Impact Audio is a podcast that gives social impact practitioners practical advice and inspirational stories to help them better serve their communities. Host Sam Caplan, VP of social impact at Submittable, interviews leaders in the nonprofit, public sector, and corporate social responsibility spaces to understand their approach to their work, their perspective on current trends, and their thoughts on the future of social impact.

What are the factors that encourage charitable giving and how should people decide where to focus their efforts? Effective altruism is a social movement and research initiative with unique (and controversial) responses to these questions. In this episode of Impact Audio, you’ll hear Luke Freeman, Executive Director of Giving What We Can, discussing the guiding principles behind his organization. Luke also talks about motivational psychology, CSR, impact measurement, the pandemic, and criticisms of effective altruism. Listen in to learn about:• What actually motivates people to give back • How businesses can support employee giving and lead by example• Giving What We Can’s process for choosing charities and measuring impact • The movement’s responses to trust-based philanthropy and criticism about causality• How US philanthropy sets itself apart from global giving We hope you enjoy the conversation.

What do emerging leaders in philanthropy need to succeed? And what can current leadership learn from the up-and-coming generation? In this episode of Impact Audio, Storme Gray, Executive Director of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, talks with Submittable about a more equitable vision for the sector—and how to make space for vital change. This episode digs into:• How philanthropic organizations can recruit and retain diverse talent• The value of curiosity, inquiry, and collective care • How global interconnectedness shapes a new ethos for emerging leaders• The power of pausing your inbox • Why everyone is a leader in their own right (and continuously emerging)• Advice for new talent seeking to make a career in philanthropy Thank you for listening. We hope the conversation moves and inspires you.

How can businesses transform their employee volunteering programs from a task-based checklist to an experience that makes a lasting impact? In this episode, Chris Jarvis, Co-founder and CSO of Realized Worth, joins Sam Caplan, VP of Social Impact at Submittable, to discuss the strategies, intention, and brain science that can help CSR meaningfully evolve. Tune in to learn about:• The rapid evolutions of CSR and employee volunteerism• True measures of program engagement• A transformative vs transactional approach• Two simple strategies for making volunteer work meaningful• Neuroscience’s relationship to empathy—and how it can impact results• Transformative learning theory and how it can revolutionize CSRWe hope you enjoy the conversation.

What will it take for corporate responsibility to become comprehensively human-centered? And who are the people leading the charge? In this episode of Impact Audio, Alli Murphy, Director of Events & Program Development at Engage for Good (EFG), shines a light on the good work and bright ideas transforming CSR for the better. This episode digs into:• Why social impact practitioners need community (and how EFG helps)• Key trends in CSR, from NFTs to corporate PR• Inspiring examples of “employees as a cause”• Questions, creativity, and other tools for innovation and relationship-building• Real talk and other sector-wide transformations gaining steam We hope you enjoy and find value in this conversation.

When new technology hits the market, the hype can be overwhelming. Think crypto, NFTs, blockchain. Gartner’s Hype Curve tracks how enthusiasm around new tech surges and dips over time. What does this curve look like for philanthropy? And what does the future hold for grantmakers looking to leverage tech for maximum social impact? In this episode of Impact Audio, Leon Wilson, Chief of Digital Innovation & Chief Information Officer at the Cleveland Foundation, and Sam Caplan, Submittable’s VP of Social Impact address these questions and more.Listen in to learn:• Why philanthropic work spurs entrepreneurial innovation• How funders can diversify tech leadership through recruitment• What Amara’s Law can teach us about crypto• How community foundations can compete with DAFs• Why we should also look to small foundations as model changemakersWe hope you enjoy the conversation.

Any conversation about technology should also be a conversation about community. Too often in philanthropy, discussions and decisions related to tech happen in ways that perpetuate inequity and impede social progress. Fortunately, there is a way forward.Amy Sample Ward and Afua Bruce are leading the way. Their new book, The Tech That Comes Next, is focused on how to bring social impact organizations, funders, policy makers, technologists, and communities together through technology to promote lasting change.Listen to this episode to learn:• Why we’re all technologists now• How tech builds relationships across the social impact sector • What technology decisions during the pandemic can teach us• How to foster collaboration and break down silos• Why a stroll might be better than a sprintDrawn for a recent Submittable webinar with Amy and Afua, this audio conversation will serve professionals across the social impact sector, from nonprofits to funders, looking to center community in their tech strategy. For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://www.submittable.com/impact-audio/amy-sample-ward-and-afua-bruce/

Funders of all kinds have been reevaluating their work over the last few years, seeking to improve trust, transparency, and equity while reducing burden for grantseekers. This episode of Impact Audio focuses on what comes next. Submittable’s Laura Steele and Rachel Mindell discuss four major trends moving the philanthropic sector forward. Tune in to learn more about:• What philanthropy can do to move forward without forgetting the past• How to expand equity beyond a “checklist”• The importance of listening to community• Why re-centering people is vital• How technology influences philanthropy (and vice versa)We hope you enjoy listening. And be sure to check out the full guide referenced in this episode—Moving Philanthropy Forward in 2022, where Submittable. asked 10 experts for insights and approaches you can put into practice today.For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://www.submittable.com/impact-audio/trends-shaping-philanthropy-in-2022

One in four U.S. adults has some form of disability. Not only are most disabilities non-visible— issues like mental health, chronic illness, dyslexia, and ADHD—but many people choose not to disclose their disability in order to avoid stigma. Given the size of the disability community and its essential contributions to society, why is access still such an afterthought? What factors contribute to discrimination and ableism? And how can philanthropy help?In this episode, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Founder of RespectAbility, addresses these questions (and more). Listen in to learn about:• The true impetus of the disability rights movement• How accessibility fosters employee retention • Philanthropy’s representational crisis (only 8% of foundation staff includes a person with disabilities)• Specific (proven) processes funders can use to improve accessibility• Being a grantee and funder dedicated to the disability community• How disability intersects with class, race, and genderThis episode is intense, inspiring, and essential listening for every organization truly dedicated to social justice and lasting impact. We hope it moves you to new insight and action.

Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion is not a one-and-done solution. It’s a daily practice. For entertainment leaders at WarnerMedia, prioritizing DEI is about supporting emerging talent across the company, both on-screen and off—from the writer’s room to the tech team. In this episode you’ll hear from three executives making this work happen: Grace Moss, VP of Equity and Inclusion; Sophia Zeinu, VP of Equity and Inclusion Strategies; and Yvette Urbina, VP of Equity and Inclusion—Programs and Content.Listen in to learn about:• Top strategies for effective DEI leadership• The challenges of DEI work, pandemic aside • Why DEI is about freeing ALL of us• The tension between reducing harm now and longer-term work• When your personal “why” matters just as much your “how” Drawn from a longer conversation on putting DEI values into action, this episode will reframe how you think about DEI work. You’ll also walk away with action items to help you support equity and drive social change.For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://www.submittable.com/impact-audio/warnermedia/