Impact Audio

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/

Grants managers play a pivotal and evolving role in how foundations and corporate funders meet big goals. They put theory into practice, pedal to the metal, and innovation to the test. How?In this episode of Impact Audio, you’ll hear from two grants managers who are pushing philanthropy forward: Rachel Kimber and Adam Liebling.Listen in to learn about:• Why grants managers are also stage managers, buttressing like mad • How the role evolved from compliance keeper to data’s command central• What philanthropy needs to swipe from dating app tech• Why wealth still gets equated with wisdom (at trust’s expense)• Oral reporting and other ways software should be more than a filing systemFull of passion, intelligence, and healthy debate, this episode is sure to fire you up. We hope it also provides new insights and a bigger framework for understanding grants management, technology, and philanthropy’s forward momentum.For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://www.submittable.com/impact-audio/grants-managers/

The world of philanthropy is evolving swiftly. Priorities are constantly shifting, processes are being reimagined, and funders are seeking out the best practices to make a meaningful impact. Luckily, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose puts out an annual report examining the state of corporate giving. This episode of Impact Audio features Submittable’s own Sam Caplan, Natalya DeRobertis-Theye, and Laura Steele. They discuss the trends illuminated in this year’s Giving in Numbers report and how they’ll shape the sector in 2022 and beyond. Listen to learn:• How community investment has grown and evolved• The biggest opportunities in the CSR landscape• What it takes to make real progress around equity • Where measurement fits in We hope you enjoy listening!For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://www.submittable.com/impact-audio/state-of-corporate-purpose/

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 pioneerDrawing 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.For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://www.submittable.com/impact-audio/john-mohr/

Impact measurement is a meaty topic—literal books have been written on the topic. It's also evolving, as funders increasingly seek to balance power in favor or a more trust-based approach. How can you actualize your goal of reducing grantee burden in your impact measurement strategy?This episode of Impact Audio features host and Submittable Content Marketing Manager Rachel in conversation with her colleague, Senior Product Marketing Manager Natalya DeRobertis-Theye. They discuss seven principles identified to help shift perspective and guide impact measurement work that Natalya developed for a longer webinar on the same topic.Listen to learn about:• How keeping the mission front and center can help you eliminate unnecessary reporting• Why it's important (and okay!) to be humble and prioritize learning• How traditional impact measurement requirements have perpetuated cycles of inequity (and what to do about it)We hope you enjoy listening.For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://www.submittable.com/impact-audio/7-principles/

Technology can be an incredible asset for those working in grantmaking and philanthropy, but too often this work is considered separate from an organization’s broader mission. Though tech’s role is expanding, there’s still a gap between what’s possible and what’s happening on the ground. In this episode of Impact Audio, you’ll hear from two tech veterans in philanthropy: Chantal Forster and Sam Caplan. Listen in to learn about:• Technology as a scaling agent, well beyond mere nuts and bolts• How technologists fit into the future of philanthropy• What bumble bees can teach us about building a participatory ecosystem•Tapping into IT’s strategic value• Chantal’s story, from coding at 8 years old to leading TAGFrom personal stories to professional insights, this episode is full of great takeaways (and prescient predictions) for anyone working in grants, philanthropy, or social impact. We hope it's valuable to you.For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://www.submittable.com/impact-audio/chantal-forster/