The Petrus Development Show

Petrus Development
  • 5.0 (41)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
The Petrus Development Show

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. 35 MIN. AGO

    156 - Stop Winging It (Fundraising Roadblocks, Donor Relationships, Best Practices): Andrew Robison

    From the fundamental importance of a clear case for support to the often-overlooked power of donor stewardship, Andrew and Rhen unpack what really matters in building a sustainable fundraising program.  Learn why winging it without proper planning holds organizations back.  And, hear why personal donor outreach can't be skipped (even though it's scary!). Plus, get a bonus tip about why you don't have to go it alone in fundraising. Whether you're new to fundraising or looking to strengthen your foundation, this episode provides practical insights to help you move forward successfully.    At the end of the episode, Rhen mentions several resources that Petrus has to assist with overcoming the roadblocks discussed in the episode. Find Petrus Development on LinkedIn (click HERE!) and start gathering wisdom from experienced fundraisers. Consider signing up for Petrus's Basic Online Advancement Training (nicknamed BOAT) is a 10-week, online course that offers a blueprint for building a self-sustaining fundraising program for your organization.    Do you need to create (or update) your organization's case for support?  If so, check out our Petrus resource, "Case Components Worksheet", to help you get started.  Click HERE to receive the free download.

    36 min

  2. NOV 7

    155 - Clear + Direct (Year-End Appeals, Timing, Options, Best Practices): Andrew Robison

    As Andrew shares early in this episode, 30 percent of nonprofit giving is done in December.  For this reason, your end-of-year appeal letter could be a major winner for your organization.  Listen as Andrew and Rhen discuss ways to make your end-of-year appeal planning as fruitful as possible.  If you take nothing else from this episode, remember this:  a clear and direct ask is the most important part of the appeal letter.    In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer the following questions: Why are end-of-year appeals so important? Are direct mail appeals worth the effort and expense?  Can I stick to email for a year-end appeal? Who should receive our year-end appeal?  When should end-of-year appeals be sent? What should be in the appeal letter itself?   Can you share some strategies for making our appeal letter more successful? Do you need help getting started with your end-of-year appeal letter?  If so, click HERE for our editable Canva templates that you can customize to meet your organization's needs!

    29 min

  3. OCT 25

    154 - Giving Day Game Plan (Giving Days, Before+After Planning, Matching Donors): Andrew Robison

    In this episode, Andrew and Rhen return with a short discussion on the pros and cons of giving days.  (Let it be known, however, that we at Petrus think the pros definitely outweigh the cons!) This episode is great for anyone who is curious about giving days and their potential for fundraising success. In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer the following questions:What is a giving day?  Why should fundraisers consider focusing efforts on a giving day? What are some examples of large national and regional giving days? What are the pros and cons of joining a national giving day?  What are the pros and cons of hosting your own stand alone giving day? What goes into a successful giving day? When done well, giving days provide nonprofits with focused opportunities to connect with donors.  That said, giving days require thorough preparation in order to produce results.  Would it help for you to have additional step-by-step instructions on how to host a fruitful giving day?  If so, check out our Petrus course called, "Raising Money with a Giving Day!"  Click HERE for course details and registration options.

    24 min

  4. OCT 10

    153 - From the Beginning - An Episode on the History of Petrus with Andrew Robison

    This week's episode of the Petrus Development Show is a unique one.  Join Rhen as he interviews Andrew Robison, owner and president of Petrus, about the history of Petrus and Andrew's role in making Petrus what it is today.  If you've ever wondered how Petrus got its start and became what it is today, this is the episode for you!   Andrew shares his journey with Petrus, detailing his progression from part-time consultant to full-time staff member, from president to owner.  He offers a unique perspective into Petrus's development over the past decade.   In addition to outlining the history of the organization, Andrew highlights the joys and the challenges that come with owning and building a successful business.  He shares pieces of his vision for Petrus's future, and he offers testimony to how remaining grounded in prayer, scripture, and life outside of business has kept him sane and moving Petrus forward boldly and faithfully.

