mooka - Grant Writing and communications
Kea Mooka is a proposal developer, grant writer, and active citizen who is passionate about connecting strong ideas with the funding they need to grow. She works closely with teams to develop clear, well-structured proposals, drawing on research and insight to ensure each submission is both compelling and competitive. Her approach is grounded in translating complex concepts into accessible, persuasive narratives that resonate with funders.
With a background in the social sciences, Kea brings a thoughtful and curious approach to understanding development challenges and communicating them clearly. Alongside her work in the non-profit sector, she enjoys expressing her creativity through photography and videography, using visual storytelling to capture real moments and authentic stories. This creative side complements her professional work, allowing her to bring a more human, relatable touch to how stories of impact are shared.
Antonia Chela - Grant Writing and communications
Antonia is an emerging grant writer and communications professional passionate about strengthening nonprofit impact across different sectors of society. As a Grant Writing & Communications Intern, she seeks to support nonprofits in securing funding and building resilient, mission-driven strategies. Her work at The Grant Lab encompasses proposal development, donor research and campaign support. This is driven by a passion for storytelling and the opportunity to help translate complex social challenges into compelling, fundable narratives.
Her academic background in Anthropology and Heritage Studies shapes how she approaches this work. She is informed by continuous learning and knowledge of cultural awareness, curiosity, and a deep respect for the communities behind every project. She is particularly interested in how storytelling, research, and strategy intersect to unlock sustainable funding for organisations driving social change. Beyond her work, Antonia actively volunteers online and aspires to extend her efforts in person within her local community in the near future.
Cate Babette - Grant Writing and Communications
As The Grant Lab’s Grant Writer and Communications Intern, I get to help pair mission-driven organisations with the right funding partners to ensure longevity and sustainability. My day-to-day involves a mix of research, synthesis and story-telling – identifying donors who truly align with a cause and translating a non-profit’s vision into clear and compelling grant applications. I also occasionally lend a creative hand in our marketing and design, and that of the non-profits with which we work, assisting in the development of visual elements and outreach for both local and international campaigns. My time at The Grant Lab has been absolutely enlightening, particularly in the art of strategic framing. More and more, I am learning to strike that special balance that gives applications resonance with specific funder priorities while always reflecting the heart of the non-profit. In an increasingly volatile and competitive landscape, I’ve come to appreciate – more intentionally and comprehensively – the work of non-profits and the individuals who steadfastly lead them. Often the lifeforce of entire communities, it is a privilege to help ensure their work is acknowledged.