Enterprise Capital: A Framework for Sustainable Nonprofits - with Andrea Levere

In this episode, you’ll learn about a powerful alternative to restricted, project-based funding: enterprise capital for nonprofits. Guest Andrea Levere, founder and CEO of Capitalize Good, explains why nonprofits—like any enterprise—need multi-year, flexible capital that strengthens their balance sheets, builds reserves, and supports the people and systems that drive impact. Andrea breaks down the basic financial principles that determine nonprofit sustainability, and how enterprise capital enables organizations to innovate, hire essential staff, invest in technology, and create high-quality jobs. She also shares compelling examples—from affordable housing developers to workforce builders—showing how this kind of capital supports everything from salaries and benefits to new program development and strategic growth.Andrea and Rusty also dig into the relationship between talent-investing and enterprise capital, the pitfalls of scarcity-based philanthropy, and how funders can more effectively match their “sources of funds” to the actual needs of organizations. Andrea shares stories from Capitalize Good’s partnerships with funders like the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and the Citi Foundation's Community Progress Makers, as well as the emerging work in Arkansas to pilot enterprise capital approaches statewide. Listeners will come away with a clear understanding of how enterprise capital works, why it matters, and how both nonprofits and funders can adopt this transformative approach.Download an edited transcript of the episode in .PDF formatLinks to Resources:Gift to Listeners: 6 Months Free Subscription to FTP Podcast Premium on Patreon (up to 50 people). Offer will no longer be available after 12/31/25 at 11:59pm ET.Fund the People websiteLong-Haul Grantmaking Report (Fund the People)Guest Organization & Initiatives MentionedCapitalize Good websiteCapitalize Good “Blueprint for Enterprise Capital”Capitalize Good “Deeper Dive” FAQ sectionAndrea Levere on LinkedInCapitalize Good on LinkedInYale School of ManagementNonprofit Finance FundWinthrop Rockefeller FoundationCiti Foundation – Community Progress Makers