PODCAST · religion
The Petrus Development Show
by Petrus Development
On the Petrus Development show we discuss fundraising in the religious sector with those who are doing it best. Whether you are currently working in development, looking to start or relaunch a development program, or just curious about best practices this is the show for you! Hosted by Andrew Robison, president of Petrus Development.
Episodes
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203 - 6 Stages of Building a Fundraising Program: Part 3 - Personalize
Join Andrew and Rhen as they continue to journey through their series on the six stages of building a development office, and this week, they discuss stage 3, the Individualize Phase. Stage 3 introduces the addition of a strong major gifts program as an integral part of fundraising. Organizations...
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202 - 6 Stages of Building a Fundraising Program: Part 2 - Systematize
Andrew and Rhen return to continue their series on the six stages of building a development office, and this week, they discuss stage 2, the Systematize Phase. Stage 2 is specifically for organizations that are striving to add more order and professionalism to their fundraising program. In the...
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201 - 6 Stages of Building a Fundraising Program: Part 1 - The Bootstrapping Phase
Andrew and Rhen are back to launch a new series on the six stages of building a development office. Their framework breaks down fundraising growth into six phases, and it gives development professionals a way to pinpoint exactly where their organization stands - and what it takes to reach the…
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200 - AI Summit: Closing Q&A Session
Listen in to the closing session of Petrus's Virtual Summit on AI in Fundraising as Andrew Robison, Sarah Rose, Matt Bond, and Rhen Hoehn answer live questions from attendees, including: → How do you respond to employees who refuse to use AI? → Are data centers and AI harmful to the environment?…
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199 - AI Summit Demos: What Actually Works in Fundraising
Once again, this week's episode is a recording of Petrus Development's recent Virtual Summit on AI In Fundraising. This live discussion with our fundraising experts demonstrates practical uses of AI tools for common fundraising tasks. Specific examples of AI in fundraising include the following:...
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198 - Petrus Hosts an AI Virtual Summit (AI in Catholic Fundraising)
We're back with something different this week! We just hosted our first Virtual AI Summit at Petrus, and we're excited to share the panel discussion with you on the Petrus Development Show. As AI becomes more prevelant in our lives, Andrew and Petrus leaders a lot of time discussing the role of…
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197 - Is It Time? Signs Your Fundraiser Isn't Working Out
Welcome back to the Petrus Development Show! Andrew and Rhen return to tackle a topic no leader looks forward to: knowing when it's time to let a fundraiser go. As expected, they're not advocating for a quick, emotional decision. Andrew and Rhen are firm that firing should always come after real...
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196 - When Your Job Is Your Faith: Finding Balance in Catholic Fundraising
Working in Catholic fundraising means your faith and your job are deeply intertwined, and that means it's sometimes surprisingly hard to clock out. When does prayer become work prep? How do you say no to your parishioner requests on your day off? Where does the professional ministry end and the...
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195 - Does the 40-Hour Workweek Work for Fundraisers?
Andrew and Rhen return to tackle a question that every fundraiser wrestles with: is the traditional 9-to-5, 40-hour workweek realistic in this profession? And if not, what should fundraisers do instead? Andrew offers practical guidance on how fundraisers can build both balance and effectiveness...
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194 - What We Wish We Knew (Fundraising Advice to Our Younger Selves)
Join Andrew and Rhen, two veteran fundraisers, as they have a fun chat about the advice they'd give themselves if they could turn back the clocks to when they first started fundraising. They offer this advice to new fundraisers, just getting started in their careers, in hopes that it'll encourage...
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193 - The Ultimate Nonprofit Summer Reading List
It's time to talk books! 📚 In this episode of the Petrus Development Show, Andrew and Rhen swap their usual fundraising advice for something a little more relaxed: their all-time favorite non-fiction reads. This episode offers a summer reading list from two people who've actually put these books...
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192 - Fundraising Has a System — And You Can Learn It
Rhen is back on the Petrus Development Show with an exciting guest along for the ride. Meet Jenni Reamer, Petrus coursewriter and fundraising educator, who joins Rhen for a candid, thoughtful conversation about one of the most daunting challenges in the nonprofit world: building a fundraising...
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191 - You Have a Leadership Committee — Now What?
Welcome back! In our previous episode, we explored why every organization needs a fundraising leadership committee (and how to form one!), but now it's time to answer the question that really matters: What do you actually do with one? Matt joins Rhen again this week to dig into the nuts and bolts...
