By Rhen Hoehn, Director of Marketing

Ask a development director why a parishioner should leave a bequest, and the first answer is almost always about taxes. It's the safest-feeling answer available. It's concrete, it sounds like expertise, and it lets you talk about a will without talking about d...

As Christmas approaches, our calendars fill up with parties, pageants, shopping, and travel. 

For fundraisers, it’s also one of the busiest, and most fruitful, times of the year. December is when generosity shines brightest, and it’s the perfect season to show gratitude to the donors who make yo...

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...

By Mary Walker, Petrus Blog Contributor

When we think of fundraising events, we may picture galas with sponsorships, lots of guests, food, drink, auctions, and entertainment. 

Smaller events are a way to raise funds that let you connect with benefactors at a personal level. These events ar...

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...

By Rhen Hoehn, Director of Marketing.  This post first appeared on the Bloomerang blog.

Phone-a-thons have been a tried-and-true fundraising staple for decades. Gather volunteers, have them call a long list of donors, and have them make a solicitation. With fewer people picking up their phone for...

“Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is the advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.”

From the very first line in the prologue of his Rule, Saint Benedict is showing his desire ...

By Mary Hernandez, Petrus Blog Contributor

Three Cheers for the Class Gift

The class gift tradition is widely recognized in educational circles. Schools have received benches, statues, fountains, trees, and other commemorative items from grateful grads. Many Catholic ministries have invited...

St. Albert the Great’s monthly giving program is living! I don’t mean their monthly giving program is called the “Living Faith Society,” but it is actually living. It is growing and bringing life into their development program. And yours can too!

St. Albert the Great University Parish, or St. Al...

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. Ma...