By Andrew Robison, President of Petrus Development 10 Strategies to Capture and Re-engage Alumni Ministries and nonprofit organizations are always trying to grow their database of donors. For organizations who have students or program participants, alumni will typically be the largest and most connected segment of their donor population. Many of our campus ministry and Newman Center partners have hundreds…

By Andrew Robison, President of Petrus Development Moves Management and Donor Visits The key ingredient in every great development officers recipe for success is the same...a relentless focus on face-to-face visits. There are certainly a number of other annual targets and goals, but if you can get in front of donors and prospects at least 180-200 times per year (or…

By Ryan Kekula, Director of Development of Warhawk Catholic Campus Ministry at U of Wisconsin - Whitewater My Reflections on the 2018 Petrus Leadership Conference 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…

By Mark Randall, CFRE, Executive Director of Pontifical North American College (Rome) A Year-End Fundraising Checklist As we approach the end of the calendar year, development teams are in full swing. With estimates of 30% of all annual giving taking place in December (and 12% in the last three days of the year!), we have reason to be active. But no…

By Andrew Robison, President of Petrus Development Six Books for Any Catholic Fundraiser's Christmas List 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 list. Not really being one to spend much time thinking…

By Mike Perkins, South Area Director at the Fellowship of Catholic University Students Get the Good Word Out with Effective Newsletters Henry Ford said, “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” 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…

By Jamie Cappetta, President at USC Caruso Catholic Center 5 Reasons to read "A Spirituality of Fundraising" by Henri Nouwen 5. You will be Encouraged “Fundraising is a very rich and beautiful activity. It is a confident, joyful and hope-filled expression of ministry. In ministering to each other, each from the riches that he or she possesses, we work together for…

By Tara Doyon, Director of Stewardship and Development at St. Paul Catholic Center Making a Statement: Mission and Vision 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…

By Andrew Robison, President of Petrus Development Is "Crisis Giving" an Effective Development Strategy? No matter where in the country you are, you have undoubtedly seen the images of the destruction that Hurricane Harvey has left in its wake. Over 21 trillion gallons of water across Texas and Louisiana, over 50 inches of rain in many parts of Houston and…

By John Flynn, Vice President of Philanthropy Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) Hiring a Great Development Director 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 hiring a Development Director. Those conversations commonly begin with…