The Petrus Development Show

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 wisdom.  A very small sample of the fundraising myths discussed includes: Skip hiring a fundraiser - peo...

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 Andrew and Rhen as they explore the practical ways artificial intelligence can become your most valuable (...

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 have countless reasons for declining that rarely relate to the fundraiser themselves. After sharing th...

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, and which ideas merit long-term commitment.

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 and Rhen tackle these awkward situations with practical advice for becoming a supportive listener.  Thei...

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 Petrus Development Show.  Listen HERE .) 

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 for donor asks.  In this epsiode, Andrew shares his experiences with determining donor ask amounts. ...

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 staff, and he closes by reminding organizations that once they find good development directors, they shoul...

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.  As Andrew and Rhen explain, when they talk about "stacking the deck", they're really talking about s...

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 in different regions of the country.  In making this shift, our annual RAISE event becomes more acces...

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 advice about how your organization should run its programs.  Andrew wisely distinguishes between valuab...

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 meetings and events.  We find this topic especially important because, as a fundraiser, your clothing...

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: Where can you find foundations that might support your organization?  Are there specific places to look...

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 as we all know, fundraising is about relationships.  If your dinner etiquette is rude or unappealing,...

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, Rhen and Andrew cover essential guidelines for fundraising professionals who interact with donors a...

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 donor outreach can't be skipped (even though it's scary!). Plus, get a bonus tip about why you don't h...

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 you take nothing else from this episode, remember this:  a clear and direct ask is the most important...

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 success. In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer the following questions: What is a giving day?  Why shou...

This week's episode of the Petrus Development Show is a unique one.  Join Rhen as he interviews Andrew Robison, owner and president of Petrus, about the history of Petrus and Andrew's role in making Petrus what it is today.  If you've ever wondered how Petrus got its start and became what it is today, this is the episode for you!   Andrew shares his journey with Petrus, detailing his progression f...

Petrus consultant Matt Bond joins Rhen on this episode of the Petrus Development Show to discuss all things donor visits.  This is another nuts and bolts interview geared especially for new fundraisers.  Listen now as Matt and Rhen walk you step-by-step through scheduling and hosting successful donor visits.  In this episode, Matt and Rhen answer the following questions: I've been told I need to g...

In this episode, Rhen and Andrew share stories from their early days as fundraisers, and they reassure new development officers that the world of nonprofit fundraising is, indeed, navigable.  This discussion is both a dose of encouragement AND a list of expectations and best practices.  If you're new to fundraising and need a specific path forward, this episode is for you!   In this episode, Andre...

A successful capital campaign requires lots of pre-planning as a warmup to the actual campaign.  The more you prepare prior to the campaign launch, however, the greater your chances of campaign success!  Listen in as Andrew and Rhen discuss, in detail, all of the things that should happen before you embark on a capital campaign.    In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer the following questions: H...

Andrew and Rhen return this week for a fun episode on fundraising trends.  The best fundraisers don't make assumptions about what works.  Instead, they look to data to make informed decisions about the fundraising activities that bear the most fruit.  Listen as Andrew and Rhen give statistics about average success rates for a variety of fundraising activities.  Use these statistics to set reasonab...

This is nuts and bolts episode for anyone who wants to start hosting matching gift challenges.  Andrew and Rhen will walk you step-by-step through the logistics of organizing a matching gift challenge, and they offer insight to all of the creative possibilities for these challenges.  After listening to this episode, you'll certainly be ready to begin your own matching gift challenge plans!  Andrew...

Development directors make many donor visits alone, and that's just an accepted fact of schedules and logistics.  Not everyone can come to every visit.  That said, there is a time and a place for bringing someone else with you on your visits, and Andrew and Rhen discuss how to best prepare for partnered visits and make the most of your time together with the donor.   In this episode, Andrew and Rh...