The Petrus Development Show
Religion & Spirituality
About
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.
Episodes
- 192 - Fundraising Has a System — And You Can Learn It
Jenni Reamer, fundraising educator, discusses building a fundraising program from scratch with Rhen. She shares her experiences and insights on starting a program for a college campus ministry, emphasizing that fundraising has a system. Th…
- 191 - You Have a Leadership Committee — Now What?
This episode discusses managing a fundraising leadership committee after it has been formed. Topics include training methods, common mistakes, and advice for handling members who are not performing. This is the second part of a series on l…
- 190 - Build It Right: Leadership Committees Done Well
Rhen and Matt Bond discuss the formation of effective leadership committees, covering ideal size, scope, and composition. They also address common mistakes and key member characteristics like faith, influence, and affluence.
- 189 - The Capital Campaign Comeback (Restarting Stalled Capital Campaigns)
Andrew and Rhen from The Petrus Development Show discuss how to restart stalled capital campaigns. They explore reasons why campaigns lose momentum and offer a roadmap for leaders to course-correct and revitalize their efforts.
- 188 - The Next 100 Days: Checking In On Your Fundraising Goals
This episode of The Petrus Development Show features Rhen and Andrew discussing strategies to achieve fundraising goals, including focusing on short-term objectives and lead measures. They emphasize conducting quarterly 100-day reviews for…
- 187 - Road-Ready: How to Travel Like a Pro Fundraiser
In this episode, Andrew and Rhen provide practical advice for fundraisers on planning efficient and strategic travel. They cover how to decide who to meet, how many meetings to schedule, prioritizing meetings, and the importance of flexibi…
- 186 - Work Smarter, Not Harder: AI for Fundraisers
Andrew and Rhen discuss practical AI tools and strategies for fundraisers on the Petrus Development Show, emphasizing how AI can automate tedious tasks to free up time for donor relationships and mission-driven work.
- 185 - Measure What Counts (Fundraising Metrics, Lead and Lag Measures, Goals): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show with Andrew Robison discusses essential fundraising metrics for 2026. It differentiates between lead and lag measures and provides benchmarks for tracking success in dollars raised, donor meeting…
- 184 - Win December: Simple Strategies for Year-End Giving
Andrew and Rhen discuss three simple, strategic moves for nonprofits to maximize year-end fundraising in December. These inexpensive strategies require time and thoughtfulness for success.
- 183 - What Comes After Success? (Capital Campaign Endings, Pledge Fulfillment): Andrew Robison
This episode discusses post-capital campaign strategies for nonprofits, emphasizing donor communication and education to convert campaign donors into long-term supporters. It also covers methods for ensuring pledge fulfillment.
- 182 - Silent to Public: Your Roadmap for Campaign Execution: Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison details the silent and public phases of capital campaign execution, discussing their strategic purposes, expected timelines, and how to manage unforeseen issues. The episode also shares personal experiences on the rewarding…
- 181 - Winning the Game on Paper (Capital Campaign Preparation Phase): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show, part 2 of a 4-part series, details the critical preparation phase of capital campaigns. Hosts Andrew Robison and Rhen discuss the strategic and administrative steps needed before making the firs…
- 180 - The Make-or-Break Step You Shouldn't Skip (Feasibility Studies, Capital Campaigns): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show features Andrew Robison discussing the critical role of feasibility studies in capital campaigns. He explains why skipping this step can be a mistake, highlighting how it provides data to assess…
- 179 - Beyond Transactions: Catholic Social Teaching's Vision for Fundraising
This episode explores how Catholic Social Teaching, beginning with Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum, reshapes fundraising practices. Andrew details how CST values like human dignity, justice, and solidarity influence his work and encourage a…
- 178 - The Evolution of American Philanthropy with Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison and Rhen discuss the historical evolution of American philanthropy, examining the changing reasons behind charitable giving and what makes the US approach unique. They trace the development of community care through differen…
- 177 - Small Events, Big Impact (Fundraising Events, Galas, Donor Cultivation): Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison argues for smaller, intimate fundraising events over large galas, emphasizing their effectiveness in building genuine donor connections and preventing staff burnout, ultimately fostering long-term support.
- 176 - Beyond the Basics: Charity vs. Philanthropy with Andrew Robison
This episode explores the distinction between charity and philanthropy, with Andrew Robison explaining why the terms are not interchangeable and how understanding the difference can reshape a ministry's impact.
