Innovators & Disruptors: Andrea Levere: What is Enterprise Capital – and Why It’s the Capital Nonprofits Need Most

Mar 18

Kristine Michie - PlayFull Podcast - Andrea Levere

Innovators & Disruptors: Andrea Levere: What is Enterprise Capital – and Why It’s the Capital Nonprofits Need Most

In this episode, Kristine Michie talks with Andrea Levere, CEO of Capitalized Good, about why nonprofits should be treated as enterprises—and why they need the capital to match. Andrea explains the concept of enterprise capital: flexible, multi-year funding that strengthens a nonprofit’s whole organization rather than just individual programs. The conversation explores how this kind of “funding for the whole thing” supports long-term sustainability, financial resilience, and strategic growth for organizations tackling problems the market will not solve.

Andrea also reflects on her journey from community organizing in Appalachia and West Tennessee to business school at Yale School of Management, where she developed the financial tools that later shaped her leadership at Prosperity Now and eventually the launch of Capitalized Good. Along the way, Kristine and Andrea discuss trust-based philanthropy, the importance of financial technical assistance, and why humor, music, and play can help sustain the serious work of social change.

Key Takeaways:

Nonprofits operate like businesses with a social mission. They need enterprise capital, flexible funding that strengthens the whole organization.
Enterprise capital is multi-year funding for staff, systems, technology, reserves, or experimentation, not just short-term projects.
Many nonprofits solve problems the market ignores. This work needs long-term funding and resilience, not one-year grants.
Andrea’s path shows that financial skills help nonprofit leaders advocate, manage strategy, and use resources effectively.
Funders who support enterprise capital trust leaders, provide flexible funding, and offer technical assistance with capital.
Enterprise capital builds stability and resilience, helping nonprofits survive crises and continue serving communities.
Humor, music, theater, and community bring joy into serious work and keep people engaged over the long term.

"Nonprofits need this kind of equity - this flexible money - more than for‑profits, because they're solving problems the market can't solve, and that takes a degree of patience and subsidy." — Andrea Levere

"People who are interested in social and economic justice need to get [finance] skills." — Andrea Levere

"Resilience is our resistance." — Andrea Levere

Episode References:

Prosperity Now – https://prosperitynow.org
Yale School of Management (Yale SOM) – https://som.yale.edu
Urban League of Broward County – https://www.ulbroward.org/
Legacy Museum / Equal Justice Initiative – https://museumandmemorial.eji.org
How the Word Is Passed – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673171/how-the-word-is-passed-by-clint-smith/

More About Andrea Levere:

Andrea is the founder and CEO of Capitalize Good, an organization that seeks to scale the delivery of enterprise capital--multi-year, flexible funding invested into the net assets of an organization. This capital is an essential complement to other types of grants in that it builds both financial reliance and advances social impact. Andrea has an over 40-year career, which includes economic development finance, serving as CEO of Prosperity Now for 15 years, and chairing multiple Boards of Directors for CDFIs, foundations, and advocacy organizations.

Connect with Andrea Levere:
Website: www.capitalizegood.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capitalize-good-llc/

Connect with Kristine:

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/

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