Knowing who your donors are can make a huge difference in your ability to prioritize and maximize time and effort.

A Data Analysis conducted by Petrus includes a wealth screening and strategic review of the donors and prospects in your pool.

In the development world databases are critical tools. 

By using a database effectively organizations can see an increase in response rates and increases in donations.

The importance of capturing quality donor information cannot be over-emphasized. It can transform a development program.

A Database Review conducted by Petrus can help you understand what your database needs are, and help set you up for success by incorporating best practices immediately.

In a development program that is firing on all cylinders grants can play a critical role in moving certain projects forward.

However, grants can be extremely time-consuming and usually offer a very low rate of return, so it’s not a good strategy to focus too much energy here if the time is not right.

Petrus Development can take the pressure off your organization by providing expert counsel on which grants to pursue, and can even provide an experienced grant writer to prepare proposals for your organization.

There is no guarantee when it comes to grant writing, but having experts in your corner developing strategy and preparing the proposals can improve your chances significantly.

Every organization is unique in its development program status and what its immediate needs might be.

The first step for determining how to move forward is to assess your organization’s starting point.

This Program Assessment can be conducted over the phone, but a more intensive in-person assessment can yield stronger understanding and help set a better course to success.

In the fundraising world we often talk about the “5 rights" for making an ask.

This means that when asking an individual to support your ministry, you should be asking:

• the Right Person
• in the Right Place
• for the Right Amount
• toward the Right Project
• at the Right Time.

Getting all of these factors in order can make or break years' worth of preparation and set a project on the right trajectory.

The Petrus Proposal Review is a way to have experienced consultants look over your materials and offer feedback on how to maximize success.

In the book Good to Great, author Jim Collins stresses the importance of “getting the right people on the bus.” In other words, good organizations need a first-class team of people doing what they love and what they are good at in order to become a great organization.

For nonprofits that have never hired a development director – or have hired someone who did not make the organization more successful – this can be a challenge.

Petrus Development has interviewed thousands of candidates over the years and has helped hundreds  of organizations make the right hiring choice.

We understand what qualities are important to consider, and what caution signs to be on the lookout for.

Take confidence in the fact that we can help organizational directors and boards be discerning and hire the right person for the job.

This service is typically included in our Major Gifts Coaching services. but please contact us if you need a search as a stand-alone service.

Lewis Carroll said it best in Alice in Wonderland, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

Vision and purpose are key to moving a nonprofit forward in the right direction.

But what do you do if you have plenty of ideas and can’t decide which to pursue? In Catholic organizations this is often the case. There are so many well-intended people offering advice on ideas and possibilities that it can be paralyzing to know how to choose what is best.

Gathering together key leaders and staff for the purpose of discussing the possibilities and discerning where God is calling your organization is an incredibly life-giving exercise.

Out of a Visioning Day, short- and long-term objectives can be set and everyone can rally behind the priorities to make them happen. A vision and clear set of priorities will help to engage donors in your mission as well.

There are many formats to a Visioning Day, and Petrus is able and willing to work with your team to design a program that works best for your ministry.