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190 - Build It Right: Leadership Committees Done Well
What makes a great leadership committee — and who should be on it? In this week's episode, Rhen sits down with special guest Matt Bond to unpack one of the more beneficial, yet confusing, structures in fundraising. Whether it's called an advisory committee, a fundraising committee, or a capital...
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189 - The Capital Campaign Comeback (Restarting Stalled Capital Campaigns)
Every capital campaign hits rough patches — but what separates the ones that succeed from the ones that stall out for good? In this episode, Andrew and Rhen dig into that very question. Andrew draws on his experience to identify the telltale signs that a campaign is in trouble, explore why…
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188 - The Next 100 Days: Checking In On Your Fundraising Goals
In this episode of the Petrus Development Show, Rhen sits down with Andrew for a practical and motivating conversation about how to finish your fiscal year strong — or, if your year is just beginning, how to start it with real intention. As summer approaches, it's the perfect time to pause and…
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187 - Road-Ready: How to Travel Like a Pro Fundraiser
Andrew and Rhen are back with another practical, how-to episode — and this time, they're hitting the road. That's right, fundraisers travel. A lot. And since most of that travel revolves around meeting donors face-to-face, knowing how to plan well can make the difference between a productive trip...
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186 - Work Smarter, Not Harder: AI for Fundraisers
Welcome back to the Petrus Development Show! In this episode, Andrew and Rhen share their experiences with AI for fundraisers, highlighting practical tools and strategies to transform your development office. Are you new to using AI in your work? Perfect—this is your starting point. Andrew and…
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185 - Measure What Counts (Fundraising Metrics, Lead and Lag Measures, Goals): Andrew Robison
Happy 2026! Are you looking to strengthen your fundraising this year? Andrew and Rhen are back with a practical episode on metrics and goal setting that goes beyond typical New Year's resolutions. In this episode, they break down the key metrics fundraisers should track to build a stronger...
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184 - Win December: Simple Strategies for Year-End Giving
December is crunch time for nonprofits. With a third of annual giving happening in the final weeks of the year, your development office can't afford to relax (yet!) for the holidays. Join Andrew and Rhen as they share three strategic moves to maximize your year-end fundraising. While the…
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183 - What Comes After Success? (Capital Campaign Endings, Pledge Fulfillment): Andrew Robison
Andrew and Rhen close out their capital campaign series by tackling a question many nonprofits don't think about until it's too late: What happens after you hit your goal? Please take note - the work isn't over! Yes, take time to celebrate (pop that champagne!), but the real opportunity lies in...
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182 - Silent to Public: Your Roadmap for Campaign Execution: Andrew Robison
The moment you've been waiting for is finally here—let's dive into the heart of capital campaigns! In this episode, Andrew and Rhen discuss the details of campaign execution, breaking down the two critical campaign phases: the silent phase and the public phase. While the two phases are equally...
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181 - Winning the Game on Paper (Capital Campaign Preparation Phase): Andrew Robison
Welcome back for part 2 of our 4-part series on all things capital campaigns! Last week, Andrew and Rhen explored feasibility studies. This week, they're tackling the critical preparation phase—that crucial period between your feasibility study and your first campaign ask. As Andrew emphasizes...
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180 - The Make-or-Break Step You Shouldn't Skip (Feasibility Studies, Capital Campaigns): Andrew Robison
Join Andrew and Rhen as they kick off an 4-part series that walks you through every stage of capital campaigns—from those critical first steps of the feasibility study to the post-campaign transition back to your annual fund. Whether you're considering a campaign or just curious about the…
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179 - Beyond Transactions: Catholic Social Teaching's Vision for Fundraising
Join Andrew as he reflects on how Catholic Social Teaching (CST), rooted in Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, fundamentally transforms his approach to fundraising. Andrew shares a bit of the history of CST from Rerum Novarum to the present, and he explores how the CST values of human...
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178 - The Evolution of American Philanthropy with Andrew Robison
It seems obvious that communities should help their members in need, but —but is it really? The reasons behind our philanthropic impulses have shifted dramatically throughout American history, and they're shaped by the social ideals and influential figures of each era. Why (and how) do we care…
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177 - Small Events, Big Impact (Fundraising Events, Galas, Donor Cultivation): Andrew Robison
It's back-to-school season, which means development teams are mapping out their fundraising calendars—and facing the same ol' dilemma. Do you throw a glitzy gala for 500 people, or host intimate wine tastings in board members' living rooms? Big events look impressive on paper (and in those...
