In September, Tandem welcomed Development Director Margaret Daoud-Gray to our staff. To get to know her better, we caught up with Margaret to talk about everything from her passion for nonprofit development to her social-butterfly cat, and how one holiday season listening to Mariah Carey taught her a valuable life skill.

Q: Why did you decide to join the Tandem Team?

Margaret:  I was drawn to the fact that Tandem operates through an ecosystem approach, partnering with community organizations ranging from schools to informal care centers, hospitals, and family outreach networks to prepare kids for kindergarten and spark a lifelong love of learning. I love that Tandem engages families in 18 different languages through a wide library of books, honoring dual-language environments that aid in cognitive development. In addition to direct early learning programming, Tandem provides capacity-building training for other individuals and organizations. This approach follows my favorite nonprofit principle of striving to work yourself out of existence because your mission is accomplished.

I believe that nonprofits will be better able to achieve their missions when employees receive the support and resources they need, which is why the role of development is important to me. This comes down to being able to build the financial infrastructure to recruit, retain, and support a diverse and talented team that can efficiently and effectively deliver on the mission of an organization. Tandem is lucky to have a very talented team, and I am excited to find ways to support my colleagues through this role.

What motivates or inspires you?

I am motivated by people who tackle big issues with a sense of humility; people who acknowledge, seek to understand, and actively work against inequitable structures; and people who manage to maintain an open mind and self-awareness.

I am inspired by people who create beauty and joy and share it with others: musicians, chefs, gardeners, writers, stylists, etc. I appreciate when someone takes something within their control and makes it just a little bit nicer and more enjoyable for others, whether that means a few plants on a front stoop, a well-organized display at a store, or a public art installation.

What is your favorite book?

I’ve always loved collections of short stories like Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger. In terms of children’s books, I’ve always loved the monochromatic illustrations in Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey.

What fills your time outside of work?

I enjoy living in the Bay Area because there is always something interesting to do. Recently, that has included taking boxing classes, hiking new trails, trying out bakeries (ask me about my map of the best bakeries), and visiting museums. And when I’m too lazy to leave my apartment, which happens more often than I’d like to admit, I enjoy catching up on the latest Netflix shows with my husband.

What was your first job?

In high school, I worked as a seasonal employee at Macy’s where I was required to wish each and every customer an “outstanding shopping experience” while Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” played in the background on repeat. I learned patience and how to talk to anyone, but I will never get those turn-of-the-century pop holiday songs out of my head.

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been? 

The San Blas Islands in Panama.

What’s one fact people can’t find out about you through the internet?

My cat, Mackinac, has more friends in my neighborhood than I do. Seriously. He sits on a ledge looking out our corner window and people and dogs stop by regularly to have full conversations with him.

A bit more about Margaret

Margaret Daoud-Gray joins Tandem with a diverse set of experiences in education, policy advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration. She has led partnerships, fundraising campaigns, professional development initiatives, and student-serving programs. Most recently, Margaret supported programs and partnerships between companies, schools, and nonprofits to increase opportunities for students and led legislative advocacy to increase access to high-quality education. Previously, Margaret taught in San Jose and in Panama, where she partnered with the Ministry of Education to improve its English as a Second Language program.

Margaret is a board member for Playworks Northern California, a nonprofit that helps kids stay active and build valuable social and emotional skills through play. She has an M.A. in education policy and a B.A. in international studies and political science.