John Mohr and Sam Caplan: Democratizing Philanthropy with the Common App
Philanthropy’s latest evolutions have been focused on streamlining processes and centering the community. Inspired by the incredible momentum around reducing grantee burden, a small group of experts has come together to lay the groundwork for a more universal common grant application. In this episode of Impact Audio, you’ll hear from John Mohr who is at the forefront of this effort.
Listen in to learn about:
- What’s next for the common grant application
- Technology’s shift from a supporting role to key pillar of strategy
- Where higher education and grantmaking overlap
- John’s path from punk rock musician to philanthropy pioneer
Drawing inspiration from indie music, ‘90s startups, university life, and more, this conversation is full of insights and stories that will strike a chord with anyone working in grantmaking, philanthropy, or social impact.
John Mohr is the Chief Information Officer at the MacArthur Foundation. He oversees Foundation-wide technology services and planning and is responsible for developing a strong and sustainable information technology infrastructure. John is also the co-Director of the Philanthropy Data Commons initiative. Prior to joining the MacArthur Foundation in 2012, John was the Director of Academic Systems at the University of Chicago. John was the singer and guitarist for the seminal Chicago punk band TAR, which released records on Amphetamine Reptile and Touch and Go. Today he plays in Deep Tunnel Project.
Sam Caplan is the Vice President of Social Impact at Submittable, a platform that foundations, governments, nonprofits, and other changemakers use to launch, manage, and measure impactful granting and CSR programs. Inspired by the amazing work performed by practitioners of all stripes, Sam strives to help them achieve their missions through better, more effective software.
Sam formerly served as founder of New Spark Strategy, Chief Information Officer at the Walton Family Foundation, and head of technology at the Walmart Foundation. He consults, advises, and writes on social impact technology, strategy, and innovation.
Connect with or follow Sam on Linkedin, listen to his podcast Impact Audio, and subscribe to his bi-weekly newsletter The Review.
You might also like
