{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Built for Good","title":"Power, Risk, and the Mechanics of Impact with Elena Chavez Quezada of StarrWise","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3111,"description":"In this insightful episode of Built for Good, host Kian Alavi sits down with Elena Chavez Quezada, a leader in philanthropy and social impact who has shaped policy and practice across nonprofits, government, and foundations. Elena shares her inspiring journey from growing up in New Mexico to navigating roles at Tipping Point, the Aspen Institute, the California Governor’s Office, and now, co-leading Starwise Solutions. The conversation dives deep into challenges facing philanthropy and nonprofits: power dynamics, the mechanics of moving money, and the persistent disconnect between funders and operators.\nElena discusses hard-to-solve issues—like risk aversion in funding, overcomplicated reporting processes, and operational struggles within nonprofits. Drawing from real stories, including a transformational intervention with Canal Alliance, she highlights the game-changing power of trust, radical transparency, and authentic relationships. The episode also explores fiscal sponsorships, the complexities they introduce for both funders and grantees, and how leveraging tech and operational excellence can streamline impact.\nListeners will walk away with actionable insights on building candid partnerships, navigating funding mechanics, fostering continuous improvement, and embracing failure as a pathway to growth.\nTimestamped Overview\n00:00 Intro & Elena’s Background\n04:35 Bridging Policy and Ground Realities\n07:14 Government-Philanthropy Collaboration Strategies\n10:43 Philanthropy's Power Dynamics Dilemma\n14:53 Vulnerability in Funder-Nonprofit Conversations\n17:29 Building Trust in Funding Relationships\n21:14 Emergency Grant Saves Vulnerable Service Organization\n25:53 Philanthropy's Risk Aversion\n27:05 Funder Concerns with Fiscal Sponsorship\n30:25 Challenges in Due Diligence Process\n36:16 Seizing Opportunities with Fiscal Sponsorship\n39:02 Community Partnerships with Government\n41:42 Optimizing Nonprofit Financial Data\n44:22 Philanthropy's Shift Towards Risk and...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/dLdLeQKAsyhiksWGcx-_m-2IyLCFbGi6IazWw66ovWM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wMjcx/ZDM1NzY2MGE0MzI5/NGVhNDkwNzgwZjk3/NmNkMS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}