It's an exciting time at Petrus as we launch our newest podcast for Catholic fundraising professionals, Catholic Tech Table.  In this introductory episode, Andrew shares an overview for this podcast's future, and he highlights how Catholic professionals can wisely navigate AI usage in their ministri...

Most fundraisers don’t fail because they lack good ideas.
They fail because they keep abandoning good work in search of better ideas.

Creativity gets most of the attention in fundraising conversations. 

New events. New campaigns. New messaging angles. New tools. New platforms. 

There is a...

As Christmas approaches, our calendars fill up with parties, pageants, shopping, and travel. 

For fundraisers, it’s also one of the busiest, and most fruitful, times of the year. December is when generosity shines brightest, and it’s the perfect season to show gratitude to the donors who make yo...

When you walk into a donor meeting, you’re not just bringing your case for support, you’re bringing yourself. 

How you present yourself matters. 

Attire won’t close a gift on its own, but the wrong choices can distract, undercut confidence, and even send unintended signals. 

Fundraisers ...

If you have been in fundraising for any length of time, you’ve probably received some advice that made you stop and think, “There is no way that actually works.” 

Sometimes this advice comes from well-meaning friends, board members, or even other nonprofit leaders. The problem is that bad Cathol...

Picture this: Your organization's biggest donor prospect has finally agreed to meet about funding your new project. They're busy, they're selective about their philanthropic investments, and they've just said those magic words: 

"Let's discuss this over dinner. You pick the place." 

Suddenly, y...

We’ve all been there. You’re brainstorming ideas for the next fundraiser and someone says, “What about a raffle?” It’s simple. It’s familiar. It feels like easy money.

Sure, raffles can bring in some quick funds and add a little fun to your fundraising calendar. But are they actually worth it?

Want to see better results from your fundraising efforts? 

Don’t just send mass emails, reach out one-to-one.

Yes, mass communication can raise awareness, but if you really want a prospect to RSVP, donate, or sign up, there’s no substitute for a personal message. 

Phone calls, texts, ema...

By Andrew Robison, Petrus President

As a Catholic fundraising professional with two decades of experience working alongside Church and nonprofit leaders, I've witnessed firsthand how Catholic Social Teaching (CST) shapes successful fundraising practices. The intersection of these principles wi...

If you're looking for ways to improve your Catholic fundraising results, you're not alone. 

Every Catholic ministry, school, campus ministry, and parish wants their appeals to inspire donors and move them to action.

Here’s one simple but powerful strategy to get there: set clear appeal goals...

Father Michael had seen it all before. A generous donor seemed enthusiastic, nodding along, asking great questions, and even mentioning how much they admired the campus ministry's mission. 

Then came the ask. 

The donor smiled, said they’d think about it, and promised to follow up soon. Week...

If you could make your donor calls 16 times more effective, would you? Of course you would. And the best part? You don’t need a new CRM, a bigger list, or a groundbreaking pitch. 

It just takes is three simple adjustments, all backed by research.

These aren’t gimmicks. They’re data-driven ch...