Who We Are
Creative problem solvers who believe in your goals
Nobody gets into the nonprofit world because they love raising money. Well, almost nobody.
The team at A to Be Partners lives, breathes, and occasionally eats fundraising (only the latter if you count our occasional happy hour nachos). We are a woman-owned enterprise headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Our team of attorneys, entrepreneurs, communications pros, and creative consultants have a wealth of experience with everything from small business development to multi-million dollar capital campaigns. We’re also good partners, able to talk strategy in the morning and then roll up our sleeves and tackle projects and proposals in the afternoon.
Tobey Goldfarb (she/her), JD, LLM
Founder & Principal Consultant
Tobey is happiest when partnering with nonprofits to share their stories so they can raise funds and amplify impact. An attorney by training, Tobey uses her powers for good—pursuing social justice by helping nonprofits build and sustain the capacity they need to advance their missions and strengthen our shared communities. It’s bigger than just funding: the impact ripples through organizational culture and program success.
Tobey has worked with local, national, and international organizations to develop messaging, plan strategically, expand programming, raise more money, and win major awards. As the founder of A to Be Partners, Tobey has led grant strategy for nonprofit partners across sectors and causes, from social services to the arts, education to advocacy.
Tobey leads the curriculum for the People’s Nonprofit Accelerator Certificates in Grant Writing and Nonprofit Fundraising. She has an LL.M. from American University's Washington College of Law, a J.D. from California Western School of Law, and a B.A. from the College of Wooster. She’s also a trained Community Mediator and Domestic Violence Advocate, and a member of the State Bar of California.
Tobey lives in Portland, Oregon, where she enjoys being walked by her two rescue dogs— Roxy and Rodell; trying new foods; and binging on gritty detective series.
Consulting Strategists
Margarett Waterbury (she/her) Senior Consultant
Margarett Waterbury is an author, editor, and communications consultant with a background in business, marketing, and journalism. She has helped hundreds of businesses and organizations around the world raise millions of dollars in funding and financing.
Margarett began her career as an advocate for domestic violence survivors, an experience that helps her understand the realities of day-to-day nonprofit operations. She celebrates the critical role of the nonprofit sector in creating and sustaining a safer, more equitable, and more humane community.
When she’s not helping nonprofits grow at A to Be Partners, Margarett is the editor-in-chief of a trade publication and writes for regional and national press about food, drink, travel, and agriculture. She holds a B.A. in linguistics from Reed College and lives in Portland, Oregon.
Kourtney Parchment (she/her) Solutions Specialist
Kourtney Parchment is an accomplished professional with over a decade of experience in multi-functional operations and a proven ability to collaborate across diverse teams. With a career spanning retail, logistics, and technology, Kourtney is equipped with a broad knowledge base and the ability to approach challenges from multiple perspectives. Her diverse background and commitment to excellence enable her to deliver impactful results in any environment, driving operational efficiency and enhancing team performance and customer experiences. Leading with empathy and intellectual curiosity, she is known for her adaptable nature and skill in fostering strong working relationships, making her an influential cross-functional partner.
A lover of 90s R&B and proud of her Jamaican descent, Kourtney currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Cornell University.
Jamie Melton (she/they) Fundraising & Systems Consultant
Jamie approaches work with possibility and feels most inspired when able to support organizations in reimagining their systems and resources to impact collective and desired change. Her professional background spans over 15 years of cross-sector community development.
Jamie supports back-end operations, fundraising strategy, systems assessments, and technology development for A to Be Partners and clients. She brings curiosity, transparency, structure, collaboration, and a beginner’s mindset to each unique project. She has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Oregon and holds a sense of responsibility to leverage their powers and privileges toward imagining and co-creating interconnected and interdependent relationships and communities.
A resident of North Portland, Oregon, she finds joy while adventuring in waters and forests, being creative, chasing balls on a court or field, and in the company of delightful animals and/or people and/or foods.
Consulting Associates
Doris Brook (she/her), JD
Doris Brook came to the realm of nonprofit grant writing and development as a second career after having been a plaintiff’s attorney, a community volunteer, and the parent of two Oregonian children. Motivated always by a desire to work for good in the world and to help lift the voices of those least able to advocate for themselves, as a grants professional she draws from a deep well of experience that emphasizes research, writing, analysis, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Her special power is the ability to hold myriad details with laser-focus while always staying rooted in the bigger story that needs telling.
