Impact Audio

The podcast for social impact practitioners looking to connect big ideas with real impact. Join host Sam Caplan as he curates practical advice and inspiring stories from the people changing how we think about social change.

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Season 5, Episode 13 | 26 Min

Dispatch from ACCP 2025: Andrea Bell & Sam Caplan On How CSR Is Adapting

Sam Caplan and Andrea Bell from ACCP share their thoughts and takeaways from the 2025 ACCP Annual Conference.

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Andrea Bell

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 12 | 32 Min

David Callahan on the rise of mega donors 'parachuting in' to reshape philanthropy

David Callahan, founder and editor-in-chief of Inside Philanthropy, explores how today’s ultrarich mega donors (and their heirs) are shaping the future of philanthropy.

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David Callahan

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 11 | Min

Project Evident on why AI could be philanthropy’s ‘coming of age’ moment

Project Evident’s founder and CEO Kelly Fitzsimmons and CIO Sarah Di Troia break down how AI is opening up new possibilities in the social sector.

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Kelly Fitzsimmons

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Sarah Di Troia

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 10 | 39:05 Min

All the small print: Government grantmakers redefine their role in 2025

Tip Tucker Kendall and Lashon Brown dig into the new reality in the public sector and how grantmakers can set themselves up for long-term success.

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Tip Tucker Kendall

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Lashon Brown

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 9 | 36:58 Min

What is the new normal in government grantmaking?

Matthew Hanson, managing director of grants and policy at Witt O’Brien's, sheds light on the ways government grantmakers are shifting their strategies to meet the moment.

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Matthew Hanson

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 8 | 30:03 Min

How to actually make the business case for corporate social impact

Andrea Wood, president and CEO of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals, shares the secret to communicating the value of corporate social impact.

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Andrea Wood

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 7 | 29:36 Min

SixDegrees of Kevin Bacon and how nonprofits can cut through the noise

Stacy Huston, executive director of SixDegrees.org, shares how the organization creates impactful campaigns while boosting awareness for small community nonprofits.

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Stacy Huston

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 6 | 10:37 Min

Dispatch from PEAK 2025: Leading with courage

Hear about Sam Caplan’s experience at the 2025 PEAK Grantmaking Conference and how he sees philanthropy meeting the moment.

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Sam Caplan

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Laura Steele

Season 5, Episode 5 | 33 Min

How Microsoft makes giving personal for all of its 228,000 employees

Karen Bergin, senior director of employee engagement and disaster response at Microsoft, shares how she inspires high participation in workplace giving programs.

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Karen Bergin

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 4 | 20:24 Min

Dispatch from NGMA 2025: A seismic shift

Hear about Sam Caplan and Ian Witthoeft’s experiences at the 2025 NGMA Conference with government grantmakers.

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Ian Witthoeft

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 3 | 32:57 Min

GE Healthcare Foundation, year one: On choosing a mission and nonprofit partners

Abigail Epane-Osuala, president of the GE Healthcare Foundation, and Ash Rogers, Co-CEO of Lwala Community Alliance, share how they built a partnership around a common mission of improving women’s health.

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Abigail Epane-Osuala

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Ash Rogers

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 2 | 36:47 Min

Foundations building for foundations: How the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation develops AI tech

Nick Cain explores how foundations can step up to fill the gap between the technology nonprofits have and what they need.

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Nick Cain

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Sam Caplan

Season 5, Episode 1 | 44:15 Min

CSR’s deskless conundrum: On engaging hard-to-reach employees

Tom Knowlton shares real-world examples of companies getting employee engagement right.

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Tom Knowlton

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 18 | 34:01 Min

A compliance wonk breaks down Uniform Guidance changes

David Clark explores what transparency and equity mean in the context of public sector funding.

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David Clark

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 17 | 19:11 Min

How to use partnerships + transparency to address big social problems

Fred Tan lays out how HPE found its social impact niche and built a network of partners to tackle some of the world’s most complex problems.

