Dispatch from PEAK 2026: Courage + systems

Sara Richman Sanders (she/her) is a dynamic, people-centered nonprofit leader with almost 20 years of progressive experience. Sara currently works as Managing Director for PEAK Grantmaking. She has previously worked for the School Nutrition Association, League of Women Voters, and the Federal Voting Assistance Program at the Department of Defense. Sara's approach emphasizes integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. She loves spending time with family and friends, is an avid sports fan and museum enthusiast, plays the viola in a local community orchestra, and enjoys visiting the beach.

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.