- 175 - Campaign Mechanics that Matter (Pledge Fulfillment, Naming Opportunities, and More): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show discusses crucial campaign mechanics, including the strategic use of naming opportunities, managing annual fund flexibility for multi-year commitments, determining optimal pledge timelines, and u…
- 174 - "Welcome to Petrus, Josh!" (Introducing our Summer Intern): Josh Weimer
Rhen interviews Josh Weimer, the summer intern at Petrus. Josh, the youngest team member, discusses generational differences in fundraising and his initial experiences at Petrus.
- 173 - The Ask: When and How (Solicitation Considerations, Donor Visits): Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison addresses common fundraising questions about when and how to solicit donations. He covers the timing and relationship factors for donor visits before an ask and discusses the viability of soliciting major gifts over Zoom.
- 172 - Teaching to Fish (Fundraising Consulting Strategies): Andrew Robison
This episode details Petrus Development's 'teach to fish' philosophy for fundraising consulting. Andrew and Rhen explain their educational and service strategies, focusing on coaching clients to build long-term, sustainable fundraising ski…
- 171 - Myth Busters - Fundraising Falsehoods Exposed: Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison and Rhen discuss and debunk common fundraising myths that have misled nonprofits. They address misconceptions about donor contact, the necessity of large events, and the capabilities of introverts in fundraising.
- 170 - Trust, but Verify! (AI in Fundraising): Andrew Robison
This episode discusses the use of AI, such as ChatGPT, in nonprofit fundraising, highlighting its potential for handling repetitive tasks efficiently and affordably. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding the boundaries for dev…
- 169 - Navigating Fundraising Failure (Statistics and Strategies): Andrew Robison
Fundraisers should expect failure as a normal part of the job and not take rejection personally, as donors have many reasons for declining. The episode discusses coping strategies, emphasizing that a resilient mindset and supportive commun…
- 168 -The 'Kill, Date, Marry' of Fundraising (Fundraising Concepts to Reject, Explore, and Preserve): Andrew Robison
In this episode of the Petrus Development Show, host Rhen quizzes guest Andrew Robison about his views on various fundraising concepts. Robison shares his opinions on which ideas should be rejected, which warrant further investigation, and…
- 167 - When Donors Get Angry (Difficult Conversations, Empathetic Listening): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show features Andrew Robison discussing how to handle frustrated donors. The advice focuses on empathetic listening and understanding that donor anger often stems from a desire for organizational impr…
- 166 - Spring into Monthly Giving Success (Engaging Monthly Donors, Challenge Campaigns): Andrew Robison
This episode of the Petrus Development Show features Andrew Robison discussing strategies to engage new monthly donors during the spring, a period of increased sign-ups.
- 165 - What's the Right Number? (Solicitation Amounts, Wealth Screening, Bold Asks): Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison discusses tools and strategies for determining appropriate donor ask amounts in fundraising. He emphasizes using wealth screening data and initial donor interactions to inform asks, while also stressing the importance of bol…
- 164 - Prioritize Passion (Hiring Fundraisers, Salaries, Incentive Plans): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show features Andrew Robison discussing strategies for hiring successful development staff. Key topics include prioritizing passion over skill, identifying essential soft skills, understanding reasons…
- 163 - Stacking the Deck (Giving Days, Matching Gifts, Capital Campaigns): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show discusses the fundraising strategy of "stacking the deck," which involves strategic preparation before events like giving days or capital campaigns. By securing initial donor commitments, campaig…
- 162 - Let's RAISE The Bar On Your Fundraising Potential! (2025 RAISE Regional Workshops)
The Petrus Development Show announces a shift in education strategy for 2025, replacing the large annual conference with three single-day fundraising workshops in New Orleans, Notre Dame, and Denver to increase accessibility for fundraiser…
- 161 - What A Donor Wants (Responding to Donor Advice): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show discusses how fundraisers should respond to donor advice, especially when attached to donations. Andrew Robison advises distinguishing between expert and personal advice, and stresses the importa…
- 160 - What Not To Wear: Petrus Edition (Professional Fundraising Attire): Andrew + Tara
In this episode of the Petrus Development Show, hosts Andrew and Tara discuss essential fundraising attire. They provide guidance on how to dress for donor meetings and events to ensure clothing is professional and never a distraction, whi…
- 159 - Diving Deep: Grants + Foundations (Research, Writing, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show, featuring Andrew Robison, provides a deep dive into grantwriting for nonprofits. Andrew and Rhen discuss finding suitable foundations, crafting successful proposals, and improving grant acquisit…