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Fred Tan

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 16 | 43:48 Min

How GivingTuesday went from grassroots movement to data powerhouse

Woodrow Rosenbaum shares the story behind GivingTuesday’s evolution from a grassroots giving movement to a global institution working to make data more accessible and actionable.

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Woodrow Rosenbaum

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 15 | 34:12 Min

How to (and why you should!) build an employee volunteer network

Megan Strand breaks down how to build an employee volunteer network that taps into people’s natural desire to get involved.

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Megan Strand

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 14 | 24:39 Min

Start with the story: A guide to social impact messaging

Erin Combs shares the secret to creating a social impact messaging strategy that feels authentic.

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Erin Combs

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 13 | 29:14 Min

The AI imperative: How tech nonprofits are leading the way

Shannon Farley digs into the landscape of tech nonprofits using AI for good and reshaping how the social impact sector thinks about technology.

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Shannon Farley

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 12 | 23:18 Min

From inbox filler to company mantra: How to nail your CSR comms

Rich Maiore gives tactical advice about how to get your CSR communication plan on track.

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Rich Maiore

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 11 | 21:16 Min

How to adapt when your CSR budget doesn’t match your vision

 Melanie LeGrande walks through how she scaled her CSR vision to create a lasting employee giving program.

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Melanie LeGrande

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 10 | 22:40 Min

Less boring, more authentic: On the future of nonprofit boards

John Brothers sets a new vision for how nonprofit boards can become a stronger force for democracy.

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John Brothers

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 9 | 21:48 Min

25 years in CSR tech: Hard-won advice from an industry insider

Chris Battles explores how technology is unlocking a new level of employee engagement in CSR.

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Chris Battles

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 8 | 11:58 Min

Dispatch: EFG 2024 and a peek at the future of CSR

Sam and Madi reflect on this year’s EFG conference and share what they learned about the future of CSR.

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Madison Silver

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 7 | 22:27 Min

Dispatch: NASCIO 2024 Midyear & what state CIOs care about most

Hear about Sam’s experience at the NASCIO 2024 Midyear conference.

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Stacey Sveum

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 6 | 19:02 Min

FOMO vs skepticism: AI strategy for grantmakers who feel both

Jean Westrick explores how funders can navigate the new era of technology without disrupting their mission.

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Jean Westrick

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 5 | 25:32 Min

How Morgan Stanley finds & funds solutions for youth mental health

Joan Steinberg explains why Morgan Stanley focuses their funding on children’s mental health and the mechanics behind getting that funding into the hands of innovators.

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Joan Steinberg

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 4 | 32 Min

Closegap & Morgan Stanley: Where innovation arises & how it gets funded

Rachel Miller, founder and CEO of Closegap, and Sam Caplan explore how innovation arises in the social impact sector and how it gets funded. 

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Rachel Miller

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Joan Steinberg

Season 4, Episode 3 | 17:28 Min

Dispatch: The biggest takeaways from PEAK2024

Hear Sam’s biggest insights from PEAK2024 that you might’ve missed.

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Sam Caplan

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Sam Ellsworth

Season 4, Episode 2 | 31 Min

Dispatch: What You Missed at the Microsoft Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit

Go behind the scenes of the exclusive event to learn how top social impact experts think AI will redefine their work.

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Sam Ellsworth

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Sam Caplan

Season 4, Episode 1 | 21 Min

Beth Kanter on AI & the One Question That Will Help You Make Sense of It

Beth Kanter, nonprofit trainer and author, and Sam Caplan explore the nuances of how nonprofits can start using AI today in a responsible way.

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Beth Kanter

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Sam Caplan

Season 3, Episode 9 | 22:40 Min

The starvation cycle in corporate social responsibility: How CSR professionals can right the ship

Carolyn Berkowitz, President and CEO of ACCP, and Sam Caplan explore how CSR professionals can get their teams out of the starvation cycle.

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Carolyn Berkowitz

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Sam Caplan

Season 3, Episode 8 | 69:19 Min

Systemic change requires bold solutions

Partners from the Bold Solutions Network sit down with Sam Caplan to share how support from Lever for Change enables them to make long-term, systemic progress.

