Blackbaud and the Charleston Battery Team Up to Engage the Community

Charleston, S.C. (Jan. 28, 2010) - Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), the leading global provider of nonprofit software and services, announced that it is partnering with the Charleston Battery professional soccer team to incorporate a different philanthropic theme to every home match. 

Blackbaud and the Charleston Battery will bring the company's mission of "making the world a better place" to life at 13 home matches by featuring a nonprofit-of-the-match, raising awareness for a local nonprofit organization. With philanthropic focus areas including the environment, education, and families in need, Blackbaud and the Charleston Battery will work together to make each home game a special "giving back" event.

"Blackbaud is well known both locally and within the nonprofit community; it's an organization that knows nonprofits," said Andrew Bell, president of the Charleston Battery. "Our season starts with the first home game on March 13, and we are looking forward to leveraging the expertise Blackbaud has with the nonprofit industry and bringing a sense of philanthropy to our community."

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Blackbaud in the News: Going online for independent fundraising events

From the Philanthropy Journal:

By Mark Davis, director of Technical Solutions for Blackbaud and Meghan Dankovich, director of consulting for Event 360

Each year, people fundraise on behalf of their favorite nonprofits in any number of events like runs, walks, bicycle rides, auctions, car washes and hundreds of other creative ways.

We all are familiar with the large, nationally-organized fundraising events like the Heart Walk and the Memory Walk.

But what about the numerous smaller independent fundraising events that can be as small as a simple bake sale or a single runner training for a marathon?

While not as prominent as the better-known fundraising campaigns, these events have a distinct advantage in that they essentially cost nothing for the beneficiary organization, as the expenses are covered by the independent event organizer.

Blackbaud recently partnered with Event 360 on a research project to better understand the common denominators of a successful programmatic approach to third-party fundraising.

The analysis showed that online registrations, donations and fundraising-per-participant are increasing, and that independent fundraising events represent a growing revenue source, especially online, for many organizations.

Based on a Blackbaud assessment, there was an estimated $300 million raised in 2008 in the United States from these types of events, indicating that organizations should find better ways to cultivate these fundraisers and provide the support they need to succeed.

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Register for the February 3 web seminar and download the complete study at www.blackbaud.com/IFE.

Independent Fundraising Events Bring Big Returns for Nonprofits

Charleston, S.C. (January 22, 2010) – In a time when overall fundraising is on the decline, independent fundraising events are raising more money and growing in participation and donors, according to a recent Blackbaud, Inc., (Nasdaq: BLKB) and Event 360, Inc. study. Independent fundraising events (IFE) are activities designed and run by volunteers to raise money on behalf of a specific nonprofit organization.

Blackbaud partnered with Event 360 on a research project to better understand the common denominators of a successful programmatic approach to third-party fundraising. The research team analyzed data from nearly 30,000 donors and 4,000 individual fundraisers who organized or participated in independent fundraising events on behalf of leading nonprofits including Alzheimer’s Association, Autism Speaks, Canadian Cancer Society’s BC and Yukon Division, Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Lance Armstrong Foundation, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The analysis showed that online registrations, donations and fundraising per participant are increasing, and that IFEs represent a growing revenue source, especially online, for many organizations. Based on a Blackbaud assessment, there was an estimated $300 million raised in 2008 in the United States from these types of events, indicating that organizations should find better ways to cultivate these fundraisers and provide the solutions they need to succeed.

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Blackbaud Supports NetHope in its Efforts to Restore Communications in Haiti

Charleston, S.C. (January 21, 2010) – Blackbaud, Inc., (Nasdaq: BLKB) today announced that it is making a $50,000 donation in support of NetHope, an information technology collaboration of 28 leading international humanitarian organizations, which is working to restore communications infrastructure in Haiti.

When an emergency hits, NetHope reaches out to its members, including organizations like Heifer International, Plan International and Save the Children, and coordinates relief efforts—particularly when telecommunications infrastructure is damaged. Blackbaud is making the donation in the context of a larger partnership in support of NetHope’s mission to provide communication technology and practices to serve people in the developing world.

“This is probably the worst emergency from a telecommunications perspective that we have seen in recent years,” said Bill Brindley, NetHope’s Chief Executive Officer. “Anyone who wonders why relief materials aren’t getting to the victims can look to telecommunications as a major reason. Without telecom on the ground, it is difficult to make sure that the right supplies get to the right place at the right time.”

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Supporting Nonprofits Raising Money and Providing Aid for Haiti Disaster Victims

We extend our sympathy to everyone who has been affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti and are grateful for the important work that nonprofits are doing to provide aid.

Our top priority is focusing on helping our customers who are involved in raising money and providing aid for the victims of this disaster. If you are a nonprofit that needs special assistance at this time, we are here to help. Please contact our customer care lead, Jennifer Conway, if we may be of assistance. You can reach Jennifer at 800.468.8996, ext. 5321, or by emailing jennifer.conway@blackbaud.com.

If you are an individual that is interested in raising money in support of the relief effort, you can start raising money online at www.blackbaudnow.org, or you can donate to one of the many nonprofit organizations providing aid.

For a list of these organizations, visit www.blackbaud.com/haiti. If your organization is raising money for the relief efforts, and you would like to have its name added to the list, please post the name of your organization, how people can help, and a link to your website in the comments section of this post.

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