- 158 - Follow Their Lead (Fundraising Etiquette, Donor Dinners, Galas): Andrew Robison
This episode of the Petrus Development Show focuses on fundraising etiquette, specifically table manners for donor dinners and galas. The key advice is to "follow their lead," mirroring your host's behavior to avoid offense and strengthen…
- 157 - Remain Calm + Do No Harm (Fundraising Etiquette, Formal Dinners, Donor Meetings): Andrew Robison
This episode features Andrew Robison discussing table manners and etiquette for fundraising professionals. The discussion covers best practices for cocktail receptions and formal dinners, emphasizing the principle of "do no harm" to avoid…
- 156 - Stop Winging It (Fundraising Roadblocks, Donor Relationships, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
This episode discusses key fundraising strategies like establishing a clear case for support and nurturing donor relationships, emphasizing the importance of planning over improvisation. It offers practical advice for building a sustainabl…
- 155 - Clear + Direct (Year-End Appeals, Timing, Options, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison discusses strategies for effective nonprofit year-end appeal letters with Rhen, emphasizing a clear and direct ask. The episode covers the importance of these appeals, timing, audience selection, content, and whether to use…
- 154 - Giving Day Game Plan (Giving Days, Before+After Planning, Matching Donors): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show features Andrew Robison and Rhen discussing the advantages and disadvantages of giving days for nonprofit fundraising. They cover what a giving day is, why fundraisers should consider them, and t…
- 153 - From the Beginning - An Episode on the History of Petrus with Andrew Robison
In this episode, Andrew Robison, owner and president of Petrus, details the company's history and his personal progression within it. He shares insights into business ownership, challenges, and his future vision for Petrus, emphasizing the…
- 152 - It All Begins With A Phone Call (Donor Visits, Scheduling Meetings, Logistics): Matt Bond
Petrus consultant Matt Bond discusses donor visits with Rhen on The Petrus Development Show, guiding new fundraisers through scheduling, logistics, meeting structure, and follow-up. The episode covers practical advice for successful donor…
- 151 - Do The Hard Things First (New Fundraisers, Expectations, Getting Started): Andrew Robison
This episode features Andrew Robison and Rhen offering guidance and encouragement to new nonprofit fundraising officers. They address common misconceptions about fundraising, outline expectations from various stakeholders, and provide insi…
- 150 - Strategic, Smart, and Bold (Capital Campaign Preparations, Timelines, Databases): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show features Andrew Robison and Rhen discussing essential pre-planning steps for a successful capital campaign. They cover organizational readiness, vision development, necessary data and databases,…
- 149 - By the Numbers (Fundraising Trends, Data, Annual Fund, Major Gifts): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show features Andrew and Rhen discussing fundraising trends and data. They provide statistics on the success rates of various fundraising activities, such as appeal letters, social media, and major gi…
- 148 - Double Your Success (Challenge Gifts, Matching Donors, Monthly Donations): Andrew Robison
This episode of The Petrus Development Show explains how to organize matching gift challenges, covering donor recruitment, structure, and handling monthly donations. Andrew Robison and Rhen provide step-by-step guidance and creative possib…
- 147 - Better Together (Donor Meetings with Team Members, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
This episode discusses best practices for donor meetings, focusing on when and how to include team members. Andrew and Rhen cover optimal visit frequency, team member selection, preparation for partnered visits, and interaction dynamics.
- 146 - Inform. Ask. Repeat. (Communications Plans, Newsletters and Appeals, Direct Mail): Andrew Robison
Rhen and Andrew Robison discuss strategic communications planning for development offices, focusing on a cycle of informing and asking through newsletters and appeals. They provide a schedule for August-December and tips for creating effec…
- 145 - It's All About Expectations (Incentive Plans, Fundraising Expectations): Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison and Rhen Hoehn discuss setting development staff expectations for the new fiscal year, covering reasonable goals for new and established staff, and whether fundraisers should earn commission.
- 144 - Consistent and Sustainable (Budgeting, Forecasting, Financial Data): Andrew Robison
Andrew Robison discusses the importance and process of budgeting for development offices on The Petrus Development Show. The episode covers setting financial numbers, expected growth, expense-to-income ratios, and budgeting tools, offering…
- 143 - "Do Your Giving While You're Living!" (Planned Giving, Gift Acceptance Policy, Estate Planning): Tara Doyon
This episode of The Petrus Development Show features Tara Doyon discussing planned giving, gift acceptance policies, and estate planning. Rhen and Tara aim to make planned giving more accessible for fundraisers, emphasizing the importance…