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 three rescue dogs—Hazel, Roxy, and Rodell; trying new foods; and binging on gritty detective series.
Livia Rojas (they/them), MSW
Solutions Specialist
Livia is a project manager with more than 15 years of experience in the social impact and nonprofit sector. As a project manager, Livia partners with organizations to ensure project deliverables are met in a timely manner to ultimately support organizations in obtaining funding and opportunities to grow. Livia has worked with local, national, and international organizations to build capacity, expand culturally relevant programming and resources, and create more inclusive and just spaces.
Livia is from southern California, raised in a first-generation Mexican family, and speaks Spanish. Livia holds a Master's in Social Work from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley. When not working, Livia enjoys cooking, cycling, photography, and adventuring with their partner and co-pawrent of Lucy, the sweetest labradoodle.
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
Margarett Waterbury (she/her)
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.
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 10 years of experience in the social impact and nonprofit sectors to her work. Over the span of her in-house nonprofit career, she had the opportunity to wear many hats. As a consultant, she partners with organizations to strengthen operational effectiveness, improve processes and systems, evaluate impact, and - of course - obtain the funding and opportunities needed to grow. Ariana approaches work with clients holistically and with the goal of supporting and amplifying the voices of the people on the ground, doing the work.
Ariane's career is rooted in the belief that a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society is better for all. She enjoys serving as a board member of the LA Bi+ Task Force, reading a good book, and enjoying the outdoors with her partner and three pets (all foster fails). Ariane is originally from Michigan, a first-generation German-American, multilingual, and holds an M.A. in Public Diplomacy from the University of Southern California.
Isabel Rodriguez (they/them), MS, CIPM
Isabel brings a multi-disciplinary approach to their work as well as a passion for crafting narratives and building systems that help organizations better serve their communities.
Over the course of their career, they’ve garnered experience in research, data analytics, communications, strategy, and grant writing. Through all of this, Isabel has been an unwavering advocate for racial justice and gender equity.
Isabel is a Certified Information Privacy Manager through the IAPP, has an MS in Physics with a minor in Ethnic Studies from Oregon State University, and a BS in Physics from Portland State University.
They currently live in Seattle with their partner and two tuxedo kittens. When not working, Isabel enjoys sewing on their vintage Pfaff and reading visionary science fiction.
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 works with organizations on issues such as housing, arts education, and patient advocacy. She is inspired by each client’s mission and diligent pledge to improve life for the people it serves. Through thorough research and compelling storytelling, she is committed to identifying the best fits for each client to strengthen organizational capacity and to help partnerships between like-minded people and organizations thrive as they work toward their 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 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 Master's Degrees in International Relations and Political Science from Sciences Po Lyon, France.
Consulting Strategists
Paul Morris (he/him) Fundraising Strategist
A highly skilled professional comfortable with strategic visioning and “brass-tacks” tactical fundraising. Over a 30-year career in fundraising, Paul’s work has resulted in tens of millions of dollars being raised and thousands of donors being engaged for a wide spectrum of not-for-profit organizations. He has led successful development efforts in direct health services at the state and national levels; regional theatre; architectural preservation; a statewide organization offering chess to low-income students; lead development, communication, and operations for an organization focused on breaking generational cycles of poverty in outer NE Portland through a classroom curriculum and 1:1 mentoring; and most recently lead development efforts for an environmental education organization set on a 100-acre site in the metro area. In his consulting practice, Paul works with clients nationwide with a focus on planning/systems, annual and major gift support, and grants.
Paul commits to giving back to the community and the profession, including regular speaking and teaching engagements focused on small or emerging nonprofits navigating success. In his volunteer work, he utilizes his background and expertise to help other nonprofits develop their own sustainable and scalable fundraising programs.
Paul lives in Beaverton with his family
Abigail Singer (she/they) Strategic Planning Strategist
Abigail is a facilitator and consultant who’s been engaged in social change work for more than two decades. She’s worn many nonprofit hats over the years including community organizer, campaign strategist, coalition facilitator, development director, executive director, and consultant. Abigail has worked with a diversity of organizations both urban and rural, local and national, on issues like climate justice, the private prison industry, homelessness, and food systems. All of her work is guided by a commitment to building a more just, liberatory, and livable world.
As an organizational development consultant, Abigail is now focused on helping social change organizations be as resourced, strategic, and effective as possible. Some of her focus areas include strategic planning, shared leadership, and decision-making within and across teams. Abigail takes a holistic approach to organizational development with the understanding that groups are most impactful when they align around a shared strategy, strive for inclusion, and care for their people.
In her spare time, Abigail enjoys hiking, backpacking, and botanizing in alpine meadows.
“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.”