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176 - Beyond the Basics: Charity vs. Philanthropy with Andrew Robison
This week, Andrew and Rhen are stepping away from the usual fundraising how-tos to explore something deeper: the real difference between charity and philanthropy. Turns out, these terms aren't interchangeable after all. While we often use them as synonyms, Andrew explains why that's actually…
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175 - Campaign Mechanics that Matter (Pledge Fulfillment, Naming Opportunities, and More): Andrew Robison
Andrew and Rhen are back on the Petrus Development Show to tackle the nitty-gritty campaign questions that keep development professionals up at night—the ones that often get pushed aside until they become urgent problems. What You'll Discover in this Episode: The Naming Game: When and how should...
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174 - "Welcome to Petrus, Josh!" (Introducing our Summer Intern): Josh Weimer
In this week's episode of the Petrus Development Show, Rhen chats with Josh Weimer, Petrus's summer intern. We invite you to spend 20 minutes getting to know Josh and his role with Petrus. As our youngest Petrus employee, Josh offers unique insight into generational differences in fundraising…
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173 - The Ask: When and How (Solicitation Considerations, Donor Visits): Andrew Robison
Fundraising professionals often ask Petrus about the nuances of soliciting donations. Join Andrew and Rhen as they tackle two of the most frequently asked questions that every development professional faces: How many donor visits should happen before making the ask? There's no magic number, but...
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172 - Teaching to Fish (Fundraising Consulting Strategies): Andrew Robison
Have you ever wondered how Petrus views its role as a fundraising coach? Or, why Petrus offers services the way we do? If so, this episode is for you! Andrew and Rhen take a look at all the ways fundraising consulting services can be offered, and they share details on Petrus's educational and...
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171 - Myth Busters - Fundraising Falsehoods Exposed: Andrew Robison
Andrew and Rhen are back with a fun episode this week where they discuss and debunk all kinds of fundraising myths. Rhen comes armed with nearly 20 fundraising myths that have been misleading nonprofits for years, and Andrew doesn't hold back in unpacks each one with hard truths and real-world...
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170 - Trust, but Verify! (AI in Fundraising): Andrew Robison
What if you could have an intern who works 24/7, never complains about tedious tasks, and costs almost nothing? While finding human help for repetitive fundraising tasks can be challenging and expensive, AI tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing how nonprofit development offices operate. Join...
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169 - Navigating Fundraising Failure (Statistics and Strategies): Andrew Robison
Andrew begins this episode by emphasizing that fundraisers should expect failures as normal parts of the job. There's no way to avoid potential donors who respond unfavorably, and to effectively handle this inevitable rejection, fundraisers have to remember that rejection isn't personal. Donors...
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168 -The 'Kill, Date, Marry' of Fundraising (Fundraising Concepts to Reject, Explore, and Preserve): Andrew Robison
Yes, you read that correctly! In this week's episode of the Petrus Development Show, Rhen quizzes Andrew on which fundraising concepts he would choose to kill, date, and marry. Listen as Andrew shares his thoughts on which fundraising ideas that should be nixed, which should be further explored,...
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167 - When Donors Get Angry (Difficult Conversations, Empathetic Listening): Andrew Robison
Ever faced a frustrated donor? If you've been fundraising for any length of time, chances are you've been on the receiving end of donor displeasure. Donor frustration comes in many forms - from upset letters and negative social media comments to exasperated responses when you reach out. Andrew…
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166 - Spring into Monthly Giving Success (Engaging Monthly Donors, Challenge Campaigns): Andrew Robison
As spring blooms, so does the opportunity for growing monthly giving. May sees a surge in new sign-ups, and in this episode, Andrew and Rhen share creative strategies to engage and inspire new monthly donors. (For more on the nuts and bolts of monthly giving programs, check out episode 139 of the...
