The Petrus Development Show

Petrus Development
  • 5.0 (45)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

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.

  1. 1D AGO

    186 - Work Smarter, Not Harder: AI for Fundraisers

    Welcome back to the Petrus Development Show! In this episode, Andrew and Rhen share their experiences with AI for fundraisers, highlighting practical tools and strategies to transform your development office.  Are you new to using AI in your work? Perfect—this is your starting point. Andrew and Rhen reveal their favorite tools and offer examples of how they're using AI to save time and boost results. And, yes, AI can feel intimidating. But, here's the truth: it's not here to replace the heart of fundraising—donor relationships. Instead, it eliminates tedious tasks that steal your time, freeing you to focus on what truly matters: mission-driven work and meaningful relationships.

    46 min

  2. JAN 29

    185 - Measure What Counts (Fundraising Metrics, Lead and Lag Measures, Goals): Andrew Robison

    Happy 2026! Are you looking to strengthen your fundraising this year? Andrew and Rhen are back with a practical episode on metrics and goal setting that goes beyond typical New Year's resolutions.  In this episode, they break down the key metrics fundraisers should track to build a stronger program—including the important difference between lead measures (what predicts success) and lag measures (what shows results). Andrew shares realistic benchmarks for dollars raised, donor meetings, communication frequency, database growth, and more. Whether you're new to tracking metrics or refining your approach, this episode will help you focus on the numbers that actually drive fundraising growth. And if you want to learn more about fundraising metrics and development strategies, join us at an upcoming Petrus RAISE workshop! Texas, we're headed your way first—sign up now!

    47 min

  3. 12/12/2025

    184 - Win December: Simple Strategies for Year-End Giving

    December is crunch time for nonprofits.  With a third of annual giving happening in the final weeks of the year, your development office can't afford to relax (yet!) for the holidays. Join Andrew and Rhen as they share three strategic moves to maximize your year-end fundraising.  While the strategies they discuss are simple and inexpensive, they will require some time and thoughtfulness. Don't wait until the end of the month to scramble for strategy. Listen now and set yourself up for success.

    36 min

  4. 11/24/2025

    183 - What Comes After Success? (Capital Campaign Endings, Pledge Fulfillment): Andrew Robison

    Andrew and Rhen close out their capital campaign series by tackling a question many nonprofits don't think about until it's too late: What happens after you hit your goal?    Please take note - the work isn't over!  Yes, take time to celebrate (pop that champagne!), but the real opportunity lies in what you do next. This is your chance to transform one-time campaign donors into loyal, long-term supporters of your annual fund. Andrew and Rhen break down the essential tasks for transitioning out of campaign mode, including how to ensure those pledges actually turn into payments. Their advice centers on two key strategies: consistent communication and donor education.  Invest in your donors now, and they'll invest in your mission for years to come. For the pledge redemption resource Rhen mentioned in the episode, check out our Petrus website by clicking HERE.

    32 min

  5. 11/14/2025

    182 - Silent to Public: Your Roadmap for Campaign Execution: Andrew Robison

    The moment you've been waiting for is finally here—let's dive into the heart of capital campaigns! In this episode, Andrew and Rhen discuss the details of campaign execution, breaking down the two critical campaign phases: the silent phase and the public phase.  While the two phases are equally important, they serve different strategic purposes.   To highlight these differences, Andrew takes you on a deep dive into both campaign phases, and he answers the questions every fundraiser needs to know: How long will each phase actually take? (Spoiler: it varies more than you think!)What should you expect at various points of the campaign?Should you set internal short-term goals to keep momentum?What should you do if and when things don't go as planned? Andrew and Rhen close this episode with some wisdom from heir own personal experiences.  Capital campaigns are grueling.   Andrew doesn't sugarcoat it: this might be the toughest challenge of your fundraising career. But, when you cross that finish line, you'll look back on it as one of the most rewarding professional experiences you've ever had. Are you interested in Petrus's free resource comparing the silent campaign phase to the public one?  If so, click HERE to download our summary chart.

    38 min

  6. 10/30/2025

    181 - Winning the Game on Paper (Capital Campaign Preparation Phase): Andrew Robison

    Welcome back for part 2 of our 4-part series on all things capital campaigns!  Last week, Andrew and Rhen explored feasibility studies.  This week, they're tackling the critical preparation phase—that crucial period between your feasibility study and your first campaign ask.   As Andrew emphasizes throughout this episode, the preparation phase is about winning the game on paper.  This is when your organization strategizes, prepares, and researches.  Andrew and Rhen walk through every strategic and administrative thing that needs to happen before you make your first campaign ask. Skip this phase, and you risk missing critical details, approaching donors unprepared, or worse! Like the feasibility study, this phase is an investment in your long-term success. Don't shortcut it—your campaign depends on getting this right. To access Petrus's campaign preparation guide that Rhen mentions in the episode, please click HERE.

    26 min

  7. 10/16/2025

    180 - The Make-or-Break Step You Shouldn't Skip (Feasibility Studies, Capital Campaigns): Andrew Robison

    Join Andrew and Rhen as they kick off an 4-part series that walks you through every stage of capital campaigns—from those critical first steps of the feasibility study to the post-campaign transition back to your annual fund. Whether you're considering a campaign or just curious about the process, this series has everything you need to make informed decisions for your organization.  Show Notes: Before you start asking for major gifts, there's one crucial step that can make or break your campaign: the feasibility study. Andrew and Rhen share the reasons why Petrus consistently recommends this research phase—and why skipping it could be a costly mistake.  A feasibility study gives you concrete data to answer the big questions: Is now the right time? Can we realistically reach our goal? What do our donors think of our proposed project?  A feasibility study is an important investment in your campaign's success, and it helps organizations make smart, strategic capital campagin decisions from day one.  If you'd like our free resource on feasilbity studies, please click HERE.

    31 min

  8. 10/10/2025

    179 - Beyond Transactions: Catholic Social Teaching's Vision for Fundraising

    Join Andrew as he reflects on how Catholic Social Teaching (CST), rooted in Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, fundamentally transforms his approach to fundraising.  Andrew shares a bit of the history of CST from Rerum Novarum to the present, and he explores how the CST values of human dignity, justice over charity, and solidarity over transactional relationships affect his work as a development professional.  (And, his personal volunteering priorities!)  Andrew concludes by acknowledging that, while applying CST principles can be challenging, their value to fundraisers is clear.  As fundraisers, we invite donors to recognize that their willingness to give funds promotes solidarity and builds God's kingdom here on earth. If you'd like to refer to the article Andrew mentions in the podcast, you can find it on our Petrus blog HERE.

    29 min
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5
out of 5
45 Ratings

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Petrus Development
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    187
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Andrew Robison
  • Show Website
    The Petrus Development Show