In this episode of Guts, Grit & FinTech, we dive into the world of nonprofit finance with Dayna Sear, CEO and Founder of Smart Grant Solutions (SGS). With nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit financial management and organizational turnaround, Dayna shares how her journey led to the creation of MissionGranted—a powerful compliance tool that is changing how nonprofits manage grants.
From Financial Expert to Startup Founder
Dayna’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t a straight line. After years of working inside nonprofit organizations and helping them untangle financial and compliance challenges, she saw a pattern: the tools available were outdated, disconnected, and ill-suited for the scale and complexity of modern grant programs. That insight became the spark for Smart Grant Solutions.
The Problem Nonprofits Needed Solved
MissionGranted, the flagship product of SGS, is a financial compliance platform built specifically for nonprofit organizations. It helps them track every dollar, meet strict grant reporting requirements, and avoid the kind of mistakes that can put future funding at risk. More than a tool, it’s a system designed to restore trust and efficiency in a space where transparency is everything.
Nonprofits and the Fintech Opportunity
Nonprofits represent a significant yet often overlooked market in the fintech ecosystem. As Dayna explains, the industry handles billions in grant funding every year, but is underserved by mainstream financial tools. This opens the door for tailored fintech innovation—solutions that go beyond generic accounting software to meet the specific needs of mission-based organizations.
About Dayna Sear
Dayna is a nonprofit startup and turnaround specialist with deep expertise in financial strategy, compliance, and innovation. Her work focuses on helping organizations stabilize, restructure, and succeed by implementing smarter financial systems and tools.
A Note on Our Platform
INSART’s goal is to bring visibility to impactful startups and founders within the fintech ecosystem. While we facilitate conversations that may lead to potential partnerships or investments, we do not offer investment advice or consulting services.
