Claim OwnershipThe Petrus Development Show
Subscribed: 10Played: 315
Subscribe
© Copyright Andrew Robison
Description
On the Petrus Development show we discuss fundraising in the religious sector with those who are doing it best.
Whether you are currently working in development, looking to start or relaunch a development program, or just curious about best practices this is the show for you!
Hosted by Andrew Robison, president of Petrus Development.
Whether you are currently working in development, looking to start or relaunch a development program, or just curious about best practices this is the show for you!
Hosted by Andrew Robison, president of Petrus Development.
179 Episodes
Reverse
It seems obvious that communities should help their members in need, but —but is it really? The reasons behind our philanthropic impulses have shifted dramatically throughout American history, and they're shaped by the social ideals and influential figures of each era. Why (and how) do we care for those who struggle? What makes American philanthropy unique compared to other countries?How did we develop our particular approach to caring for community members who struggle?Join Andrew and Rhen as they explore these questions through the lens of United States history. Andrew's passion for both philanthropy and the past guides listeners through the distinct phases of American giving—revealing how we arrived at today's charitable landscape and what drove us there.
It's back-to-school season, which means development teams are mapping out their fundraising calendars—and facing the same ol' dilemma. Do you throw a glitzy gala for 500 people, or host intimate wine tastings in board members' living rooms? Big events look impressive on paper (and in those Instagram posts). But, here's what most organizations don't calculate: the hidden costs of staff burnout, volunteer fatigue, and months of planning that could be spent actually building relationships with donors. Andrew makes a compelling case for why he's ditching the ballroom for the living room. Spoiler alert: It's not just about saving money—it's about creating genuine connections that turn one-time attendees into lifelong supporters.
This week, Andrew and Rhen are stepping away from the usual fundraising how-tos to explore something deeper: the real difference between charity and philanthropy. Turns out, these terms aren't interchangeable after all. While we often use them as synonyms, Andrew explains why that's actually doing our ministries a disservice. Each approach represents a fundamentally different way of creating impact, and understanding the distinction could reshape how you think about your work.What does this mean for your ministry? This thoughtful conversation will have you reflecting on whether your organization leans more charitable or philanthropic, and why that matters for the communities you serve. As Andrew notes, the most effective Catholic ministries don't necessarily pick sides—they find ways to blend both approaches thoughtfully.
Andrew and Rhen are back on the Petrus Development Show to tackle the nitty-gritty campaign questions that keep development professionals up at night—the ones that often get pushed aside until they become urgent problems. What You'll Discover in this Episode:The Naming Game: When and how should your campaign offer naming opportunities? Annual Fund Flexibility: Can you really stretch annual giving into multi-year commitments without shooting yourself in the foot? The answer might surprise you (and transform your donor retention strategy).The Pledge Timeline Sweet Spot: Is there a Goldilocks zone for capital campaign pledges—not too short, not too long, but just right? What should you consider when planning your campaign? The Reality Check: What percentage of pledges actually get paid, and how can you stack the odds in your favor?Join Andrew and Rhen as they share real-world wisdom that comes from years in the trenches, perfect for any fundraiser who wants to master the subtle art of strategic solicitation.
In this week's episode of the Petrus Development Show, Rhen chats with Josh Weimer, Petrus's summer intern. We invite you to spend 20 minutes getting to know Josh and his role with Petrus. As our youngest Petrus employee, Josh offers unique insight into generational differences in fundraising, and he shares the things that have surprised him most about his introduction to Catholic fundraising at Petrus.
Fundraising professionals often ask Petrus about the nuances of soliciting donations. Join Andrew and Rhen as they tackle two of the most frequently asked questions that every development professional faces: How many donor visits should happen before making the ask? There's no magic number, but timing and relationship-building are crucial. Andrew breaks down the factors that determine when you're ready to make your move.Is it acceptable to solicit major gifts over Zoom? The pandemic changed everything about donor engagement, but does virtual fundraising actually work for significant asks?While these questions might seem straightforward, the answers involve complex considerations about relationship cultivation and strategic timing. Andrew provides practical insights and real-world examples that will help you approach your next solicitation with confidence.
