{"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.Elena 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.Listeners will walk away with actionable insights on building candid partnerships, navigating funding mechanics, fostering continuous improvement, and embracing failure as a pathway to growth.Timestamped Overview00:00 Intro & Elena’s Background04:35 Bridging Policy and Ground Realities07:14 Government-Philanthropy Collaboration Strategies10:43 Philanthropy's Power Dynamics Dilemma14:53 Vulnerability in Funder-Nonprofit Conversations17:29 Building Trust in Funding Relationships21:14 Emergency Grant Saves Vulnerable Service Organization25:53 Philanthropy's Risk Aversion27:05 Funder Concerns with Fiscal Sponsorship30:25 Challenges in Due Diligence Process36:16 Seizing Opportunities with Fiscal Sponsorship39:02 Community Partnerships with Government41:42 Optimizing Nonprofit Financial Data44:22 Philanthropy's Shift Towards Risk and Innovation48:49 Radical...","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}