Blackbaud News

News Roundup: Blackbaud's Recession Recipe and Conference Coverage

Melanie Mathos — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:07:00 GMT

It has been a busy week at Blackbaud. It is, after all, our favorite part of the year - conference time!

In case you've been busy too, here is some of our latest news coverage. The first clip features what Blackbaud has been doing during the economic downturn to make it through even stronger.

The Post & Courier recently interviewed Blackbaud's CEO Marc Chardon for the article "Blackbaud's recession recipe: Preserve jobs, maintain clients, invest for the upturn." The Charleston-based publication will also be featuring Blackbaud's Conference for Nonprofits keynote speaker, Derreck Kayongo of The Global Soap Project in Sunday's Faith and Values section.

The Charleston Regional Business Journal was out in full force covering our recent Conference for Nonprofits this week and penned the following stories: "Blackbaud CEO gives advice at annual nonprofit conference" and "BBCON keynote tells attendees to reconnect to work."

WCIV-TV ABC News 4's Neville Miller even stopped by to interview attendees for his story "Non-Profits Working Together to Make it During Tough Economic Times:

Couldn't make it to Blackbaud's Conference for Nonprofits this year? View recorded videos of a variety of key sessions for free at www.blackbaud.com/bbcontv and brief interviews with the speakers at www.youtube.com/blackbaudinc. You can even follow the Conference buzz on Twitter by searching the #bbcon tag.

Blackbaud’s 10th Annual Conference Encourages Nonprofits to Invest, Innovate, Involve and Inspire

Melanie Mathos — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:27:00 GMT

Charleston, S.C. (November 19, 2009) – Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB) held its 10th annual Conference for Nonprofits this week in Charleston, South Carolina, welcoming 1000 nonprofit professionals from all over the world to learn more about nonprofit technology and techniques to help them succeed in 2010.

“In a downturn, nonprofits that can innovate, invest, involve and inspire their constituents are going to come out stronger than when they went in,” said Marc Chardon, Blackbaud’s chief executive officer. “Our customers live the value of ‘service to others makes the world a better place.’ We at Blackbaud live that value too, and the Conference provides a great opportunity for all of us to walk away with just a little more inspiration and just a little more energy to face the challenges ahead.”

>> Watch a recording of Marc Chardon’s welcome session at www.blackbaud.com/bbcontv.

Read more.

Blackbaud Sphere Grow Provides Nonprofits a Solution and Strategy for Online Success

Melanie Mathos — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:29:00 GMT

Charleston, S.C. (November 13, 2009) – Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), the leading global provider of software and related services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, today announced the release of Blackbaud Sphere Grow™. This new “Grow” version of the company’s popular web-based emarketing and event fundraising solution, Blackbaud Sphere, provides nonprofits an affordable turn-key solution with a guided implementation and ongoing consulting services.

“Blackbaud Sphere Grow is a complete online marketing and peer-to-peer fundraising solution that helps nonprofits desiring a greater online presence build engaging websites, create effective email campaigns, run peer fundraising events, and measure their success,” said Steve MacLaughlin, Blackbaud’s director of Internet solutions. “The Grow package was designed to guide nonprofits through their strategy – from launch to analysis – to ensure success.”

Read more.

Blackbaud to Broadcast Live Sessions from Next Week’s Conference for Nonprofits

Melanie Mathos — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:01:00 GMT

What: Can’t make it to Blackbaud’s Conference for Nonprofits this year? Don’t worry, we’re bringing some of the best sessions to you—live! You will also see video interviews with our speakers, attendees, and partners.

Who: Featured presenters include: Marc Chardon, Blackbaud CEO; Jay Love, eTapestry CEO; Joy Simpson, development consultant; Paul Clolery, NPT Publishing Group’s editorial director; Holly Ross, NTEN’s executive director; Derreck Kayongo, The Global Soap Project’s founder; Dean Feener, The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory’s mission information systems director; Richard McPherson, McPherson Associates, Inc.’s president and creative director; Steve MacLaughlin, Blackbaud’s director of Internet solutions; Bo Crader, Blackbaud’s business solutions manager; Chris Tuttle, Blackbaud senior consultant; and Raheel Gauba, Blackbaud creative director.

When: Monday, November 16 – Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Where: View the full schedule and watch the live stream at www.blackbaud.com/bbcontv.

Background: This year’s broadcast will feature sessions designed to help nonprofits take a closer look at their operations, renew, and get energized for 2010. Topics include ethics, using technology to change the world, making viable plans in uncertain times, fundraising strategy makeovers, web analytics and search engine optimization, and preparing for a website launch. Blackbaud is live streaming the Conference in partnership with Unimedia, a visual communications firm located in Charleston, SC that provides turn-key creative solutions.