Have you ever wondered how Petrus views its role as a fundraising coach? Or, why Petrus offers services the way we do? If so, this episode is for you! Andrew and Rhen take a look at all the ways fundraising consulting services can be offered, and they share details on Petrus's educational and service philosophy. Petrus is a "teach to fish" consulting firm. Listen in to learn what "teach to fish" means to us and hear how we coach our clients to build the skills necessary to maintain a sustainable, successful fundraising program for years to come!
Andrew and Rhen are back with a fun episode this week where they discuss and debunk all kinds of fundraising myths. Rhen comes armed with nearly 20 fundraising myths that have been misleading nonprofits for years, and Andrew doesn't hold back in unpacks each one with hard truths and real-world wisdom. A very small sample of the fundraising myths discussed includes:Skip hiring a fundraiser - people will automatically give to organizations doing good work. (Spoiler: they won't!)Donors hate being contacted by fundraisers. (Often, the opposite is true!)Organizations need to host big events to make big money. (Small moves, big impact!)A single big donor can fund everything! (Recipe for disaster.)Introverts cannot be successful fundraisers. (Some of the best are quiet powerhouses.) Do you think Andrew got it wrong on any of these? We want to hear your take! Drop us a line at podcast@petrusdevelopment.com and join the debate.
What if you could have an intern who works 24/7, never complains about tedious tasks, and costs almost nothing? While finding human help for repetitive fundraising tasks can be challenging and expensive, AI tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing how nonprofit development offices operate.Join Andrew and Rhen as they explore the practical ways artificial intelligence can become your most valuable (and affordable) team member. They'll share specific strategies for leveraging AI in fundraising while highlighting the crucial boundaries every development professional needs to understand.
Andrew begins this episode by emphasizing that fundraisers should expect failures as normal parts of the job. There's no way to avoid potential donors who respond unfavorably, and to effectively handle this inevitable rejection, fundraisers have to remember that rejection isn't personal. Donors have countless reasons for declining that rarely relate to the fundraiser themselves.After sharing their list of daunting statistics for fundraisers, Andrew and Rhen follow up by discussing coping strategies for perceived failure. Long story short: a resilient mindset and supportive community help fundraisers persist through challenges, knowing that facing and overcoming failure is fundamental to eventual fundraising success.
Yes, you read that correctly! In this week's episode of the Petrus Development Show, Rhen quizzes Andrew on which fundraising concepts he would choose to kill, date, and marry. Listen as Andrew shares his thoughts on which fundraising ideas that should be nixed, which should be further explored, and which ideas merit long-term commitment.
Ever faced a frustrated donor? If you've been fundraising for any length of time, chances are you've been on the receiving end of donor displeasure. Donor frustration comes in many forms - from upset letters and negative social media comments to exasperated responses when you reach out. Andrew and Rhen tackle these awkward situations with practical advice for becoming a supportive listener. Their key insight: when donors express frustration, it often stems from genuine care about your organization and a desire to see improvement. As a fundraiser, learning to separate a donor's anger from their feelings about you personally is essential for navigating these challenging interactions successfully.
As spring blooms, so does the opportunity for growing monthly giving. May sees a surge in new sign-ups, and in this episode, Andrew and Rhen share creative strategies to engage and inspire new monthly donors.(For more on the nuts and bolts of monthly giving programs, check out episode 139 of the Petrus Development Show. Listen HERE.)
It's a recurring question the life of a fundraiser: "How much money should I request from a donor when I meet with them?" If that's a question that continues to baffle you, we have good news! Andrew and Rhen return with an episode on tools you can use to determine the appropriate dollar amounts for donor asks. In this epsiode, Andrew shares his experiences with determining donor ask amounts. He highlights tools he uses to help him come up with his ask range, and he discusses the clues you can look for in your initial interactions to help you determine ask amounts down the road. Most importantly, however, Andrew emphasizes the need for boldness when you make your asks. The consequences of being bold are often much less than the lost opportunity that comes with caution.