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165 - What's the Right Number? (Solicitation Amounts, Wealth Screening, Bold Asks): Andrew Robison
It's a recurring question the life of a fundraiser: "How much money should I request from a donor when I meet with them?" If that's a question that continues to baffle you, we have good news! Andrew and Rhen return with an episode on tools you can use to determine the appropriate dollar amounts…
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164 - Prioritize Passion (Hiring Fundraisers, Salaries, Incentive Plans): Andrew Robison
Andrew and Rhen return to the podcast to discuss how organizations improve their chances of success when hiring development staff. As Andrew sums it up, he'll always choose to hire for passion and train for skill. Andrew also shares several soft skills that he seeks in potential development…
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163 - Stacking the Deck (Giving Days, Matching Gifts, Capital Campaigns): Andrew Robison
The phrase "stacking the deck" often has a negative connotation, leading people to think you're doing something unfair or manipulative. Good news! As we share in today's podcast episode, we think that "stacking the deck" in fundraising terms can be a wise and helpful strategy in many situations.…
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162 - Let's RAISE The Bar On Your Fundraising Potential! (2025 RAISE Regional Workshops)
We are thrilled to invite you to our 2025 RAISE Regional Workshops. As Andrew and Rhen share in the episode, Petrus is changing things up in 2025. Instead of hosting a large multi-day annual conference in 2025, we're changing our education strategy and offering 3 single-day fundraising workshops…
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161 - What A Donor Wants (Responding to Donor Advice): Andrew Robison
We return with an episode that explores how fundraisers should handle advice from donors, particularly when it comes with strings attached to financial contributions. In this episode, Andrew and Rhen chat about various ways to handle donors who, in addition to offering funds, also want to offer...
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160 - What Not To Wear: Petrus Edition (Professional Fundraising Attire): Andrew + Tara
Happy New Year! We're back with our first Petrus Development Show episode of 2025, and we return with a discussion about fundraising attire. Yep, you read that correctly. We're talking about clothing. In this episode, Andrew and Tara share details about how a fundraiser should dress for donor...
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159 - Diving Deep: Grants + Foundations (Research, Writing, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
In response to repeated inquiries about foundation funding, Petrus offers this special deep dive into how to maximize grantwriting success. Join Andrew and Rhen as they explore strategic approaches for nonprofits seeking grants. In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer these questions AND MORE:...
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158 - Follow Their Lead (Fundraising Etiquette, Donor Dinners, Galas): Andrew Robison
We're glad you're back for our second Petrus Development Show episode highlighting etiquette tips for fundraisers. As with our previous episode on good dining behavior, Andrew and Rhen offer specific rules for formal table manners. Again, we know this is a unique topic for one of our shows, but…
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157 - Remain Calm + Do No Harm (Fundraising Etiquette, Formal Dinners, Donor Meetings): Andrew Robison
We're shaking things up this week and going in a unexpected direction - we're talking about table manners and more! In this episode, Andrew and Rhen, as the leaders of our Petrus finishing school, discuss all things etiquette. While, at first glance, this topic might seem superficial and tedious,...
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156 - Stop Winging It (Fundraising Roadblocks, Donor Relationships, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
From the fundamental importance of a clear case for support to the often-overlooked power of donor stewardship, Andrew and Rhen unpack what really matters in building a sustainable fundraising program. Learn why winging it without proper planning holds organizations back. And, hear why personal...
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155 - Clear + Direct (Year-End Appeals, Timing, Options, Best Practices): Andrew Robison
As Andrew shares early in this episode, 30 percent of nonprofit giving is done in December. For this reason, your end-of-year appeal letter could be a major winner for your organization. Listen as Andrew and Rhen discuss ways to make your end-of-year appeal planning as fruitful as possible. If…
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154 - Giving Day Game Plan (Giving Days, Before+After Planning, Matching Donors): Andrew Robison
In this episode, Andrew and Rhen return with a short discussion on the pros and cons of giving days. (Let it be known, however, that we at Petrus think the pros definitely outweigh the cons!) This episode is great for anyone who is curious about giving days and their potential for fundraising...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
On the Petrus Development show we discuss fundraising in the religious sector with those who are doing it best.
Whether you are currently working in development, looking to start or relaunch a development program, or just curious about best practices this is the show for you!
Hosted by Andrew Robison, president of Petrus Development.
HOSTED BY
Petrus Development
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Petrus Development Show have?
The Petrus Development Show currently has 203 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Petrus Development Show about?
On the Petrus Development show we discuss fundraising in the religious sector with those who are doing it best. Whether you are currently working in development, looking to start or relaunch a development program, or just curious about best practices this is the show for you! Hosted by Andrew...
How often does The Petrus Development Show release new episodes?
The Petrus Development Show publishes regularly with 203 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Petrus Development Show?
You can listen to The Petrus Development Show on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Petrus Development Show?
The Petrus Development Show is created and hosted by Petrus Development.
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