Every fundraiser eventually walks out of a donor meeting thinking, well, that didn't go how I planned.

Maybe the donor was cold. Maybe leadership said the wrong thing. Maybe the setting was a disaster. Maybe you realized halfway through that this was absolutely not the moment for an ask.

The...

Most fundraisers don’t fail because they lack good ideas.
They fail because they keep abandoning good work in search of better ideas.

Creativity gets most of the attention in fundraising conversations. 

New events. New campaigns. New messaging angles. New tools. New platforms. 

There is a...

If you have been in fundraising for any length of time, you’ve probably received some advice that made you stop and think, “There is no way that actually works.” 

Sometimes this advice comes from well-meaning friends, board members, or even other nonprofit leaders. The problem is that bad Cathol...

By Andrew Robison, Petrus President

As a Catholic fundraising professional with two decades of experience working alongside Church and nonprofit leaders, I've witnessed firsthand how Catholic Social Teaching (CST) shapes successful fundraising practices. The intersection of these principles wi...

Father Michael had seen it all before. A generous donor seemed enthusiastic, nodding along, asking great questions, and even mentioning how much they admired the campus ministry's mission. 

Then came the ask. 

The donor smiled, said they’d think about it, and promised to follow up soon. Week...

The start of the year is full of fresh goals, long to-do lists, and that faint hope that this will be the year you finally organize your inbox. (Spoiler alert: it won’t be.) 

But there’s one task you should definitely add to your calendar that’s both rewarding and surprisingly easy:  stewardship me...

Major donors are game-changers for Catholic nonprofits, especially during year-end fundraising campaigns. Their generosity doesn’t just fuel your mission—it inspires others to give, and it sets the tone for your entire campaign. But, to unlock their full potential, you need to engage them strategica...

The end of the year is fast approaching—cue the Christmas carols, holiday lights, and of course, the critical fundraising push for nonprofits like yours. For major gifts officers, this is crunch time. 

Generosity is at its peak during these last few months - in fact, 30% of annual giving happens...

Let's Discuss the Importance of Fundraising Events.

Most fundraisers realize that events are a key component in a well-rounded development program. 

However, not all events should include an ask for financial support. 

Your nonprofit’s development event calendar should reflect the sam...

If your Catholic nonprofit newsletter feels stale, expensive, or ineffective, the problem probably isn’t the format.

It’s the strategy.

In Catholic fundraising, your newsletter is not a report. It is a donor formation tool.

Done well, it strengthens donor identity, reinforces mission, and drives ...

By Rhen Hoehn, Director of Marketing

I'm often asked, “Why would I spend time and money to go meet donors for coffee when I can just send them an email or letter?”

Or, “Wouldn’t it be easier and cheaper to put a little time into grant writing, rather than meeting with people and hoping some o...

By Rhen Hoehn, Director of Marketing

Have you ever had a donor call and thank you for thanking them so well?

Believe it or not, it does happen. It should be your goal to earn one of those calls this year.

Here is one simple, often-overlooked way to make it happen.

Just One Per Day

Th...