Petrus Blog

By Mary Walker, Petrus Blog Contributor

Latest Information on Giving Trends

Giving USA 2022: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2021 was released in June.  The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy researched and wrote the report. 

The following are highlights that I thought would interest Petrus clients and blog readers. The opinions expressed below are my own. If you would like more detail, summary information is available for free here. You can subscribe to the ENTIRE report here.

• Strong Giving Trend in 2020 Continued in 2021

In 2020, the year that we adjusted our fundraising programs and expectations due to COVID, more money was given than in any previous year studied--and about 5% more than in 2019. See last year’s blog post for my analysis of why 2020 was a time of great generosity.

When adjusted for inflation, the amount given in 2021 was essentially flat. So, the bad news is that...

In this episode, Andrew visits with Juliette Picciano, former director of the Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal for the Archdiocese of New York and current president of Cathedral High School in New York.  (Juliette changed positions between when this podcast was recorded and when it was published!)  Andrew and Juliette chat about Juliette’s work on the Cardinal’s Appeal and how her fundraising methods successfully adapted to the pandemic.  The two also discuss trends in Catholic giving, and they highlight Juliette’s unique and successful hiring strategy.   

Show Notes

Background

Juliette is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, and when she applied for her first teaching job, she ended up working in the school’s admissions department.  Juliette shares a touching story about the formational moment in which she decides to pursue a career in fundraising.  After working in a variety of development positions for the...

In this episode, Tara Troy Doyon, Petrus Development Consultant, engages us with 10 tips for Donor Zoom Calls. This Petrus Lunch and Learn session is so helpful in wading through all the changes we are dealing with in this new time for fundraising. Tara breaks the process down so easily and makes it achievable. Let us know what tips you try.

Show Notes:

Tara's 10 Tips:

1. Outline what you want to say

• Have cue cards
• Have a compelling story
• Make sure you are clear on the ask project & amount

2. Practice your session

• Talk through different scenarios, be prepared to totally shift if they   deliver bad news
• Test computer audio & video
• Redirect your eye to the computer camera

3. Create an appropriate environment

• Be aware of background and surroundings, including lightening.  Play   around with different settings
• Minimize noise distractions such as children or pets, or cell phones

4. Dress professionally

• Wear muted color clothing, no...

By Mary P. Walker, Petrus Blog Contributor & Local Charity Board Member

Right now, my daughter is in our guest bedroom teaching 130 7th grade students math. To be effective, she developed new skills, tested new teaching methods, and ramped up communication with her students’ parents. She is adding some wonderful tools that will serve her well when she gets out of our bedroom and back into a classroom.

What tools are we, as fundraisers, adding to our toolboxes? Let’s take a few minutes and reflect on how our current ways of coping, ministering, and paying the bills might empower us to do our jobs even better when this crisis is over. The following are some things I’ve been thinking about.

Longing for Mass and the Sacraments

While we are now getting used to not physically attending Mass or receiving the sacraments, most of us can’t wait until that changes. Even if our benefactors and community did not always attend Mass every Sunday or receive the...