PhilanthroPunks: Why today’s philanthropy calls for an old-school DIY punk attitude

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. Sam grew up in the Little Rock punk scene playing guitar and singing in dozens of long-forgotten bands, hosting punk rock radio programs, and creating zines.

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.

Aleda Gagarin leads Candid's fight for a stronger social sector through thought leadership, strategic coalitions, and campaigns that drive collective impact. As VP of Influence, she directs Communications and Brand Awareness, Development, and Partnerships—shaping how Candid shows up, what we say, and who we stand with. Aleda cut her teeth in Philly's hardcore scene in high school and DC's punk scene in college, where she was active with the Movement for Social Justice, Food Not Bombs, and the National Conference on Organized Resistance. She's been a New York punk the past 21 years and still tours with the band Scarboro, bringing that same conviction to her work fighting for data as a public good and pushing for systems change in philanthropy.

Jenny Toomey is the former director of the Ford Foundation’s Catalyst Fund, a $50 million, three-year investment to build the field of Public Interest Technology, and previously led efforts to expand access, transparency, innovation, and participation in the internet. Jenny is founder and co-frontwoman of DC band Tsunami, as well as the independent record label Simple Machine Records. She's performed on 12 albums, dozens of compilation records and singles, and a musical.

Before joining the Chronicle in 2013, Alex covered Congress and national politics for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He covered the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns and reported extensively about Walmart Stores for the Little Rock paper. Alex was the drummer of DC hardcore band Swiz. A band autobiography was published in 2025, and the band's remastered catalog was recently released on Dischord records.