Impact Audio

In this episode of Impact Audio, Melanie LeGrande, managing director at Panorama Strategy, talks through how she responded to that reality. When she didn’t get the budget she needed for an employee giving program, she pivoted to a new strategy. She covers how to: • Create a micro version of your ideal program • Define success for your social impact programs • Craft a clear story that resonate...

This episode of Impact Audio features John Brothers, president of the T. Rowe Price Foundation, breaking down how nonprofit boards have gotten the notorious reputation of the place where strategy and creativity go to die. He covers: • Why nonprofits shouldn’t strive to run like businesses • The effects of professionalization in philanthropy • Advice for current and future board members

This episode of impact Audio features Chris Battles, impact engineer & CSR software architect at Elwern Associates, as he shares insights from his two and half decades developing and implementing technology for CSR programs. He covers: • Three things successful CSR programs all have in common • The key to engaging employees in today’s distributed landscape • How AI and technology unlock d...

We both got a peek at the future of CSR and the trends shaping conversations around topics like DEI, employee volunteering, and AI. In our conversation, we touch on: • The increasing politicization of DEI and CSR programs • Areas where ideas like trust-based philanthropy are making progress • Ways AI both did and didn’t fit in the conversation

Last month, I attended the NASCIO 2024 Midyear conference and I learned a lot about what state CIOs are prioritizing this year (hint: there were a lot of AI conversations). In this quick dispatch episode, I reflect on my experience with my colleague Stacey Sveum. We cover: • What it was like “speed dating” state CIOs • How state CIOs are thinking about simplifying their programs • Why governm...

In today’s Impact Audio episode, Jean Westrick, executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers, digs into how grantmakers can stay mission focused in this new era of tech. She covers: • How to balance digital transformation with other big challenges • Where AI fits into efforts to make grantmaking more inclusive • How some grantmakers are already using AI

This episode is the second in a series of episodes featuring Closegap and Morgan Stanley, where we explore the relationship between grantor and grantee as they work together to address a chronically underfunded cause. Last episode we focused on Closegap and this episode is my full conversation with Joan Steinberg. We’ll cover: • Why Morgan Stanley focuses on children’s mental health • The mechanic...

Today’s episode explores this relationship by focusing on Rachel Miller, founder and CEO of Closegap, and her story. We’ll also hear from Joan Steinberg, CEO of the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health, as she provides further commentary on why Closegap’s innovative approach stood out to them. In this episode, we’ll cover: • What makes Closegap’s technology so innovative • What mot...

Sam Caplan reflects on his biggest insights from PEAK2024. Listen to get up-to-speed on everything you might’ve missed and what you need to know for the coming year. We cover: • The key theme of the conference: operationalizing excellence • The changing role of a grants manager • How data and new technologies are transforming grantmaking For additional resources, visit our episode notes: https://w...

AI took center stage at the Microsoft Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit last month. On the latest episode of Impact Audio, Sam Caplan and Sam Ellsworth sit down to talk about what they saw and heard while they were there. They cover: • How nonprofit professionals see AI enhancing their work • Why Microsoft is going all in on the nonprofit sector • Where to start on your own AI journey For...

This episode features Beth Kanter, nonprofit trainer, facilitator, and author, on the rise of AI. She’s been training nonprofits on how to adapt to new technology for four decades and she’s learned a lot in that time. In this episode, we cover: • Similarities and differences between AI and previous tech advancements. • How AI could address–or worsen–nonprofit burnout. • One question you should ask...

Many CSR professionals have seen their budgets and headcounts shrink over the past year, but expectations continue to hold steady. A big part of the issue is the way corporate leaders value (or devalue) this work. As president and CEO of the Association of Corporate Citizen Professionals, Carolyn Berkowitz has a unique perspective on how to use data to get your company’s social impact programs out...

Lever for Change has embraced a challenge model, which allows them to give big dollar prizes to community organizations. In addition to the funding, they’ve created the Bold Solutions Network which provides ongoing support to the winners and finalists from their challenges. Representatives from four different organizations within the Bold Solutions Network join us to share how Lever for Change’s h...

The ‘S’ in ESG encompasses everything from DEI initiatives to community investment programs and employee volunteering. For social impact practitioners, the big question is how you measure the impact of this work. Carmen Perez has spent her career helping teams get clarity about the short and long-term outcomes they want to achieve. This episode digs into how to: • Build the right measurement frame...

Lever for Change has flipped the script of traditional philanthropy. By adopting a challenge model and offering big dollar prizes, they get community organizations off the hamster wheel of chasing funds. In doing so, they unlock the big picture thinking necessary to create long-term, systemic change. This episode covers how to: • Rethink your approach to risk • Make innovation a priority • Build m...

Without employee support, CSR programs don’t stand much of a chance. But employees aren’t just looking to get involved, they want to be inspired. At Splunk, Patricia Toothman has made it her mission to strengthen the connections between teams and give everyone a sense of ownership in the company’s social impact work. This episode covers how to: • Lead without formal authority • Meet employees wher...

Social impact isn’t something you can measure on a quarterly basis. To understand the value of CSR programs, you have to take the long view. From her vantage as managing director of corporate insights & engagement for Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas sees a lot of companies making this mistake. She advocates for a paradigm shift in the corporate sector. This...

Whether you’re at the beginning of your career or you’re decades in, working in CSR requires a unique ability to balance conflicting priorities. At a time when there’s more urgency than ever around social impact, Angela Parker believes that practitioners have a golden opportunity to redefine the value of their work. This episode covers how to: • Better understand your role as a facilitator • Apply...

At Okta, social good has been a priority since the beginning. But over time, the CSR team has shifted its understanding of what should drive these programs. It’s not just about taking the solutions the company has on hand and offering them to nonprofits. It’s about identifying the problems out in the world that Okta is uniquely positioned to help solve and then committing time and resources to run...

Google.org shatters the traditional CSR mold in a variety of ground-breaking ways. Their ability to do so is rooted in their unique approach to innovation and connecting social impact to personal experience. Though many companies don’t have the global presence and technical resources of Google, there’s a lot to learn from how they approach social problems—lessons that can guide CSR programs of any...

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. L...

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 organizat...

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 evolut...

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 commun...

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 Innov...