Doris is a proud member of the first cohort in the PSU/WVDO Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising program. A New Yorker by birth and temperament, she calls Portland home. Doris has a J.D., magna cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School; and a B.A. in Language & Culture from Purchase College, NY.
Ariane Thielenhaus (she/her)
Ariane brings over a decade of experience in the social impact and nonprofit sectors. Throughout her career, she has worked with a wide range of mission-driven organizations and worn many hats along the way. In her current role, she enjoys partnering with ABP clients to support their grant writing and grants management needs. In addition to grant work, she specializes in program design, project management, and process optimization. Ariane’s approach is grounded in the belief that a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society is better for all.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, teaching yoga, and exploring the outdoors with her partner and two pups. Originally from Michigan, Ariane is a first-generation German-American. She holds an M.A. in Public Diplomacy from the University of Southern California and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling.
Isabel Rodriguez (they/them), MS, CIPM
As a grants associate, Isabel brings a multi-disciplinary approach to their work, as well as a passion for crafting narratives and building systems that help mission-driven organizations better serve their communities. Over the course of their career, they’ve garnered experience in research, analytics, communications, project management, fundraising, and organizational storytelling.
Isabel has an MS in Physics from Oregon State University and a BS in Physics from Portland State University. They are currently based in Seattle, Washington.
Kathleen Dolan (she/her)
Kathleen “Kate” Dolan’s professional background combines journalism, copywriting, and hospitality. She’s provided project management, public relations, and marketing support to several nonprofits and small businesses. Kate has written bylines and features for small newspapers and publications and worked as part of a university communications department team. In her current role, Kate supports organizations that are expanding homelessness services, increasing youth access to extracurricular activities, and creating inclusive sports opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She is inspired by each client’s mission and diligent pledge to improve life for the people it serves and is committed to helping each organization meet their fundraising goals. Kate has a B.S. in English from Portland State University. She lives in Portland, OR.
Darryl Lewis (he/him)
Darryl brings six years of experience in the nonprofit sector supporting local, regional, and national organizations. Over his career, he has worked with organizations in various capacities such as - institutional/individual prospect research, email outreach, grant-writing, newsletter production, fundraising strategy development, campaign building, and CRM and grants management. He is deeply passionate about supporting the growth of mission-driven organizations to help contribute to a more equitable society through artistic expression, racial equity, youth development, and holistic wellness initiatives.
As a consultant, Darryl currently focuses mostly on managing small to mid-size organizations’ pre-award and post-award management processes including – institutional prospect research, grant writing, and preparing reports.
Darryl has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from Stockton University. He currently lives in Washington, DC where he enjoys cycling along the numerous trails, parks, and other greenspaces. He is also an arts enthusiast, a visual artist and former violinist.
Soizic Pelladeau (she/her)
Soizic brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, specializing in grant writing, fundraising, financial monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and events management. Her career has spanned roles with international organizations, the French government, and a B-corp startup, allowing her to develop a keen ability to identify growth opportunities and enhance organizational effectiveness.
Soizic’s passion lies in supporting nonprofits focused on gender equality, arts education, and environmental protection. At A to Be Partners, she is excited to contribute her expertise in helping organizations raise funds and develop thorough internal processes to achieve their missions.
In her free time, Soizic enjoys admiring seagulls and seashells at the beach with her young daughter, partner, and rescue dog, and creating large ceramic vessels. She lives in Los Angeles and holds a Master's Degrees in International Relations and Political Science from Sciences Po Lyon, France.
Emily Gillespie (she/her)
Emily brings more than 15 years of professional writing experience, which includes journalism, communication and copywriting. Her decade spent as a news reporter includes bylines in local, regional, and national publications. She uses her well-honed research, writing, analysis, and project management skills to help nonprofits secure the funding they need to serve their community.
In her role as a grants associate, Emily works closely with organizations to better communicate their mission and deepen their impact. Driven by a desire to strengthen her community and pursue social justice, Emily finds deep satisfaction in helping to shape a more equitable world.
When she’s not working, Emily can often be found hiking to a view, biking through wine country, or eating her way through a city. She has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oregon and lives in Portland, Oregon.
“The A to Be team understands what it takes to raise funds for operations, programs, and impact. They are a trusted partner, listening to our needs, and meeting us where we are in our organizational development and capacity. A to Be helps us tell our story to funders and donors, streamline our systems, and stay on track to reaching our goals.”