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 Overview
00:00 Intro & Elena’s Background
04:35 Bridging Policy and Ground Realities
07:14 Government-Philanthropy Collaboration Strategies
10:43 Philanthropy's Power Dynamics Dilemma
14:53 Vulnerability in Funder-Nonprofit Conversations
17:29 Building Trust in Funding Relationships
21:14 Emergency Grant Saves Vulnerable Service Organization
25:53 Philanthropy's Risk Aversion
27:05 Funder Concerns with Fiscal Sponsorship
30:25 Challenges in Due Diligence Process
36:16 Seizing Opportunities with Fiscal Sponsorship
39:02 Community Partnerships with Government
41:42 Optimizing Nonprofit Financial Data
44:22 Philanthropy's Shift Towards Risk and Innovation
48:49 Radical Transparency in Relationships
50:34 Navigating Early Challenges in Building