The Petrus Development Show

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 program from scratch.


Drawing from her firsthand experience launching a fundraising program for a college campus ministry, Jenni gets real about the highs, the lows, and everything in between. What kept her going when things got tough? What surprised her most along the way? She shares it all — and her biggest takeaway might just be the encouragement you need to hear: fundraising has a system. With the right training and processes in place, even first-time fundraisers can find their footing and thrive.


If you want to dive deeper into the building blocks of a successful fundraising program, consider joining the Petrus BOAT Program this summer. As Rhen and Jenni break it down, BOAT is all about understanding how fundraising activities connect — and how smart strategy and intentional planning can make a real difference in your results. Don't miss it!

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 of ongoing committee management. Building your leadership committee is just the beginning. The real work starts when they show up to serve.


As Matt emphasized last time, this is a working committee. Members are expected to share potential donor names, make meaningful introductions, and help organize cultivation events — but none of that happens effectively without the right training.


Matt shares his go-to training methods, the most common leadership committee mistakes he's witnessed firsthand, and practical advice for handling members who aren't pulling their weight.  Whether you're building from scratch or breathing new life into an existing committee, this episode is for you.

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 campaign committee, don't get hung up on the name — the function is what matters. 


Rhen and Matt dig into the ideal size, scope, and makeup of an effective committee. They get specific about who belongs at the table, and as Rhen summarizes, it likely comes down to three things: faith, influence, and affluence. Matt also pulls back the curtain on the common mistakes leaders make — the kind that can quietly undermine even the most well-intentioned committee.


And just when you think you have the full picture, Rhen ends the episode on a cliffhanger. This episode covers the roles and responsibilities of leadership committee formation, but tune in next time for a deep dive into day-to-day committee management.

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 momentum fades, and offer a practical roadmap for leaders ready to course-correct. It's an honest, encouraging conversation that reminds us: bold leadership and candid dialogue can breathe new life into even the most stuck campaign.

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 take stock: Are you hitting your professional goals? How are your lead measures tracking? This episode is your nudge to check in before you fall behind.



Andrew shares why short-term goals — ones you can realistically complete within a month or two — are so powerful, and why every fundraiser should keep a close eye on their lead measure activity. Successful fundraising comes down to consistent donor calls and visits, and building in a quarterly 100-day review gives you the chance to course-correct while there's still time to make a difference.

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 and a exhausting one. 


In this episode, Andrew and Rhen share their recommendations for planning strategic, efficient work travel in your role as a fundraiser. How do you decide who to meet and when? How many meetings can you realistically fit into a day? And which meetings are worth prioritizing when you're on the road? They cover all of that, and they also discuss the value of spontaneity and flexibility when cancellations happen and gaps appear in your schedule.


Whether you're an experienced road warrior or just starting to build your travel rhythm, this episode includes with best practices to help you make the most of every trip.

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 Rhen reveal their favorite tools and offer examples of how they're using AI to save time and boost results.


And, yes, AI can feel intimidating. But, here's the truth: it's not here to replace the heart of fundraising—donor relationships. Instead, it eliminates tedious tasks that steal your time, freeing you to focus on what truly matters: mission-driven work and meaningful relationships.

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 program—including the important difference between lead measures (what predicts success) and lag measures (what shows results). Andrew shares realistic benchmarks for dollars raised, donor meetings, communication frequency, database growth, and more.


Whether you're new to tracking metrics or refining your approach, this episode will help you focus on the numbers that actually drive fundraising growth.


And if you want to learn more about fundraising metrics and development strategies, join us at an upcoming Petrus RAISE workshop! Texas, we're headed your way first—sign up now!

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 strategies they discuss are simple and inexpensive, they will require some time and thoughtfulness. Don't wait until the end of the month to scramble for strategy. Listen now and set yourself up for success.

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 what you do next. This is your chance to transform one-time campaign donors into loyal, long-term supporters of your annual fund.


Andrew and Rhen break down the essential tasks for transitioning out of campaign mode, including how to ensure those pledges actually turn into payments. Their advice centers on two key strategies: consistent communication and donor education.  Invest in your donors now, and they'll invest in your mission for years to come.


For the pledge redemption resource Rhen mentioned in the episode, check out our Petrus website by clicking HERE.