Shows / The Petrus Development Show
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.
Episodes
- The Petrus Development Show
205 - 6 Stages of Buildling a Fundraising Program: Part 5 - Campaign Execution
Welcome back to Petrus's series on the six stages of building a development office, and this week, Andrew and Rhen discuss stage 5, the Campaign Execution…
- The Petrus Development Show
204 - 6 Stages of Building a Fundraising Program: Part 4 - Coordinate
Andrew and Rhen return to continue their series on the six stages of building a development office, and this week, they discuss stage 4, the Coordinate Phase…
- The Petrus Development Show
203 - 6 Stages of Building a Fundraising Program: Part 3 - Personalize
Join Andrew and Rhen as they continue to journey through their series on the six stages of building a development office, and this week, they discuss stage 3…
- The Petrus Development Show
202 - 6 Stages of Building a Fundraising Program: Part 2 - Systematize
Andrew and Rhen return to continue their series on the six stages of building a development office, and this week, they discuss stage 2, the Systematize Phase…
- The Petrus Development Show
201 - 6 Stages of Building a Fundraising Program: Part 1 - The Bootstrapping Phase
Andrew and Rhen are back to launch a new series on the six stages of building a development office. Their framework breaks down fundraising growth into six…
- The Petrus Development Show
200 - AI Summit: Closing Q&A Session
Listen in to the closing session of Petrus's Virtual Summit on AI in Fundraising as Andrew Robison, Sarah Rose, Matt Bond, and Rhen Hoehn answer live questions…
- The Petrus Development Show
199 - AI Summit Demos: What Actually Works in Fundraising
Once again, this week's episode is a recording of Petrus Development's recent Virtual Summit on AI In Fundraising. This live discussion with our fundraising…
- The Petrus Development Show
198 - Petrus Hosts an AI Virtual Summit (AI in Catholic Fundraising)
We're back with something different this week! We just hosted our first Virtual AI Summit at Petrus, and we're excited to share the panel discussion with you…
- The Petrus Development Show
197 - Is It Time? Signs Your Fundraiser Isn't Working Out
Welcome back to the Petrus Development Show! Andrew and Rhen return to tackle a topic no leader looks forward to: knowing when it's time to let a fundraiser…
- The Petrus Development Show
196 - When Your Job Is Your Faith: Finding Balance in Catholic Fundraising
Working in Catholic fundraising means your faith and your job are deeply intertwined, and that means it's sometimes surprisingly hard to clock out. When does…
- The Petrus Development Show
195 - Does the 40-Hour Workweek Work for Fundraisers?
Andrew and Rhen return to tackle a question that every fundraiser wrestles with: is the traditional 9-to-5, 40-hour workweek realistic in this profession? And…
- The Petrus Development Show
194 - What We Wish We Knew (Fundraising Advice to Our Younger Selves)
Join Andrew and Rhen, two veteran fundraisers, as they have a fun chat about the advice they'd give themselves if they could turn back the clocks to when they…
- The Petrus Development Show
193 - The Ultimate Nonprofit Summer Reading List
It's time to talk books! 📚 In this episode of the Petrus Development Show, Andrew and Rhen swap their usual fundraising advice for something a little more…
- The Petrus Development Show
192 - Fundraising Has a System — And You Can Learn It
Rhen is back on the Petrus Development Show with an exciting guest along for the ride. Meet Jenni Reamer, Petrus coursewriter and fundraising educator, who…
- The Petrus Development Show
191 - You Have a Leadership Committee — Now What?