Andrew and Rhen return to the podcast to discuss how organizations improve their chances of success when hiring development staff. As Andrew sums it up, he'll always choose to hire for passion and train for skill. Andrew also shares several soft skills that he seeks in potential development staff, and he closes by reminding organizations that once they find good development directors, they should be prepared to invest in them for the long-term.In this episode, Andrew answers the following questions:What characteristics should you look for when hiring a new fundraiser?If a new fundraiser fails, what likely caused the failure?Can introverts be successful fundraisers?What salary should you expect to pay a new development director?If you'd like to access the free sample incentive plan that Rhen mentions in the episode, you can find it HERE. We hope you'll find it useful!
The phrase "stacking the deck" often has a negative connotation, leading people to think you're doing something unfair or manipulative. Good news! As we share in today's podcast episode, we think that "stacking the deck" in fundraising terms can be a wise and helpful strategy in many situations. As Andrew and Rhen explain, when they talk about "stacking the deck", they're really talking about strategic preparation before giving days, matching gift and capital campaigns. This intentional preparation allows you to often have a handful of known donors committed BEFORE the event even begins. In laying this groundwork and announcing success early, you encourage new and returning donors to give because they see your momentum and want to join in. Simply put, the odds are already in your favor before your campaign officially starts! Note: If you're planning a giving day in the near future, click HERE and check out our self-paced online course titled "Raising Money with a Giving Day". Petrus would love to help boost your giving day results!
We are thrilled to invite you to our 2025 RAISE Regional Workshops. As Andrew and Rhen share in the episode, Petrus is changing things up in 2025. Instead of hosting a large multi-day annual conference in 2025, we're changing our education strategy and offering 3 single-day fundraising workshops in different regions of the country. In making this shift, our annual RAISE event becomes more accessible for more fundraisers. We would love for you to join us in New Orleans, Notre Dame, or Denver in 2025!
We return with an episode that explores how fundraisers should handle advice from donors, particularly when it comes with strings attached to financial contributions. In this episode, Andrew and Rhen chat about various ways to handle donors who, in addition to offering funds, also want to offer advice about how your organization should run its programs. Andrew wisely distinguishes between valuable expertise-based advice (such as from building experts on construction projects) versus well-meaning, but potentially misaligned, suggestions based on personal preferences or outdated experiences. When it comes down to it, Andrew emphasizes the importance of staying true to organizational mission even if it means declining donations with restrictive conditions.
Happy New Year! We're back with our first Petrus Development Show episode of 2025, and we return with a discussion about fundraising attire. Yep, you read that correctly. We're talking about clothing. In this episode, Andrew and Tara share details about how a fundraiser should dress for donor meetings and events. We find this topic especially important because, as a fundraiser, your clothing should never be a distraction (for you or the donor!) in meetings. Join Rhen as he questions Andrew and Tara about all the clothing basics - from shoes to accessories and everything in between. What you wear to donor meetings matters. Not only do you want to feel comfortable and confident in front of donors, but you also want to appear professional, approachable, and authentic.
In response to repeated inquiries about foundation funding, Petrus offers this special deep dive into how to maximize grantwriting success. Join Andrew and Rhen as they explore strategic approaches for nonprofits seeking grants. In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer these questions AND MORE:Where can you find foundations that might support your organization? Are there specific places to look for appropriate grant opportunities?What does it take to put together a successful grant proposal? What kind of projects do foundations like to fund?How can you improve your chances of getting a grant?How should you respond after you receive notification about your request? Andrew and Rhen cover all of these basics, and they offer important insights into how to improve your chances of getting the grants you want. But, in the end, it all comes down to this: Treat foundations as major gifts prospects, and do the necessary research and relationship building work.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States