How can a development committee increase the effectiveness of your development office?
What is a development committee, and how does it function?
Recently Petrus Development President Andrew Robison was on site with Steve Nache from Lumen Christi Institute in Chicago. They had the...
As the practice of fundraising has evolved and become more professionalized and complex, many new terms have been created or repurposed that people unfamiliar with fundraising may not understand. For this reason, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) developed a complete glossary of...
Catholic campus ministries and Newman Centers often face the challenge of building and maintaining a robust alumni donor base.
Alumni are typically the most connected and potentially generous segment of a ministry's donor population, yet many organizations struggle to effectively capture alumni...
By Andrew Robison, President of Petrus Development
In the world of nonprofit fundraising, the key ingredient in every successful development officer's strategy is a relentless focus on face-to-face visits. While other annual targets and goals are important, nothing is as crucial as getting in...
By Ryan Kekula, Director of Development of Warhawk Catholic Campus Ministry at U of Wisconsin – Whitewater
The day I showed up at the 2018 Petrus Leadership Conference in San Antonio, TX, I had been a Development Director for exactly 97 days. Suffice it to say, I had no idea what to...
As we approach the end of the calendar year, Catholic fundraisers are in full swing. Studies show that 30% of all annual giving takes place in December (and 10% in the last three days of the year!). Development teams have reason to be active. Here are ten donor-centric ideas to help you...
By Andrew Robison, President of Petrus Development
"A capacity, and taste, for reading gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others.” – Abraham Lincoln
Every year as we get close to Christmas, my family always asks me to give them my Christmas...
Henry Ford said, “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.”
Nonprofit newsletters, when done well, can be an effective means of spreading the good word about your mission and ministry. At the same time, quality work can produce a return on the investment...
By Jamie Cappetta, President at USC Caruso Catholic Center
5 Reasons to read “A Spirituality of Fundraising” by Henri Nouwen
"A Spirituality of Fundraising" is a mandatory read for all Catholic fundraising professionals. It is a short read, and you will not regret...
Importance of Mission and Vision Statements
Mission and vision statements are essential guideposts for any organization, especially for small nonprofits or ministries. These foundational documents help your ministry execute, evaluate, grow, and adapt your organization’s purpose and...
By Andrew Robison, President of Petrus Development
The Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and Louisiana, leaving destruction in its wake. Over 50 inches of rain fell in many parts of Houston and Southeast Texas, leading to:
- 500,000 ruined cars...
By John Flynn, Vice President of Philanthropy
Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)
Good development people are hard to come by. Great development people are even tougher to find.
We often talk to leaders who are quick to share their true feelings about their experience of...