Welcome back! In our previous episode, we explored why every organization needs a fundraising leadership committee (and how to form one!), but now it's time to…
- The Petrus Development Show
190 - Build It Right: Leadership Committees Done Well
What makes a great leadership committee — and who should be on it? In this week's episode, Rhen sits down with special guest Matt Bond to unpack one of the…
- The Petrus Development Show
189 - The Capital Campaign Comeback (Restarting Stalled Capital Campaigns)
Every capital campaign hits rough patches — but what separates the ones that succeed from the ones that stall out for good? In this episode, Andrew and Rhen…
- The Petrus Development Show
188 - The Next 100 Days: Checking In On Your Fundraising Goals
In this episode of the Petrus Development Show, Rhen sits down with Andrew for a practical and motivating conversation about how to finish your fiscal year…
- The Petrus Development Show
187 - Road-Ready: How to Travel Like a Pro Fundraiser
Andrew and Rhen are back with another practical, how-to episode — and this time, they're hitting the road. That's right, fundraisers travel. A lot. And since…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
178 - The Evolution of American Philanthropy with Andrew Robison
It seems obvious that communities should help their members in need, but —but is it really? The reasons behind our philanthropic impulses have shifted…
- The Petrus Development Show
177 - Small Events, Big Impact (Fundraising Events, Galas, Donor Cultivation): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
176 - Beyond the Basics: Charity vs. Philanthropy with Andrew Robison
This week, Andrew and Rhen are stepping away from the usual fundraising how-tos to explore something deeper: the real difference between charity and…
- The Petrus Development Show
175 - Campaign Mechanics that Matter (Pledge Fulfillment, Naming Opportunities, and More): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
174 - "Welcome to Petrus, Josh!" (Introducing our Summer Intern): Josh Weimer
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
173 - The Ask: When and How (Solicitation Considerations, Donor Visits): Andrew Robison
Fundraising professionals often ask Petrus about the nuances of soliciting donations. Join Andrew and Rhen as they tackle two of the most frequently asked…
- The Petrus Development Show
172 - Teaching to Fish (Fundraising Consulting Strategies): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
171 - Myth Busters - Fundraising Falsehoods Exposed: Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
170 - Trust, but Verify! (AI in Fundraising): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
169 - Navigating Fundraising Failure (Statistics and Strategies): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
168 -The 'Kill, Date, Marry' of Fundraising (Fundraising Concepts to Reject, Explore, and Preserve): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
167 - When Donors Get Angry (Difficult Conversations, Empathetic Listening): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
166 - Spring into Monthly Giving Success (Engaging Monthly Donors, Challenge Campaigns): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
165 - What's the Right Number? (Solicitation Amounts, Wealth Screening, Bold Asks): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
164 - Prioritize Passion (Hiring Fundraisers, Salaries, Incentive Plans): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
163 - Stacking the Deck (Giving Days, Matching Gifts, Capital Campaigns): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
162 - Let's RAISE The Bar On Your Fundraising Potential! (2025 RAISE Regional Workshops)
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
161 - What A Donor Wants (Responding to Donor Advice): Andrew Robison
We return with an episode that explores how fundraisers should handle advice from donors, particularly when it comes with strings attached to financial…
- The Petrus Development Show
160 - What Not To Wear: Petrus Edition (Professional Fundraising Attire): Andrew + Tara
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
159 - Diving Deep: Grants + Foundations (Research, Writing, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
In response to repeated inquiries about foundation funding, Petrus offers this special deep dive into how to maximize grantwriting success. Join Andrew and…
- The Petrus Development Show
158 - Follow Their Lead (Fundraising Etiquette, Donor Dinners, Galas): Andrew Robison
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
157 - Remain Calm + Do No Harm (Fundraising Etiquette, Formal Dinners, Donor Meetings): Andrew Robison
We're shaking things up this week and going in a unexpected direction - we're talking about table manners and more! In this episode, Andrew and Rhen, as the…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
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…
- The Petrus Development Show
148 - Double Your Success (Challenge Gifts, Matching Donors, Monthly Donations): Andrew Robison
This is nuts and bolts episode for anyone who wants to start hosting matching gift challenges. Andrew and Rhen will walk you step-by-step through the logistics…
- The Petrus Development Show
147 - Better Together (Donor Meetings with Team Members, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
Development directors make many donor visits alone, and that's just an accepted fact of schedules and logistics. Not everyone can come to every visit. That…
- The Petrus Development Show
146 - Inform. Ask. Repeat. (Communications Plans, Newsletters and Appeals, Direct Mail): Andrew Robison
We return this week with a Petrus Development Show episode on communications planning for development offices. Rhen is joined by Andrew Robison, our Petrus…