#198 | From Grant Dependency to Financial Independence with Pedro Jose Rivera from Contagious Culture

Contagious Culture

Kyle S. King

Episodes

About

Reviews

Promote

#198 | From Grant Dependency to Financial Independence with Pedro Jose Rivera

36 minutes Posted Jun 29, 2026 at 9:00 am.

— Introduction00:45 — Meet Pedro Jose Rivera01:30 — Pedro’s Puerto Rican roots, family, faith, and education03:40 — How generosity was modeled in Pedro’s childhood06:00 — What Pedro hopes to give through his work06:45 — Moving Latino-led nonprofits beyond grant dependency07:40 — Understanding individual giving, planned giving, grants, and events09:15 — Where new nonprofits should start fundraising10:15 — Why nonprofits must think like entrepreneurs11:30 — Why organizations become grant dependent13:30 — Creative funding strategies and peer-to-peer fundraising15:30 — What executive directors often overlook16:50 — The role of the board in fundraising18:45 — Why passion without systems is dangerous20:30 — The fundraising truth leaders need to hear

0:00

36:03

Download MP3

Share at current time

Show notes

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Pedro Jose Rivera, a nonprofit fundraising strategist working at the intersection of law, philanthropy, wealth management, and nonprofit leadership.

Pedro shares how Latino-led nonprofits can move from grant dependency to deeper financial independence by building diversified fundraising systems. He explains why organizations need to focus on individual giving, planned giving, corporate support, board engagement, and community-based fundraising instead of relying only on restricted grants.

Kyle and Pedro also discuss the role of faith, family, generosity, board responsibility, peer-to-peer fundraising, and why asking for support is not begging. It is inviting people to invest in the mission.

Episode History

Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference

Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast

Subscribe to Apple Podcasts

📞 Schedule Your Call Here

🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers

👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance

👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

← See all 100 episodes of Contagious Culture