Contagious Culture

#113 | Turning Vision into Impact: Megan Schmitt King on Fundraising, Partnerships, and Nonprofit Success

In this episode, we sit down with Megan Schmitt King, Chief Development Officer at Camp Southern Ground and a seasoned expert in nonprofit growth and fundraising strategy. With a career spanning leadership roles at Team Red, White & Blue, Raiders Foundation, and National 4-H Council, Megan has mastered the art of turning vision into measurable impact.
We explore how to build lasting partnerships, activate powerful sponsorships, and lead with strategy in a rapidly changing philanthropic landscape. Megan also shares lessons learned from her work in corporate and nonprofit spaces, from navigating sponsorship challenges to leveraging data and storytelling to inspire donors.
Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or changemaker, this conversation will equip you with actionable insights to strengthen your strategy, deepen relationships, and grow your impact.
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#112 | First Impressions Matter: Behind the Scenes of a Client Intake Call

What does it really take to turn a first conversation into a million-dollar impact? In this episode, I take you inside a live client intake call with a mission-driven organization, unpacking the questions, insights, and strategies that set the stage for successful fundraising. You’ll see how our 4P Framework, Prepare, Prove, Partner, Propel, guides organizations to build their strategy, board, prospect list, and story, while connecting with donors who can make a real difference.
Whether you’re a leader, consultant, or entrepreneur, you’ll walk away with actionable tactics to make your first interactions count and start creating measurable impact from day one.
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📞 Schedule Your Call Here
🖥️  Visit The Website
👉🏽 Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn

#111 | Making Strategy Stick: The Human Side of Change with Coretta Dixon

In this live episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Coretta Dixon, Director of Organizational Effectiveness and Change Leadership, to explore how real transformation begins from within. Coretta has led large-scale initiatives across industries like education, finance, healthcare, and aviation, helping organizations build adaptive cultures, high-trust teams, and scalable people systems that truly perform.Together, Kyle and Coretta dive into the intersection of leadership, culture, and change management. They unpack what it means to make strategy stick, not through top-down mandates, but through people-centered transformation that prioritizes safety, trust, and clarity.Drawing from her experience leading a $130M modernization initiative and creating the first Change Management Office for a 5,000-employee organization, Coretta shares how sustainable change happens when leaders blend governance, coaching, and analytics to turn transformation into habit. If you believe leadership is contagious and culture is the engine that drives performance, this episode will give you the insight and inspiration to lead change that lasts.
Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast
Subscribe to Apple Podcasts
📞 Schedule Your Call Here
🖥️  Visit The Website
👉🏽 Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn

#110 | The Art of Experience, How to Turn Events Into Emotional Journeys

What makes an event unforgettable? How do you turn a gathering into an experience that inspires, connects, and leaves a lasting impact?
In this episode of Contagious Culture, we sit down with Corey J Frank, Founder of Spoken Red, a dynamic Event Experience Strategist, Host, Dance Instructor, and Wellness Coach with nearly two decades of transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary legacies. From corporate activations and nonprofit galas to wellness initiatives and cultural celebrations, she shares her secrets for designing events that move people,  literally and figuratively.
Tune in as we explore:
How to create legacy moments that leave a lasting impression
The intersection of culture, movement, and strategy in experiential design
Tips for building authentic connections and partnerships that amplify impact
Lessons from nearly 20 years of leading high-level, unforgettable experiences
If you want to learn how to go beyond planning and truly craft experiences that inspire action and connection, this episode is a must-listen.
Official Website: spokenred.netSpoken Red Honors December 5th: https://brushfire.com/spokenred/spokenred18/614479/detailsRed Afloat Cruise March 26-30 https://traveljoy.com/bookings/3zPbYHS4citXndmd5YpywyFm

#109 | From Stranger to Superfan: Mastering the Art of Donor Profiles

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King shows you how to turn casual supporters into passionate champions of your mission. Using the Building a Donor Profile Worksheet, you’ll learn to uncover your donors’ values, motivations, giving habits, and what truly drives them to give. This is more than fundraising, it’s about creating meaningful connections, building trust, and inspiring long-term loyalty. If you want donors who don’t just give, but cheer, advocate, and champion your cause, this episode is your roadmap from stranger to superfan.
Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast
Subscribe to Apple Podcasts
📞 Schedule Your Call Here
🖥️  Visit The Website
👉🏽 Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn

#108 | 5 Steps to Recruiting, Retaining, and Growing with Better Board Members

Strong boards build strong organizations, but assembling, engaging, and keeping the right members is easier said than done. In this episode, we break down five actionable steps to help you recruit board members who are aligned with your mission, retain them through meaningful engagement, and develop their capacity to make a bigger impact.
Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, executive director, or aspiring board member, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to strengthen your team and elevate your organization’s success.
Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast
Subscribe to Apple Podcasts
📞 Schedule Your Call Here
🖥️  Visit The Website
👉🏽 Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn

#107 | Building a Culture of Support After Birth with Dar Bordiny

What happens after the world celebrates your baby,  but forgets you? In this episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Dar Bordiny, founder of Imperfectly Mothering, to explore the silent struggles of postpartum life and the power of building authentic support systems for new mothers.
Dar shares her personal journey of feeling “grateful and grieving”  deeply in love with her baby, yet disconnected from herself and how that experience inspired her to create a global community that now serves thousands of women. Her story is a powerful reminder that vulnerability and honesty are at the heart of meaningful culture.
Together, Kyle and Dar discuss the realities of postpartum that no one talks about, how culture, identity, and perfectionism impact early motherhood, and why showing up authentically is the key to connection and belonging. They explore how one woman turned personal struggle into a movement that is changing the postpartum experience.

#106 | Building Bridges That Change Lives: Raechelle Petteway on Corporate Philanthropy, Leadership, and Living with Intention

In this episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with Raechelle Petteway, Chief Development Officer at Freedom School Partners, to unpack what it really takes to build meaningful partnerships that drive both social impact and business growth.
With over 15 years of experience in development, marketing, and corporate philanthropy, Raechelle has mastered the art of connecting purpose with performance. From her early days in corporate social responsibility to her current role leading fundraising and communications for one of Charlotte’s most impactful youth organizations, she’s learned that great leadership isn’t just about raising money, it’s about raising people, relationships, and awareness.
Together, Kyle and Raechelle explore:
How pivotal “slingshot” moments shape leadership and purpose
The difference between traditional fundraising and corporate philanthropy
How today’s political landscape is influencing philanthropy and giving trends
The importance of self-care, boundaries, and intentional living for high-impact leaders
What it really takes to navigate career transitions with courage and clarity
This conversation is a masterclass in authenticity, strategy, and service. Whether you work in nonprofit development, corporate giving, or leadership, Raechelle’s story will inspire you to lead with empathy and build bridges that last.