Blackbaud in the News: Fundraising 101

Melissa Dodge — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:13:00 GMT

From the November 2009 issue of Fundraising Success:

Special Report: Fundraising 101
10 Ways to Make Your Web Site Fundraising Friendly
By Raheel Gauba, Creative Director at Blackbaud Internet Solutions

Over the last few years, online fundraising has emerged as an area with the greatest potential for growth. Still, it remains one of the most underutilized means of fundraising today.

Online activities for nonprofit organizations fall into one of three segments:

1. No online presence: An organization that falls into this segment doesn't have a Web site and, in some cases, has not secured a domain name either. It conducts all of its online activities through e-mail from a free e-mail service provider such as Gmail or Hotmail.

2. Limited online presence: This organization has a static Web site and typically fundraises via a non- integrated payment-service provider. The content is managed manually either by an in-house Web manager or outsourced to local agencies. The Web site is not integrated with the nonprofit's local system of record.

3. Dynamic online presence: There's a wide range of organizations and various levels of online presences in this segment ranging from a CMS-driven Web site for dynamic content management to full-blown integration with a system of record that supports fundraising and marketing activities.

Read the full article.

The CPA Technology Advisor Reviews The Financial Edge

Melanie Mathos — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:46:00 GMT

Blackbaud — The Financial Edge

From CPA Technology Magazine's Nov. 2009 Review of Not-for-Profit Accounting Programs.

The Financial Edge from Blackbaud is primarily designed for mid-sized to large nonprofit organizations that require transparency and accountability in their actions. However, the vendor has just recently released a small business version (see below). The Financial Edge is a powerful system hidden behind a deceptively simple user interface.

EASE OF USE/FLEXIBILITY-
Often, navigational ease is tied to program strength, with the rule being that the more powerful a product, the higher the level of difficulty encountered during use. Not so with The Financial Edge from Blackbaud. The main user interface is easily navigated, with little to no screen clutter. A drop-down menu at the top of the screen provides system function access, while product module access is found in the vertical menu to the left. The homepage can be easily customized, such as by adding features and functions used on a daily basis. Navigational arrows will take you back and forth between screens, with the name of the organization and the current module displayed immediately to the right.

The Financial Edge Dashboard allows users to monitor all activities and tasks. New panes can also be created to display on the dashboard, providing additional information such as graphs and charts or other critical data. Links to frequently used web pages can be easily created, and the Automatic Account Creation function simplifies the entering of account information.

MODULES/SCALABILITY-
Modules available in The Financial Edge include GL, Accounting Form, AP, Accounting Queue, AR, Advanced Budget Management, Advanced Security, Allocation Management, Budget Management, Cash Management, Cash Receipts, Consolidation Management, Electronic Funds Transfer, F9 reporting, Fixed Assets, PaperSave, Payroll, Point of Sale, Project, Grant and endowment Management, Visual Basic for Applications, Application Programming Interface, Student Billing, School Store Manager, WebPortal featuring WebPurchasing and WebInvoicing, along with integration to The Raiser’s Edge.

Smaller nonprofits will be interested to know that the vendor just introduced The Financial Edge for Small Offices. Designed for one to three users through a license or subscription/hosted model, The Financial Edge for Small Offices bundles six common modules together (GL; AP; Miscellaneous Cash Receipts; Project, Grant and Endowment Management; Budget Management; and Cash Management). The availability of this product makes The Financial Edge a truly scalable product from one end of the spectrum to the other.

Read the full review.

Press Release: Blackbaud Announces The Ohio State University Will Use its CRM Solution to Unite Development, Outreach, and Engagement Efforts

Melanie Mathos — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:55:00 GMT

Charleston, S.C. (October 28, 2009) - Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), the leading global provider of software and related services designed specifically for nonprofit
organizations, today announced that The Ohio State University has selected Blackbaud Enterprise CRM^{^TM} as its new fundraising system.

"We are pleased The Ohio State University has selected Blackbaud Enterprise CRM as its fundraising technology platform for development and constituent engagement," said Marc Chardon, Blackbaud's chief executive officer. "By selecting Blackbaud Enterprise CRM, the University is investing in a future-proof platform that will bring unparalleled innovation to the higher education sector at a time when development, constituent engagement, and organization-wide visibility are critical."

Ohio State University has over 440,000 living alumni and enrollment of over 63,000 students on all campuses. The University selected Blackbaud Enterprise CRM to bring best technology and business practices to its major and planned giving, marketing and communications, Internet marketing, prospect research and management, and business intelligence across the University.

