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Petrus Schools and Churches
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Press Release
April 6, 2010
Austin, Texas
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Petrus Launches New Schools and Churches Division
As the 2010
National Catholic Education Convention (NCEA) gets underway in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, Petrus Development is
pleased to announce the creation of a new division: Petrus Schools & Churches.
In partnership with Pennington & Company of Lawrence, Kansas, this
venture will work with schools and churches to create sustainable fundraising programs,
conduct feasibility studies, and provide capital campaign counseling.
Peter de Keratry, CEO and founder of Petrus Development states, "I and many of our employees and friends have been positively affected by the
education we received in Catholic and private schools. We believe that more
can be done to help Catholic and private elementary schools, high schools and churches of various denominations to become more financially
stable. It is because of this need that
we have launched a venture called Petrus Schools & Churches."
Bob McKenney, Vice President of Pennington & Company, goes on to state, "this
venture is different from almost any fundraising program available today
because we seek to make the work of creating a sustainable fundraising program
possible even for the smallest school or organization.
Our system will work in school environments with little or no staff and
is intended to begin the process of creating meaningful relationships with alumni,
parents, and friends of the school or organization."
For more information about Petrus and our
services, download a brochure or continue reading the information included below.
Contact contact Peter de Keratry, CFRE at peter@petrusdevelopment.com or 1-888-5PETRUS to discuss how Petrus Schools and Churches can help your organization.
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Petrus Annual Fund Program
Designed
specifically for organizations with little or no staff dedicated to development,
the Petrus Annual Fund Program will allow
organizations to begin the process of creating meaningful benefactor relationships
with alumni, parents, and friends in the school community - a process that is
the cornerstone of any sustainable fundraising program.
Recognizing
that 'back-office' work is often the most challenging part of the fundraising
process for an organization with few staff members, the Petrus Annual Fund Program provides service
in the areas of database management, newsletter production and direct mail
appeal distribution.
Petrus will
create fall and spring editions of a four-page, full-color, newsletter telling
the story of an organization and its mission, and facilitate up to three mail
appeals such as: Back to School in August/September,
Christmas in November/December, and Lent in March/April. Client organizations
will receive and deposit all gifts resulting from these efforts and provide all
gift information to our office. Petrus staff will update the client database and
acknowledge and receipt all gifts on school letterhead.
The Petrus Annual Fund Program is
attractively priced at $1,000 per month plus expenses such as printing,
processing and postage. This service is an affordable alternative to hiring
full time staff, enabling schools, churches, parishes or other organizations of all sizes to begin
a professional, sustainable fund development process without the higher cost of
investing in additional staff.
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Feasibility and Planning Studies
Successful fundraising
campaigns are based on a strong foundation of informed and committed
benefactors. Prior to launching a
campaign for new programs, facilities, or other purposes, a comprehensive
feasibility and planning study process is absolutely vital. A Feasibility and Planning Study is not solely
about setting a goal for a possible campaign; it is an important way to engage
potential benefactors, volunteers, and stakeholders for a campaign and excite
them about the possibilities for the future.
Petrus
Feasibility and Planning Studies are generally comprised of 75 - 100
confidential interviews with potential major gift benefactors, key volunteers
and staff, as well as a representative sampling from various constituencies
within the school, church, or organization.
The latest in
electronic survey technology is also utilized to gain information from various
constituencies involved with a possible campaign. The e-survey tool allows all those in the organization
to have input into the potential campaign and, specifically for facilities
projects, input into the building process. We believe that benefactors who feel
they have been heard and who have a sense of ownership are much more likely to
make sacrificial gifts to campaigns.
At the
conclusion of the interview and survey process, Petrus Schools and Churches will
provide expert evaluation of the data and recommend a course of action for the
organization. In the event that a campaign is not recommended, Petrus will
provide suggestions to position the school or organization for a successful
campaign at a later date.
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Campaign Counseling
Successful campaigns provide the necessary
funding for new programs, facilities, or other items identified as campaign
priorities. At Petrus, the capital
campaign process is also an opportunity to set the stage for participation in annual
giving programs for years to come.
Establishing new programs, constructing buildings, or even endowing
staff positions is only half the battle.
Organizations must plan for future needs that will result from the
successful conclusion of a capital campaign effort.
Petrus staff will guide and
be actively involved in the entire campaign process. From careful campaign planning and staff and
volunteer training, to the production of quality case materials and visits to
campaign prospects, Petrus will work directly with staff and volunteers to facilitate
major gift visits and all levels of requests for campaign gifts. Campaign service
also includes the production of mail appeals following the visit stage of the campaign
and proactive involvement in the pledge acknowledgment and fulfillment process.
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About Petrus Development
Petrus consultants have extensive experience
in the fund development field and have been part of efforts raising more than
$650 million for various religious, educational and service organizations.
Working hand in hand with non-profit leaders, staff and volunteers, Petrus has
a proven record of success and commitment to clients.
Petrus is excited
to expand and enhance our fund development consulting services through the new
Schools and Churches division.
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For information about this or other Petrus services, contact:
Peter de Keratry, CFRE peter@petrusdevelopment.com 1-888-5PETRUS www.petrusdevelopment.com
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