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Native Women Lead

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New Mexico Community Capital

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Communities United

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JUST Community

Season 3, Episode 7 | 27:10 Min

What is the ‘S’ in ESG, and how do you measure it?

Carmen Perez, founder and partner at Better Next, and Sam Caplan tackle one of the trickiest aspects of CSR and grantmaking—measuring impact.

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Carmen Perez

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Sam Caplan

Season 3, Episode 6 | 30:03 Min

The challenge model: How to flip the philanthropy script

Kristen Molyneaux, vice president of program strategy & learning at Lever for Change, and Sam Caplan break down how to avoid the traps of traditional philanthropy.

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Kristen Molyneaux

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Sam Caplan

Season 3, Episode 5 | 28:23 Min

A blueprint for high-engagement CSR programs

Patricia Toothman, social impact manager at Splunk, and Sam Caplan explore what it takes to turn employees into CSR champions.

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Patricia Toothman

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Sam Caplan

Season 3, Episode 4 | 29:42 Min

What the data says about the future of social impact

Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas, managing director of corporate insights & engagement for CECP, and Sam Caplan map out how individual efforts connect to systemic change.

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Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas

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Sam Caplan

Season 3, Episode 3 | 26:15 Min

Constructing a Purpose-Built Career

Angela Parker, CEO and co-founder of Realized Worth, and Sam Caplan discuss the realities of what it takes to build a career around a strong sense of purpose.

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Angela Parker

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Sam Caplan

Season 3, Episode 2 | 26 Min

Breakthroughs in Social Impact: How Integrated CSR Unlocks Innovation

Erin Baudo Felter, VP of social impact and sustainability at Okta, and Sam Caplan break down what should drive CSR programs.

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Erin Baudo Felter

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Sam Caplan

Season 3, Episode 1 | 30 Min

Lessons from the Future of CSR and Corporate Volunteering

Jen Carter, global head of technology & volunteering at Google.org, and Sam Caplan explore what it means to take a “moonshot” approach to social impact.

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Jen Carter

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Sam Caplan

Season 2, Episode 10 | 29 Min

The Opportunity Motivation: Effective Altruism and Our Impetus to Give

Join Submittable with Giving What We Can's Luke Freeman in a discussion about the motivations and methodology behind effective altruism.

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Luke Freeman

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Rachel Mindell

Season 2, Episode 9 | 35 Min

Leaders Never Stop Emerging: Embracing the Next Generation of Philanthropic Changemakers

Join Submittable with philanthropy leader Storme Gray in a discussion about how emerging social impact leaders can unlock the right doors and keep them open. 

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Storme Gray

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Laura Steele

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Rachel Mindell

Season 2, Episode 8 | 30 Min

From Transactional to Transformative: How Intention Can Remake Corporate Volunteering

Join Submittable’s Sam Caplan in conversation with Chris Jarvis, an expert in volunteerism, corporate giving, and the neuroscience behind lasting change.

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Chris Jarvis

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Sam Caplan

Season 2, Episode 7 | 30 Min

Conversations at the Heart of CSR

Join Submittable with CSR-insider Alli Murphy for a discussion about the people, ideas, and resources propelling social good.

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Alli Murphy

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Rachel Mindell

Season 2, Episode 6 | 31 Min

Riding the Hype Curves: Community Foundations, Crypto, and DAFs

Join Submittable with philanthropy IT insider Leon Wilson for a conversation about tech adoption and strategy in the social sector.

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Leon Wilson

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Sam Caplan

Season 2, Episode 5 | 15 Min

How Tech Can Turn Silos Into Systems Change

Join Impact Audio for a conversation with Amy Sample Ward and Afua Bruce, experts and leaders in social impact technology.

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Amy Sample Ward

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Afua Bruce

Season 2, Episode 4 | 12 Min

4 Trends Shaping Philanthropy in 2022

Join Impact Audio producers as they discuss the ideas and people shaping philanthropy in 2022, and beyond. 

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Laura Steele

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Rachel Mindell

Season 2, Episode 3 | 33 Min

Accessibility, Advocacy, Representation: How Philanthropy Can Step Up for the Disability Community

Join Submittable with special guest Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Founder of RespectAbility, for a powerful conversation on the “A” that’s missing from DEI. 

