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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...
show more
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.
show less
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 & Posts
Episodes
Posts
15 APR 2025 · 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.Â
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.Â
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.
3 APR 2025 · 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 our Petrus Academy course "https://www.petrusdevelopment.com/academy".Â
20 MAR 2025 · 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.Â
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.  Â
7 MAR 2025 · 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 https://www.petrusdevelopment.com/164. We hope you'll find it useful!
20 FEB 2025 · 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.Â
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!Â
Note:  If you're planning a giving day in the near future, click https://www.petrusdevelopment.com/academy 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!
6 FEB 2025 · 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!
23 JAN 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.Â
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. Â
9 JAN 2025 · 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. Â
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. Â
19 DEC 2024 · 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.Â
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?
Â
- 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?Â
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. Â
17 DEC 2024 · We're glad you're back for our second Petrus Development Show episode highlighting etiquette tips for fundraisers. As with our previous episode on good dining behavior, Andrew and Rhen offer specific rules for formal table manners. Again, we know this is a unique topic for one of our shows, but as we all know, fundraising is about relationships. If your dinner etiquette is rude or unappealing, it absolutely affects your ability to raise funds and grow donor relationships. Â
If the summary for part 1 of our etiquette series was "do no harm", this second episode can be summed up with a short "follow their lead". Watch your host and model your behavior after theirs. In doing so, you are less likely to embarrass or offend!
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...
show more
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.
show less
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.
Information
| Author | Petrus Development |
| Organization | Petrus Development |
| Categories | Religion & Spirituality |
| Website | www.spreaker.com |
| andrew@petrusdevelopment.com |
Copyright 2025 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