Blackbaud Learn Provides Training Options for Ongoing Skill Development

Melissa Dodge — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:28:00 GMT

Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), announced the availability of Blackbaud Learn^TM, a subscription-based training program that provides ongoing skill development and job knowledge training to nonprofits. With new classes every month, a role-based curriculum, and exclusive sessions on strategy and best practices, Blackbaud has made training more accessible to the nonprofit organizations it serves. Blackbaud is offering a free training session, Query Essentials for The Raiser's Edge, as a sample of the instructor-led courseware from Blackbaud Learn that explores basic querying techniques.

Blackbaud Learn is available as a renewable annual subscription, starting at $1,000 to best meet the needs and budget of any organization. Training packages are offered at three different levels with classes spanning fundamental skills development to advanced coursework. All three Learn packages include access to exclusive nonprofit strategy sessions, on-demand software skills lessons, and role-based classes. Blackbaud Learn is available in three different subscription levels:

Learn: All the essential online classes a staff of any size needs to enable success, including introductory classes and coursework devoted to building critical skills.
Learn More: All the basic online classes included in Learn, plus the entire staff gets unlimited access to all advanced online classes such as volunteer management and complex importing and exporting.
Learn Everything: All-access pass to everything included in Learn and Learn More, including critical skills lessons, advanced coursework, and unlimited registrations at regional classes throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Read the full Press Release.

Rachel Hutchisson wins a 2009 Influential Women in Business award

Melissa Dodge — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:08:00 GMT

Congratulations to Blackbaud's Director of Corporate Relations and Philanthropy, Rachel Hutchisson for receiving the "Rising Star" award at the Influential Women in Business awards, presented by the Charleston Regional Business Journal. The annual Influential Women in Business awards recognizes women in the Charleston area who have demonstrated professional excellence and leadership in their careers and community service. Winners were announced at an awards luncheon held on Oct. 22 in downtown Charleston.

Rachel oversees Blackbaud's global philanthropic and volunteerism initiatives, helping the company and employees honor the corporate value, "service to others makes the world a better place," and is the author of the company's philanthropy blog. With 17 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, Rachel is passionate about literacy, education for disadvantaged youth, and children's healthcare. She is involved in the community by serving as president of the Lowcountry Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In addition to being active with the South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations, she is also a member of the board of directors of the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Math.

June Bradham, who nominated Rachel for this award, is the founder, owner, and president of Corporate DevelopMint. June and Rachel at the awards luncheon in downtown Charleston, SC. (L-R: June Bradham, Rachel Hutchisson)

Blackbaud in the News: Tech tools for nonprofits

Melanie Mathos — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:39:00 GMT

Posted on WebCPA.com and featured in the October 19 issue of Accounting Today

In a tight economy, the right tech mix helps nonprofits retain income levels, services

No one had to tell the nonprofit sector that the world economy was slipping deeper into recession. Relying largely on donors, memberships and conferences to maintain their budgets, nonprofits usually feel the pinch first and are the sector of the economy that is last to recover.

But when the task of soliciting funds and materials is at its most difficult, not-for-profit organizations become more innovative in the ways they work - including the use of advanced technologies.

Free Web Seminar on Oct. 22: Social Networking for Fundraising Professionals

Melanie Mathos — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:26:00 GMT

Get all the tools you need to fill your social media toolkit! Come learn about integrating social media into your nonprofit marketing strategy with Jeff Patrick, president of Common Knowledge, and Frank Barry, managing consultant for Blackbaud Internet Solutions, in our web seminar series covering Twitter®, Facebook®, blogs, and more.

Upcoming Web Seminars

Social Networking for Fundraising Professionals
This session is for communications, marketing, and fundraising professionals looking to understand how to integrate social networks into their strategy. We'll cover what is social networking, social media, and Web 2.0, why is social networking valuable for nonprofits, and how it can be used for fundraising.
October 22 at 11:00 a.m. PT — Register Today!
Building a Brand with Social Networks: Marketing and Communications Strategies
This web seminar is for communications and marketing professionals - Manager, Director, Vice President and C-Level roles - looking to understand how to integrate social networks into your organization's communications and marketing strategy.
November 3 at 11:00 a.m. PT — Register Today!
Social Networking Strategy for Nonprofits
This sessions will help you understand social networks, evaluate projects and opportunities within your organization, and participate in the process of constructing your social networking strategy.
November 12 at 11:00 a.m. PT — Register Today!

Can't wait? Visit the NetWits Think Tank Blog to learn how nonprofits are using the Internet to meet their mission.

