"Individually we are one drop, but together we are an ocean." — Ryunosuke Satoro

At Demarest Strategy Group, we believe in the transformative power of collaboration. We champion human-centered design, prioritizing the voices and needs of those closest to the challenges we tackle. This belief stems from decades of experience across diverse sectors, fueled by our passion for empowering partnerships and community-centered solutions.

Whether it's disaster preparedness that truly serves communities, philanthropic giving built on trust and understanding, or innovative approaches to complex problems, we guide you on a journey towards meaningful transformation.

My adventure started with a successful trek up the corporate ladder, yet at the pinnacle, something felt hollow. A bold step – a two-year solo journey around the world - showed me that risk-taking, authenticity, empathy and a healthy dose of laughter are powerful tools for positive impact. 

This transformative experience led me to found ARTiculate: Consulting for Change. Through guiding organizations, I realized the power of values-driven collaboration. Later, my years at the Community Foundation Sonoma County solidified my commitment to these values, but I missed rolling up my sleeves and working side by side with my clients.

Elly Grogan

Strategic Advisor

Elly Grogan has dedicated her career to supporting community well-being through nearly twenty years of service in the philanthropic sector. She provides consulting services to individual donors, foundations, and nonprofits to support them in maximizing their impact with a particular focus on grantmaking strategy, fundraising, and designing and launching new initiatives. Elly previously worked for Community Foundation Sonoma County, where she served in leadership roles as a grantmaker and philanthropic advisor to donors. Prior to joining the Foundation, Elly worked in environmental education and in international development in Mexico and Central America. Elly is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) and holds a master’s degree in International and Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco, and bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and International Studies from the University of Oregon. 

Linda Kachiu

Strategic Advisor

Linda Kachiu is an innovative advisor who thinks about the entire organization, present and future, during any planning or goal-setting process. With 35+ years as a CPA in public practice, a business owner, and an advisor to tax-exempt organizations and companies in a multitude of industries, she has helped organizations evaluate current strategies, assess financial and non-financial implementation needs, and determine transition plans to launch and wind down lines of activities. Determining resource needs for sustaining new and future strategies and creating processes for monitoring and evaluation of measurable goals and markers are her strengths.

Kim Bender

Strategic Advisor

Kim Bender is a senior strategist with over 20 years of leadership experience in California’s nonprofit sector, with particular expertise in community health, social justice, and the arts. Her specialties include strategic planning, program design, fundraising, and leadership development, bringing a collaborative, exploratory, and practical lens to all her engagements. Kim’s values are rooted in radical inclusiveness and unconditional love. Over the last four years, she has served as Executive Director of the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, driving its transition to a leader in community-centric, trust-based philanthropy. Previously Kim served as a senior development director at the GLIDE Foundation, BAM/PFA, BAVC, and SFFilm.