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.
Subscribe now and receive each episode in your inbox as a part of Sam's
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Season 6, Episode 1 | 57 MIN
PhilanthroPunks: Why today’s philanthropy calls for an old-school DIY punk attitude
The people who are pushing philanthropy forward today often possess a unique mix of fearlessness and ingenuity. They’re willing to call out injustice and then do something tangible about it. So it’s not surprising how many of them have roots in the punk and hardcore scene. This Impact Audio LIVE episode brings together five people who came up in the punk scene and now shape philanthropy and the nonprofit world. Together they dig into the overlap between the punk ethos and purpose-driven work.
Listen now
March 2, 2026

Sam Caplan

Aleda Gagarin

Jenny Toomey

Alex Daniels

John Mohr
Season 5, Episode 15 | 39:28 Min
Ann Mei Chang on how data will shape the next era of nonprofit work
Candid CEO Ann Mei Chang shares how the organization is equipping nonprofits with the data they need to rebuild the sector in a new image.
Listen now
39
January 6, 2026

Ann Mei Chang

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.
Listen now
10
October 23, 2025

Sam Caplan

Laura Steele
Season 5, Episode 14 | 28 Min
Impact Audio Presents: Why don’t more people give?
Sam Caplan explores the subtle ways in which people are nudged toward or away from charitable giving.
Listen now
28
October 15, 2025

Sam Caplan
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.
Listen now
26
September 30, 2025

Andrea Bell

Sam Caplan
Season 5, Episode 11 | 45 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.
Listen now
45
August 26, 2025

Kelly Fitzsimmons

Sarah Di Troia

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.
Listen now
39
August 12, 2025

Tip Tucker Kendall

Lashon Brown

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.
Listen now
36
July 8, 2025

Matthew Hanson

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.
Listen now
30
June 10, 2025

Andrea Wood

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.
Listen now
29
May 20, 2025

Stacy Huston

Sam Caplan
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.
Listen now
33
April 8, 2025

Karen Bergin

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.
Listen now
20
March 25, 2025

Ian Witthoeft

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.
Listen now
32
March 11, 2025

Abigail Epane-Osuala

Ash Rogers

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.
Listen now
36
February 11, 2025

Nick Cain

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.
Listen now
44
January 14, 2025

Tom Knowlton

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.
Listen now
19
November 12, 2024

Fred Tan

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.
Listen now
43
October 29, 2024

Woodrow Rosenbaum

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.
Listen now
34
October 22, 2024

Megan Strand

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.
Listen now
24
October 8, 2024

Erin Combs

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.
Listen now
29
September 24, 2024

Shannon Farley

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.
Listen now
23
September 10, 2024

Rich Maiore

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.
Listen now
21
August 26, 2024

Melanie LeGrande

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.
Listen now
22
August 13, 2024

John Brothers

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.
Listen now
21
June 25, 2024

Chris Battles

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.
Listen now
11
May 30, 2024

Madison Silver

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.
Listen now
22
May 23, 2024

Stacey Sveum

Sam Caplan
Season 4, Episode 6 | 19:02 Min
FOMO vs skepticism: AI strategy for grantmakers who feel both
Jean Westrick offers advice for grantmakers who are curious about artificial intelligence and want to embrace it responsibly.
Listen now
19
May 14, 2024

Jean Westrick

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.
Listen now
25
April 23, 2024

Joan Steinberg

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.
Listen now
32
April 9, 2024

Rachel Miller

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.
Listen now
17
March 28, 2024

Sam Caplan

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.
Listen now
31
March 26, 2024

Sam Ellsworth

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.
Listen now
21
March 12, 2024

Beth Kanter

Sam Caplan
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.
Listen now
3
January 25, 2024

Rachel Mindell
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.
Listen now
22
September 5, 2023

Carolyn Berkowitz

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.
Listen now
69
August 29, 2023
Native Women Lead
New Mexico Community Capital

Communities United

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.
Listen now
27
August 22, 2023

Carmen Perez

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.
Listen now
30
August 15, 2023

Kristen Molyneaux

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.
Listen now
28
August 8, 2023

Patricia Toothman

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.
Listen now
29
August 1, 2023

Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas

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.
Listen now
26
July 25, 2023

Angela Parker

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.
Listen now
26
July 18, 2023

Erin Baudo Felter

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.
Listen now
30
July 11, 2023

Jen Carter

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.
Listen now
29
June 7, 2022

Luke Freeman

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.
Listen now
35
May 24, 2022

Storme Gray

Laura Steele

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.
Listen now
30
May 10, 2022

Chris Jarvis

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.
Listen now
30
April 26, 2022

Alli Murphy

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.
Listen now
31
April 12, 2022

Leon Wilson

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.
Listen now
15
March 30, 2022

Amy Sample Ward

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.
Listen now
12
March 15, 2022

Laura Steele

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.
Listen now
33
March 1, 2022

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi

Sam Caplan
Season 2, Episode 2 | 15 Min
Advancing DEI Day to Day: From Why to How with WarnerMedia
with WarnerMedia Join Submittable with special guests Grace Moss, Sophia Zeinu, and Yvette Urbina of WarnerMedia for a discussion on operationalizing DEI.
Listen now
15
February 15, 2022

Grace Moss

Sophia Zeinu

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.
Listen now
29
February 1, 2022

Rachel Kimber

Adam Liebling

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.
Listen now
20
December 7, 2021

Sam Caplan

Natalya Taylor

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.
Listen now
31
November 2, 2021

John Mohr

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.
Listen now
17
October 19, 2021

Natalya Taylor

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.
Listen now
29
September 28, 2021

Chantal Forster

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.
Listen now
15
September 21, 2021

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.
Listen now
59
September 14, 2021

Edgar Villanueva

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.
Listen now
12
August 31, 2021

Shaady Salehi
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.
Listen now
14
August 3, 2021

Louise Bleach

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.
Listen now
56
July 21, 2021

Sam Caplan

Satonya Fair
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.
Listen now
12

Luther Hughes

Lydia Boss
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.
Listen now
34

David Clark

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.
Listen now
32

David Callahan

Sam Caplan
About 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.
Subscribe now and receive each episode in
your inbox as a part of Sam's newsletter, The
Review.