Or, watch a recording of past seminars:

Twitter® for Nonprofits
Using real-world case studies drawn from the nonprofit and commercial sectors, this web seminar covered how Twitter® works, the size of the Twitter® audience, and how to use Twitter® for online community building, advocacy, and fundraising. View Recording
Facebook® for Nonprofits
This webinar is for fundraising, marketing, and communications nonprofit professionals, including manager, director, vice-president and C-level roles - who want to understand how to use Facebook® in your organization. In this session, using real-world case studies we'll discuss how is Facebook® useful for nonprofits, how nonprofits are using Facebook, the difference between Facebook® Pages, Groups, and Causes, and how to use Facebook® applications. View Recording
Nonprofit Blogging: Tips and Strategies
Blogging has become an integral part of the online communications landscape for nonprofits. High profile blogs at environmental, advocacy, health, higher education, and faith-based organizations are demonstrating the opportunity for building community and making change. This web seminar will outline the impact of a great blog strategy for your nonprofit. View Recording

Press Release: More than 1000 Fundraising Websites Created with BlackbaudNow™

Melanie Mathos — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:28:00 GMT

Charleston, S.C. (October 14, 2009) – Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations announced today that since its launch in March 2009, BlackbaudNow^™ has seen rapid adoption among nonprofit organizations and personal fundraisers.BlackbaudNow provides nonprofits and personal fundraisers a point-and-click website builder with secure donation processing through PayPal and the ability to send emails and record donors’ giving histories. Users do not pay any setup or monthly fees for BlackbaudNow, but instead, pay fees on a per-transaction basis.

Read the full release.

Blackbaud in the News: A Conversation with Marc Chardon (Updated with video)

Melanie Mathos — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:48:00 GMT

Alan Cooper, publisher of LowcountryBizSC recently sat down with Blackbaud CEO Marc Chardon to discuss his background and business experience, Blackbaud’s history, recent expansion, and strategic focus for the future.

When asked what he was most proud of at Blackbaud, Marc mentioned his pride in his employees: “I am proud of our employees and how they not only serve their customers, but how they offer their time to give back to the local communities in which they live and work. The people who decide Blackbaud's philanthropic efforts are the first line company employees, not management. I don't direct these initiatives; in fact, I see my role as more of simply getting out of the employees' way!”

Watch the video:

Read the full conversation here.

Blackbaud in the News: Independant Fundraising Events

Melanie Mathos — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:46:00 GMT

From the September/October 2009 edition of Advancing Philanthropy:

Independent Fundraising Events
By Mark Davis, Blackbaud's director of technical solutions

Each year, people fundraise on behalf of their favorite nonprofits in any number of events, such as runs, walks, bicycle rides, auctions, car washes and hundreds of other creative ways. Almost everyone is familiar with such large, nationally organized fundraising events as the Heart Walk, the Memory Walk and the Race for the Cure. However, what about the numerous independent fundraising events (IFEs) 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 practically nothing for the beneficiary organization because the expenses are covered by the independent event organizer.

Read the article. (.pdf)

Blackbaud News Roundup - International News

Melanie Mathos — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:06:00 GMT

This week's Baudcast focused on international philanthropy and featured some great panelists, including Marc Pitman, Amy Sample Ward, Danielle Brigida, Robert McAllen, Steve MacLaughlin, host Chad Norman, and me. (Subscribe to the Baudcast RSS feed and you'll be the first to know when it's live!)

For this episode's news segment, I focused on Blackbaud news from around the globe:

We'll start in England...
Blackbaud Europe's Relationship Management Conference will be held on October 12^thand 13^th in London. In addition to a wide variety of sessions focused on nonprofit technology and best practices, this year's conference will feature keynote speaker Paul Williamson, the head of ticketing for the 2012 Olympic Games. Drawing on his extensive experience in ticketing and customer relations, Paul will discuss the marketing challenges and opportunities the games bring. (He ultimately has the job of filling 35 stadiums to capacity for 750+ sport sessions.) There is still time to register! For more information, visit http://www.blackbaud.co.uk/.

On to the Netherlands...
Blackbaud Europe recently completed its annual State of the Not-For-Profit Industry Survey, which takes a look at trends in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. The research and initial results will be presented at the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands on October 21^st.

Blackbaud's RLC division in The Netherlands announced that they will partner with Friends of the Earth Netherlands/Milieudefensie, a leading environmental organization with more than 90,000 members that recently selected Charibase, RLC's CRM offering.

Down to Australia....
Blackbaud Pacific recently partnered with FINZ, the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand. The new partnership allows FINZ to provide more educational opportunities to its 400 members and the wider community supporting FINZ's goal of increasing professional standards within the industry.

All the way to Canada...
The Kidney Foundation of Canada recently launched its new site on Blackbaud NetCommunity - you can check that out at http://www.kidney.ca/.

Back in the USA...
Blackbaud was named to Software Magazine's 27th Annual Software 500. The company ranked 133 in the list of the world's largest software companies and has been included in the annual ranking for more than a decade. And last, but not least - registration is open for the Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits, which will be held in Charleston, South Carolina on November 15 - 18. You can check out sessions and register at http://www.blackbaud.com/events/bb_conf/charleston/nonprofitconf.aspx.