Episode Details
Back to Episodes28: Culture by Default or Design: How Colorado College Hit $20M Ahead of Schedule
Description
Proof beats promises every time. Here it is.
Colorado College's Advancement team was coming out of a pandemic, shrinking staff, leadership transitions, and a culture that had quietly drifted from healthy to unstable. Sound familiar? They didn't ignore it. They decided to fix it by design, not by default.
In this episode Marcia sits down with Kimberly Elahab, Director of Prospect Research at Colorado College, who was inside the Culture CARES process from the beginning and is still leading the work three years later. Kimberly shares what it actually felt like when the culture started shifting, how a peer-led volunteer committee became the engine of sustained change, and why having an external accountability partner made the difference between good intentions and real results.
The numbers tell their own story. After one year of implementation the team hit 94% psychological safety, 86% improvement in trust, and 78% improvement in engagement. Then they hit their $20 million fundraising goal two months ahead of schedule.
This is what culture transformation actually looks like from the inside. Not a workshop. Not a one-time event. A process that keeps working long after the consultant leaves the room.
If this is what you want for your organization, the next step is a 90 minute call with Marcia. No obligation. Just clarity on what's possible.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and Recap
01:03 Meet Kimberly
04:25 How They Connected
06:12 Why Culture Work Started
07:54 Early Culture Shift
09:11 Listening Tour and Visioning
10:59 Themes and Roadmap
14:16 Daily Implementation
16:12 Process and Data Mindset
18:29 Culture Drives Fundraising
19:54 Safety Gains Snapshot
20:28 Why Mistakes Must Be Safe 21:20 Culture Over Survey Fatigue
22:25 Kimberly's Culture Why
23:27 Ripple Effect Engagement
24:50 Accountability Partner Value
26:03 Culture Drives Results
26:54 Advice, Framework and Invitation
28:10 Closing Thanks and Next Steps
If this conversation showed you what's possible, the next step is yours to take.
Ready to build a culture your team actually feels?
Culture CARES Accelerator → https://culturecares.com/ceo-ed-mentoring/
CONNECT WITH MARCIA
Free Weekly Leadership Insights → culturecares.com → Click Subscribe
Follow Marcia on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/marciabeckner
Visit the Culture CARES Website → culturecares.com
Explore the Podcast → culturecares.com/podcast
ENJOY THE SHOW? If this episode resonated, here's how you can support:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
- Leave a review (it helps more nonprofit leaders find the show)
Don't forget to share this episode with a CEO or Executive Director who needs to hear it!