Petrus Blog

By Meghan Larsen-Reidy, Campus Minister, Diocese of Pittsburgh

My background is in ministry and not in development; however, the pandemic made it impossible to continue doing ministry without fundraising. There was a reduction in the funding source of my job’s budget, and in order for it to continue, I needed to begin fundraising. Suddenly the Petrus Development Conference, which had not been on my radar before Covid-19, seemed like the most logical event to attend in order to learn more. Although I was initially intimidated because of my lack of prior experience and knowledge of the other attendees, I was at ease after the first few sessions.  I was inspired to hear about the growth one ministry in particular had because of strategic fundraising.  The lessons shared were ones I could easily apply to my own situation. Throughout the few days, the talks varied between practical development strategies, inspiring stories of serious growth in ministries, and useful...

By Bryan Wilburn, Director of Development, St. Paul’s Newman Center at NDSU

What can you do when you’re in a rut? 

I suppose one option would be to stay there. To act as if it’s not happening and try to power through on your own. Oftentimes though, the first step to getting better is admitting something is wrong. 

This was where I found myself two and half years into my professional fundraising career. I had achieved a moderate level of success in annual giving and even some major giving for our Newman Center’s capital campaign. Even so, I was in a rut. There seemed to be so much more to fundraising, which I felt I wasn’t reaching. I would tell myself, “maybe I’m just not cut out for this.” It was then that my astute supervisor encouraged me to go to my first Petrus Conference in 2018.

To understand why I was in a rut, I want to acknowledge a real truth: fundraising is hard. Not only is fundraising hard as a...

Summertime is upon us again. Whether that means a break from 300 inches of snow or entering into a time of scorching 100 degree afternoons, summer is most definitely a time to enjoy a break from the hectic life of school, sports, meetings, and more. So what are you going to do with your summer free time?

At the risk of offering too many ideas and “harshing your summer vibe,” here are a few suggestions for the next few months.

1. Take a look back on the past year and remember what worked really well and what did not. Some people like to make lists and some people just like to spend an hour or so recapping in their minds. Wherever you fall, this time can be incredibly valuable from a “learn from the past” point of view. If you feel inspired, plan a lunch with some of your coworkers and put together a SWOT list from your ministry. Looking back and looking forward are always easier to do when life is slightly calmer so you may surprise yourself with how clear your...

Kerry Robinson, Global Ambassador, Leadership Roundtable

In this episode, Andrew visits with Kerry Robinson the Global Ambassador of Leadership Roundtable and author of the book, Imagining Abundance: Fundraising, Philanthropy and a Spiritual Call to Service. During their conversation Kerry details her experience working in development for the Catholic Student Center at Yale University and later goes on to describe the origins and legacy of Leadership Roundtable, packed with useful lessons along the way.

Show Notes:

• Kerry Robinson was the first Executive Director of Leadership Roundtable, beginning in 2005.
• Author of “Imagining Abundance,” published in 2014.
• Past Experience with St. Thomas More Catholic Center at Yale University. Raised $75 million in their capital campaign.
  • She began at St. Thomas More at Yale in 1997 while she was pregnant with her second child.
  • She didn’t intend to work in development (or even to work full time). She wasn’t...

John Flynn, Vice President of Philanthropy, FOCUS (Denver, CO)

In this episode, Andrew visits with the Vice President of Philanthropy for FOCUS, John Flynn. They discuss the impact that development can have on ministry as well as the importance of having a plan and a vision for your ministry. Two tools for success explored are the Case for Support and the Blue Ribbon Committee. Other successful development strategies are also highlighted. Most importantly, a development officer in the Catholic Church needs to be committed to a life of prayer and participation in the Sacraments.

Show Notes:

• John Flynn’s Work History:
  • 2010-Present: Vice President of Philanthropy, FOCUS (Denver, CO)
  • 2005-2010: Co-Founder, Petrus Development (Austin, TX)
  • 1994-2004: Director of Advancement, St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center (Lawrence, KS)
• John got involved with the St. Lawrence Catholic Center while he was a student at Kansas University. Fr. Vince Krische was the chaplain for the...

By Peter de Keratry, Co-Founder & CEO of Petrus Development; Executive Director of Stewardship and Advancement for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City

Intro by Andrew Robison, President of Petrus Development

This post is an excerpt from Episode 5 of The Petrus Development Show.

Recently, I sat down with Peter de Keratry, Co-Founder of Petrus Development for a conversation for The Petrus Development Show. We covered a variety of topics, but one topic we covered was what development officers truly need to do to build long-term success for their ministry.

Many development professionals, whether they are brand new or seasoned veterans, can struggle with a simple question: “Where do I start? Where is the best place to spend my time and energy today?” The reason that this is a constant struggle is because as development professionals for nonprofit organizations, we are regularly asked (and expected) to participate in just about every aspect of the ministry. Sometimes...

Peter de Keratry, CFRE, Executive Director of Stewardship and Advancement, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City; Co-Founder & CEO, Petrus Development 

In this episode of The Petrus Development Show, Andrew visits with Peter de Keratry, Executive Director of Stewardship & Development for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City as well as co-Founder of Petrus Development. Peter’s first real job in development started while he was still an undergraduate at Texas A&M, raising money for the St. Mary’s Catholic Center. Since then, Peter has had a significant impact on the development landscape across the Church and around the world. In this episode, Peter and Andrew talk about how Peter learned the art and science of fundraising, why and how they founded Petrus Development and what Peter thinks is the most important thing that any development professional can do for his or her organization.

Show Notes:

• Peter began his development career as a student at Texas A&M...

By Andrew Robison,  President of Petrus Development 

This post is an excerpt from the Fundraising Focus series presented by the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA).

Many years ago, I was sitting in a donor meeting with my boss at the time, Greg Gorman, and a major benefactor for St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M University. Pat and her husband had recently made a $50,000 gift to the Foundations in Faith capital campaign so this was a stewardship visit to bring her up to speed on the progress of the campaign. I remember Greg asked Pat a question, or maybe it was more of a statement to the effect of, “Pat, for you to make a gift of this size, you must have had a really wonderful experience at St. Mary’s when you were in school at A&M.”

Her response has stayed with me for many years and I still share it with development directors and chaplains today. Pat looked directly at Greg and said, “No, I really didn’t. I...

By Tara Doyon, Director of Stewardship and Development at St. Paul Catholic Center

Mission and vision statements function as essential guideposts for any organization but can be vital to the success or failure of a small nonprofit or ministry. These foundational documents allow your ministry to execute, evaluate, and grow or adapt your organization’s purpose and direction. When an organization’s mission and vision are clearly defined, they can motivate staff members and projects. When used effectively, these statements help to create organizational clarity and a sense of purpose. However, an organization with an undefined mission and vision tends to jump indiscriminately from activity to activity to sustain its present state.

A mission statement gives the reason your ministry exists: its purpose and objectives, a statement of the present. A vision statement focuses on the ministry’s goals and inspires action; it is a statement of the future.

Many...