The Petrus Development Show

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 Systematize Phase, organizations are making a plan that allows funds to flow into the organization more frequently and from a wider donor base.  Andrew shares how organizations in this stage are making intentional choices for growth and repetition.  It is during this stage that organizations take a leap of faith and hire a dedicated development staff persion, and they have a full calendar that strategically follows the inform and ask outreach cycle.  


(And, now that you're curious about the stages of development offices, we invite you to return next week for stage 3, the transition to include strong major gifts asks as an integral part of an organization's fundraising.)

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 next level.


This week, Andrew and Rhen chat about stage 1, the Creation (or Bootstrapping) Phase, and they're speaking specifically to organizations just getting started in fundraising. They dig into what these organizations need to nail down before they can even think about building a sustainable program. At this stage, it's all about data collection and calendars. Andrew flags the activities you can safely ignore for now, and he introduces Petrus's BOAT program as a practical next step for organizations at this level.


Next week, we move from the survival mode of stage 1 into the systems and repetition of stage 2. Throughout this series, Andrew and Rhen will help you see exactly where your fundraising program is headed, and they'll highlight what it takes to get there at each step along the way.  

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?
→ Will offloading tedious tasks to AI cause burnout by leaving staff only with emotionally taxing work?
→ Is there a way to encourage AI adoption without undermining the dignity of workers doing replaceable tasks?

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:

Annual Fund demonstrations included efforts like planning a communications calendar, searching through testimonials, drafting a newsletter article, and repurposing newsletter content for social media channels.


Major Gifts demonstrations included developing a meeting prep brief for a donor visit, determining an ask amount for a donor, and organization donor notes after a visit.


Project management demonstrations included developing a gala plan, drafting event communications, and creating committee agendas.

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 AI in Catholic fundraising.  Specifically, how can we, as faithful Catholics, use AI for good?  This panel discussion unpacks how Catholic fundraisers can approach AI responsibly in light of Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. 


Panelists discuss:
- Their own journey of learning and using AI 
- Their biggest takeaway is from Magnifica Humanitas 
- Whether the Catholic church is ready to embrace AI 
- Predications about where AI is heading in coming months and years

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 effort, coaching, and correction. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, the kindest thing you can do — for your fundraiser, your team, and your mission — is to respectfully cut ties.  



Andrew walks through the specifics: how to recognize when it's truly time, what to do before making the call, and what to do after. Your pre-decision groundwork helps you figure out whether the issue is a training gap or a fit issue. Your post-decision follow-through is what lets you communicate the change clearly and compassionately to your staff, donors, and community.



The bottom line: letting a fundraiser go doesn't have to mean burning bridges. When done with care, the transition can protect your mission and everyone involved.

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 personal faith life begin?


In this episode, Andrew and Rhen draw on their years of experience in Catholic development to candidly discuss these tensions. They share the struggles they've faced, the boundaries they've learned to set, and the strategies that have helped them protect their personal lives without losing their love for the mission.

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 into their professional lives. The reality of fundraising often means stepping outside standard office hours. Donors may only be available in the evenings, and galas or other events frequently fall on weekends. Andrew encourages fundraisers to embrace the flexibility their role demands, not just in when they work, but in how they rest and recharge as well. He also shares how building trust and setting clear expectations with ministry leadership will be foundational for successfully navigating an unpredictable schedule.


Andrew and Rhen also introduce an exciting summer opportunity from Petrus: the Summer Coaching Sprint. This program helps fundraisers and development teams create sustainable schedules, build out actionable plans, and sharpen their skills

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 and offer reassurance.  

Core themes during their chat include the importance of bold, specific asks (since a "no" is often just a delayed "yes"), building a fundraising operation where annual giving and major gifts work together, keeping messaging simple and repetitive, and leaning on professional networks and mentors rather than going it alone.

And, if you're looking for structured professional development opportunities this summer, check out Petrus's Summer Coaching Sprint.  Spend 3 months this summer with a Petrus coach and receive fundraising advice, mentorship, and more!

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 to work — in their professional lives and in their personal lives.


From effective business and marketing strategies to personal growth game-changers, Andrew and Rhen share details of how their favorite books made a difference in their lives.  Settle in with your coffee and a pen and paper and make a list of books to add to your summer reading list.  There's something for everyone!


🌟 And, if you're looking for structured, summertime professional development, check out Petrus's newest coaching option, our Summer Coaching Sprint.  Join us for 3 months of coaching calls and access to Petrus resources, and you'll end spring with your fall fundraising plan ready to go.  For more info, click HERE.