Conference Welcomes Record Number of Participants

“It is imperative to be passionately and totally committed to the cause you represent.  It is important that you not be a “development person;” someone who just pitches a good cause.  You must believe in what you are representing, you must truly care for the cause, your heart and soul must be in the work.”

These words contributed by Kansas philanthropist John Menghini launched the 4th Annual Petrus Leadership Conference held January 5-7, 2009 in Austin, Texas.

This year a record-setting 83 conference participants from throughout the United States traveled to Austin, Texas for top-level training in building effective, relationship-based fund development programs. Priest Directors, Development Professionals, and leaders in Catholic campus ministry as well as related non-profit organizations such as Busted Halo and FOCUS gathered for presentations on topics relating to core elements of successful development efforts including major gift solicitation, strategic planning, communications and marketing, grant writing, and creating a development plan.

John Flynn, Petrus Principal and Fr. Lawrence Seyer, Director at USC Catholic Center meet at a break during the 2009 Petrus Leadership Conference.

This conference offered a unique opportunity for leaders in Catholic campus ministry to approach fund development as a ministry and through the lens of faith. A Priest participant from the Midwest said, “What I really loved about the Petrus Leadership Conference is that we are all from Catholic campus ministry centers, but there was absolutely no sense of competition with each other. Everyone was pulling for me and my center to be successful. We were all eager to help each other and I learned so much! I can’t wait to get back home and apply this to my center.” Another participant described the conference as, “absolutely one of the best I’ve attended, including those in education and military. Well done!”

Petrus Development is committed to strengthening the Catholic presence in higher education through helping our clients establish sustainable fund development programs.

 

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