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Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi

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Sam Caplan

Season 2, Episode 2 | 15 Min

Advancing DEI Day to Day: From Why to How with WarnerMedia

Join Submittable with special guests Grace Moss, Sophia Zeinu, and Yvette Urbina of WarnerMedia for a discussion on operationalizing DEI.

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Grace Moss

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Sophia Zeinu

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Yvette Urbina

Season 2, Episode 1 | 29 Min

From Evolution to Revolution: How Grants Managers Can Remake Philanthropy

Join Submittable with special guests Rachel Kimber and Adam Liebling, grants managers at the forefront of philanthropy’s future tense.

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Rachel Kimber

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Adam Liebling

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Sam Caplan

Season 1, Episode 10 | 20 Min

The State of Corporate Purpose: Insights from CECP's 2021 Giving in Numbers Report

Join Submittable’s impact team to hear which trends are shaping the future of philanthropy.

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Sam Caplan

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Natalya Taylor

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Laura Steele

Season 1, Episode 9 | 31 Min

John Mohr and Sam Caplan: Democratizing Philanthropy with the Common App

Join Submittable with special guest John Mohr, Chief Information Officer of the MacArthur Foundation, in conversation about his efforts to create a common grant application.

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John Mohr

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Sam Caplan

Season 1, Episode 8 | 17 Min

7 Principles for Measuring Impact

Join Submittable's marketing team to shift your perspective and discover seven principles that can help guide your impact measurement work.

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Natalya Taylor

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Rachel Mindell

Season 1, Episode 7 | 29 Min

Chantal Forster and Sam Caplan: Technology Accelerates Change

Join Submittable with special guest Chantal Forster, executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), in a conversation about the power of tech in philanthropy.

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Chantal Forster

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Sam Caplan

Season 1, Episode 6 | 15 Min

Kari Aanestad: Equity, Honesty, and #FixTheForm

Join Submittable and special guest Kari Aanestad as she shares context, insights, and insider tips from #FixTheForm.

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Kari Aanestad

Season 1, Episode 5 | 59 Min

Edgar Villanueva and Sam Caplan: How Can Philanthropy Decolonize Wealth?

Join Submittable for a book club Q&A with Edgar Villanueva, author of Decolonizing Wealth, facilitated by Sam Caplan, VP of Social Impact at Submittable.

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Edgar Villanueva

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Sam Caplan

Season 1, Episode 4 | 12 Min

Shaady Salehi: Tackling Common Misconceptions about Trust-Based Philanthropy

Join Submittable and special guest Shaady Salehi digging into the tenets behind trust-based philanthropy and how funders may misunderstand them.  

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Shaady Salehi

Season 1, Episode 3 | 12 Min

Luther Hughes and Lydia Boss: Antiracism, Community-building, and Grants for Artists

Join Submittable and special guests Luther Hughes and Lydia Boss in a discussion about strategies for improving equity in the grantmaking process.

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Luther Hughes

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Lydia Boss

Season 1, Episode 2 | 14 Min

Louise Bleach and Mark Horoszowski: CSR, Social Enterprise, and Doing Well by Doing Good

Join Submittable and special guests Louise Bleach and Mark Horoszowski in a conversation about the evolution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the imperative for social and environmental change.

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Louise Bleach

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Mark Horoszowski

Season 1, Episode 1 | 56 Min

Satonya Fair and Sam Caplan: Philanthropy, Impact, and the Future of Grantmaking

Join Submittable for an in-depth Q&A between Satonya Fair, President and CEO at PEAK Grantmaking, and Sam Caplan, VP of Social Impact at Submittable, focused on philanthropy’s past, present, and future.

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Sam Caplan

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Satonya Fair

Season 1, Episode 0 | 3 Min

Impact Audio: Trailer

Join Submittable for a new audio series dedicated to social impact—highlights, insights, and in-depth exchanges. Here’s the lowdown on what’s coming up.

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Rachel Mindell

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