Dec 5, 2025
Private funders are increasingly shifting from funding short-term service delivery to long-term systems change, pushing nonprofits to rethink their role in their community. Many are now asking, how do we stay mission-focused while building the relationships needed to attract funders who want deeper change? In today's episode, we explore the idea of power ecosystems — what they are, how they work, and why they're reshaping the nonprofit-funder relationship. Tune in to learn how to identify your power ecosystem, build collective power, and engage private funders more effectively.
Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com.
Additional Resources
Public Health and Racial Equity
(PHaRE) Model for Systems Change
https://gingerleeglobal.com/public-health-and-racial-equity-phare-model-for-systems-change/
[NPFX] Rethinking How We Do Good:
What We Can Learn from This Funding Crisis
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/rethinking-how-we-do-good-what-we-can-learn-from-this-funding-crisis
[NPFX] Federal Funding Uncertainty:
How to Assess the Risks and Respond Strategically
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/federal-funding-uncertainty-how-to-assess-the-risks-and-respond-strategically
[NPFX] Building Resilience in the
Face of Funding Cuts
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/building-resilience-in-the-face-of-funding-cuts
[NPFX] Advocacy Matters: Defending
Federal Funding for Nonprofits
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/advocacy-matters-defending-federal-funding-for-nonprofits
Guests
Ginger Lee, DrPH, is the founder of the
Ginger Lee Global Health Consulting Group,
supporting communities and organizations committed to social
justice and equitable systems change. Raised in low-resourced
neighborhoods, she brings a deep commitment to community power
building and transformational change. Dr. Lee has served as CEO of
two nonprofits, a highly successful development director, a
government policy maker, and president of a globally focused
foundation. Her expertise centers on systems and organizational
change, non-profit leadership, and on shifting traditional
philanthropy to invest in systems-level solutions alongside direct
service. She is the author of the research-based Public Health and
Racial Equity (PHaRE) Model for Systems Change, which clarifies the
mechanisms for systems transformation led by communities most
impacted by inequities.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/weavingchange/
https://gingerleeglobal.com/
Dr. Anthony “Tony”
Iton, CEO of The Health Trust, is a
physician, attorney, public health leader, and nationally
recognized advocate for health equity. Over a career spanning more
than 30 years, Dr. Iton has tackled systemic barriers to health and
championed community-led solutions to address inequities. At The
California Endowment, he served as Senior Vice President for
Healthy Communities, leading the landmark $1 billion, 10-year
Building Healthy Communities initiative—one of the largest
philanthropic efforts of its kind in the nation. His visionary
leadership focused on empowering marginalized communities, shifting
policy systems, and reimagining public health practices. Dr.
Iton holds an MD from Johns Hopkins University, a JD and MPH from
UC Berkeley, and a BS in Neurophysiology from McGill University. He
is a Lecturer of Health Policy and Management at UC Berkeley’s
School of Public Health and serves on the boards of national
organizations focused on health equity, including the Public Health
Institute and Prevention Institute.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtonyiton/
https://healthtrust.org/
Elizabeth
Silverstein has served the not-for-profit sector
for more than 40 years, specializing in transformational giving,
vision casting, inspiring boards, and building passionate,
effective teams. Beth has been instrumental in cultivating major
gifts for capital campaigns in healthcare, two presidential
libraries, higher education, K-12 independent schools, and social
service organizations. With an ardent passion for protecting and
propelling the nonprofit sector, Beth has joined the team
at VisionConnect, a consultancy specializing in
strategic planning, coalition building, governance excellence, and
nonprofit capacity building. A BoardSource-certified Governance
Consultant, she is passionate about coaching boards toward
purpose-driven leadership and crafting bold strategic plans that
drive maximum mission impact.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-reynolds-silverstein-b211b7a/
https://www.visionconnectllc.com/
Hosts
Russ Phaneuf, a
co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in
higher education development, with positions at the University of
Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of
Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist,
Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content
creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system
dynamics.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/
Rich Frazier has
worked in the nonprofit sector for over 35 years. In his roles as
senior consultant with IPM Advancement and founder of VisionConnect LLC, Rich offers extensive
understanding and knowledge in capital campaigns, fund development,
strategic planning, and board of directors development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richfrazier/
https://www.visionconnectllc.com/