    51 min

  5. SEP 26

    152 - It All Begins With A Phone Call (Donor Visits, Scheduling Meetings, Logistics): Matt Bond

    Petrus consultant Matt Bond joins Rhen on this episode of the Petrus Development Show to discuss all things donor visits.  This is another nuts and bolts interview geared especially for new fundraisers.  Listen now as Matt and Rhen walk you step-by-step through scheduling and hosting successful donor visits.  In this episode, Matt and Rhen answer the following questions: I've been told I need to go meet donors.  How do I figure out who to meet? Now, I have a list of people to meet.  How do I get that meeting?  What should I say to successfully request a meeting?   We've scheduled a meeting.  Where should we meet?  How do I dress?  Who pays for the coffee/the food?  What should I order?  How do I find my prospective donor in public?  We're sitting down to meet.  What does a meeting structure look like?  What questions should I ask?  How do I close our meeting?   The meeting's over.  What do I do next?    If you enjoyed the tips in this episode, consider some of the other services Petrus offers.  As Rhen mentions at the end of the episode, Petrus offers its BOAT (Basic Online Advancement Training) course as a way to learn fundraising skills while building a network of peers to support you in your work.  For more information on our fall BOAT cohort, click here.  (And, if you haven't already, be sure to listen to this podcast episode for that $200 discount code!)

    1h 5m

  6. SEP 13

    151 - Do The Hard Things First (New Fundraisers, Expectations, Getting Started): Andrew Robison

    In this episode, Rhen and Andrew share stories from their early days as fundraisers, and they reassure new development officers that the world of nonprofit fundraising is, indeed, navigable.  This discussion is both a dose of encouragement AND a list of expectations and best practices.  If you're new to fundraising and need a specific path forward, this episode is for you!   In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer the following questions: Popular opinion is that fundraising is just begging for money. We know that's not true, but what is the alternative?  What is fundraising? As a new fundraiser, what can you expect for your new position?  What are your responsibilities?  Conversely, what are your director's responsibilities and what should you and the director expect from one another?  What will your board or other leadership council expect from you?  What do donors expect from you?   What if you're fundraising part-time while you do another job for the organization?  How do you split your time?  What can you expect as results in your first year of fundraising?  And, in the subsequent few years? Fundraising can be frustrating, especially as you're doing all the work and not seeing the desired results.  How do you handle feelings of self-doubt?   As Rhen mentions at the end of the episode, Petrus offers its BOAT (Basic Online Advancement Training) course as a way to learn fundraising skills while building a network of peers to support you in your work.  For more information on our fall BOAT cohort, click here  (And, if you haven't already, be sure to listen to this podcast episode for that $200 discount code!)

    48 min

  7. AUG 30

    150 - Strategic, Smart, and Bold (Capital Campaign Preparations, Timelines, Databases): Andrew Robison

    A successful capital campaign requires lots of pre-planning as a warmup to the actual campaign.  The more you prepare prior to the campaign launch, however, the greater your chances of campaign success!  Listen in as Andrew and Rhen discuss, in detail, all of the things that should happen before you embark on a capital campaign.    In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer the following questions:How do you know when your organization is ready to execute a successful capital campaign?  What are some indicators that your nonprofit might not be ready to take on a campaign? How do you develop vision for a campaign? What kind of data/database to you need to have in place to be ready for a campaign? How can you get a good estimate of what the cost will be for the campaign project?  How much time do you need to allow before a building campaign in order to get drawings, land, etc.? What happens to your annual fund during a capital campaign?  Can you fund both? As Rhen mentions at the end of the episode, Petrus is offering a free capital campaign prep checklist for listeners.  Use this document to make sure you're covering all of your bases BEFORE you begin your next capital campaign.  If you'd like to receive this resource, please click here for more information.

    38 min

  8. AUG 15

    149 - By the Numbers (Fundraising Trends, Data, Annual Fund, Major Gifts): Andrew Robison

    Andrew and Rhen return this week for a fun episode on fundraising trends.  The best fundraisers don't make assumptions about what works.  Instead, they look to data to make informed decisions about the fundraising activities that bear the most fruit.  Listen as Andrew and Rhen give statistics about average success rates for a variety of fundraising activities.  Use these statistics to set reasonable expectations for your success! In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer the following questions: What's a typical conversion rate for an appeal letter's results?  Is there a difference between direct mail and email appeals?   What kind of fundraising success should I expect from social media posts and requests? Can a phone-a-thon be successful?  What can organizations do to improve results? Why should fundraisers focus on monthly giving?   Are grants worth the time and effort?  What about banquets and galas? What is a good success rate for major gifts asks?   As Rhen mentions at the end of the episode, Petrus is offering a free annual fund checklist for listeners.  Use this checklist (along with the data from this episode!) to choose activities that can help you build a more robust annual fund.  If you'd like to receive this resource, please click here for more information.

    50 min
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5
out of 5
41 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 - 2024
  • Episodes
    157
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Andrew Robison
  • Show Website
    The Petrus Development Show

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