DARO

What DARO does

DARO is a North American professional services and advisory firm focused on data, technology, and learning strategy for the social sector. The firm was formed in May 2024 through the merger of Ajah and With Intent Strategies and operates from offices in Montreal, Quebec and Katy, Texas, with a team of approximately 95 employees serving nonprofit organizations, foundations, international development agencies, and select public sector clients. Its work spans three core service lines: Strategic Transformation (end-to-end organizational change and data strategy), Ecosystem Infrastructure (shared data, governance, and collaboration infrastructure across the social sector), and Learning Systems (embedding continuous learning and evidence practices into client operations), complemented by a structured Diagnostic Service entry offering.

DARO does not develop proprietary software platforms; its core technology practice centers on designing governance, data standards, information architecture, and change management processes that wrap around clients' existing technology stacks (databases, CRMs, data warehouses, cloud environments). Notable technical work includes the GivingTuesday Data Commons data governance model and technical infrastructure, the Schools2030 assessment data standardization program across 10 countries and 1,000+ schools, and knowledge graph prototypes built on Neo4J using Common Impact Data Standard and UN SDG vocabularies.

The firm generates revenue entirely through professional services engagements sold via consultative, relationship-based enterprise field sales. Engagements are scoped individually and are not publicly priced; revenue is driven by staff time and expertise. Demand generation is supported by an active thought leadership engine (blog, case studies, downloadable frameworks such as '7 Truths of Data Sharing' and a Theory of Change on misaligned incentives), an annual Golden Wrench Award at Good Tech Fest, email newsletter, and a LinkedIn presence. Major customers include Mastercard Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, GivingTuesday, Daymark Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Texas 2036, and UTHealth. Leadership comprises co-founders Michael Lenczner (CEO) and Jesse Bourns (Chief Impact Officer), with Woodrow Rosenbaum (Chief Strategy Officer) joining through the With Intent Strategies acquisition.

Name

DARO

Legal name

DARO

Website

https://wearedaro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DARO is a North American consulting firm advising nonprofits, foundations, and social sector organizations on data strategy, governance, ecosystem infrastructure, and learning systems, with approximately 95 staff across Montreal and Texas offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Sector Management Consulting

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

IT Program/Project Management (PMO) & Delivery Assurance (BPAEAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

ITIL/ITSM Process Consulting & Implementation (BPAEAJAB)

Keywords

• Social sector consulting
• Nonprofit advisory services
• Data strategy consulting
• Organizational transformation
• Ecosystem infrastructure design

Headquarters

HQ city

Katy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: DARO generates revenue entirely through professional services engagements. Its three core service lines are Strategic Transformation (end-to-end organizational change and data strategy), Ecosystem Infrastructure (data sharing, collaboration design, and shared data infrastructure for the social sector), and Learning Systems (embedding learning and evidence practices into organizational operations). Engagements are scoped consultatively, likely project-based or retainer arrangements, and are not publicly priced. As a services firm, revenue is driven by staff time and expertise.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DARO is a professional services and advisory firm that helps social sector organizations (nonprofits, foundations, and international development entities) get better results from their technology investments by designing the surrounding governance, decision rights, data stewardship, and learning routines. Its three core service lines are Strategic Transformation (end-to-end organizational change and data strategy), Ecosystem Infrastructure (shared data, collaboration design, and cross-organizational data infrastructure), and Learning Systems (embedding learning and evidence practices into organizational operations). A separate Diagnostic Service provides a structured short engagement to assess priorities before a larger commitment.

Product overview

DARO offers consulting services including Strategic Transformation (end-to-end organizational change), Ecosystem Infrastructure (shared data and tools for the social sector), and Learning Systems (ongoing learning embedded in operations). These services are complemented by a Diagnostic Service for structured assessment. The company also produces knowledge resources including the '7 Truths of Data Sharing' framework and research papers on evidence practices. DARO is primarily a consulting and advisory firm rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Transformation End-to-end organizational shift from current state to desired state, focusing on governance, processes, tools, and technology to improve data and amplify impact. Sold to nonprofits, foundations, and social sector organizations requiring holistic change management.
• Ecosystem Infrastructure
• Learning Systems
• Diagnostic Service A short, structured engagement to help social sector organizations get a clear picture of what is working, what is missing, and what to prioritize before committing more time or money. Acquired via 'Book a Consult' CTA on the Diagnostic Service page.

Quantifiable outcome

• Standardized assessment data collection, management, and reporting across 10 countries and 1,000+ schools supporting 10,000+ teachers through the Schools2030 program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nonprofit Data Lab (CaNDL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a community partner or initiative on DARO's website navigation. CaNDL is referenced as a nonprofit data lab focused on data initiatives for the social sector.
• Digital Public Goods NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a community partner or initiative on DARO's website navigation. The Digital Public Goods Network focuses on digital public goods for global development.
• Board.DevcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDARO collaborated with Alethea Hannemann, Co-Founder and CEO of Board.Dev, to co-write the article 'The Soft Infrastructure We Forgot: Why Digital and AI Efforts Fail Without Leadership Systems.' Board.Dev bridges tech, philanthropy, and mission leadership, and this collaboration represents a strategic intellectual partnership.
• Georgetown University's Massive Data InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDARO co-hosted a convening at Georgetown University in February with the Massive Data Institute to discuss misaligned incentives in evidence practices in the social sector. DARO also co-authored a paper with Georgetown's Massive Data Institute on the role of incentives in shaping nonprofit evidence practices, prepared with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
• Common Approach to Impact MeasurementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDARO completed a project with Common Approach exploring how knowledge graphs can be applied to outcome measurement data structured in the Common Impact Data Standard. The firm developed a hybrid ontology combining Common Approach standards, UN SDG vocabulary, and food security concepts, and visualized semantic pathways using Neo4J.
• Coleridge InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDARO attended and wrote about the Coleridge Initiative's annual convening on linked administrative data. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit that works with governments on data access and utilization for public interest decision-making, operating the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) and Applied Data Analytics Training programs.
• GivingTuesdaycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDARO worked extensively with GivingTuesday to build the GivingTuesday Data Commons — described as 'the largest philanthropic data collaboration ever built' with 350+ organizations and 50 data labs. DARO built data governance, documentation, processes, policies, and guided the technical infrastructure for the Commons. The relationship is described as so integrated that 'DARO's people who work on the project aren't external anymore... they're an integrated part of our team.'
• Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerONN and l'AFO shared their 'State of the Sector' survey data with DARO. DARO wrote about the survey results regarding volunteerism trends and sector challenges, using ONN's data as a basis for analysis.
• Investment Readiness Program (Government of Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDARO is involved in supporting Economic and Social Development Canada and Statistics Canada to connect Investment Readiness Program administrative grants data with the Business Registry to generate insights about the impact of the granting program on grantees.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wearedaro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DARO