Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® and its rapidly developing AI capabilities directly address these needs. Using the latest technology, schools can run their fundraising efforts with greater efficiency, more personalized engagement and improved results—ushering in a new era for K–12 advancement.

Aspirational Leadership: AI in the Hands of the Head of School
Imagine a head of school using AI to strengthen community ties—tools that allow leaders to personalize every interaction with families, alumni and donors. Let’s look at an example: 

Heads of schools connect with their families every day, for every reason, from thanking them for a gift, to inviting them to sit on a committee, to responding to a complaint. Imagine how much more effective the conversation would be if before the call they could quickly look at a real-time summary of their history with that parent—including past contributions, events attended and their child’s activities—ensuring prompt and informed communication. A new feature for Raiser’s Edge NXT, allows you to ask Blackbaud AI for insights using natural language, and gain essential insights in moments. With this information the head of school might:  

• Thank the parent for their multi-year commitment to a scholarship fund, highlighting the tangible impact their support has had on student success. 

• Share updates on programs for which the parent has previously shown interest, such as the performing arts or athletics, making each communication more relevant and engaging.

And the moment they hang up, the head of school can ask Blackbaud AI to add a quick note about the phone call to the parent’s record, documenting any follow up actions.

Knowing the parent’s preferred communication style and past feedback, the head of school can anticipate questions or concerns, leading with empathy and understanding and strengthening relationships with families.

A+ Prospect Research: AI in the Hands of Fundraisers
Just as a skilled teacher guides a classroom through complex lessons, K-12 advancement teams can now navigate the intricacies of fundraising with the support of intelligent software. These tools empower teams to identify promising donors, tailor engagement and ensure each campaign is as thoughtfully planned as a curriculum—setting the stage for key benefits like:

• Uncovering Hidden Fundraising Potential: Capital campaigns and ambitious budget targets often push development teams into overdrive. With Prospect Insights in Raiser’s Edge NXT, advancement teams can use predictive analytics to identify and prioritize top donor prospects, uncovering hidden giving potential and streamlining outreach for focused, effective fundraising efforts. 

• Recognizing Donors with a Personalized Approach: Advancement teams can use AI acknowledgements to send personalized, heartfelt thank-you messages that reflect each donor’s unique contributions. Blackbaud’s generative AI technology uses donor and campaign data, along with tone optimizers to help fundraisers craft notes that go beyond generic templates, recognizing a parent or alumni’s commitments, ensuring every donor feels genuinely valued. 

• The Smart Way to Suggest Giving Amounts: The Intelligent Ask feature in Blackbaud Donation Forms uses artificial intelligence to personalize donation ask amounts based on what’s known about each site visitor—maximizing both donor engagement and gift value. This feature helps nonprofits and educational institutions raise more by tailoring the giving experience to each individual. It’s part of Blackbaud’s broader strategy to help organizations optimize donor conversion through smart, data-driven design.

Why AI Leads the Way
The real strength of AI lies in its ability to foster genuine connections and amplify generosity by drawing personalized insights from a wealth of data. As AI technology evolves, schools embracing it will set the standard for innovative, impactful fundraising that shapes thriving communities for generations to come.

In the coming year, Blackbaud will continue to develop capabilities poised to redefine what’s possible in K-12 fundraising, such as: 

• Campaign Optimization Strategies enriched by Blackbaud AI to provide targeted recommendations, including leveraging recent alumni and parent engagements, setting targeted gift ranges for donors, cultivating key relationships, storytelling and more.  

• Brand Voice-Based Content Generation that uses AI to weave each school’s unique voice into marketing campaigns, echoing the school’s signature blend of warmth and innovation in messages sent to parents and local sponsors. 

• AI-driven planned giving prospect identification that helps schools identify donors most likely to make legacy gifts, enabling advancement teams to nurture these important relationships more effectively. 

With these innovative AI-driven tools, fundraising is no longer just about reaching targets—it’s about strengthening relationships and celebrating the spirit that makes each school unique. Here’s to new possibilities and the collective efforts of families, educators and donors working together to build something truly extraordinary. 

The post How Blackbaud AI Empowers Private Schools to Transform Fundraising Through Innovation appeared first on Blackbaud.

Blackbaud is excited to reveal the winners of its 2025 Partner Network Awards, announced live during bbcon, the company’s annual technology conference. These awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of Blackbaud Partners—trailblazing technology and services firms that empower social impact organizations around the world to achieve more through tailored solutions and expertise.

“Our 2025 Partner Network Awards winners exemplify the impact that is possible with strong engagement,” said Elizabeth Price, vice president, global partners, Blackbaud. “Through Blackbaud partners, customers can access expanded capabilities that further support their missions. It’s a delight to recognize these partners for the collaboration, dedication and value they bring to the Blackbaud community.”

The 2025 award recipients represent a diverse group of collaborators who are helping nonprofits, educational institutions, healthcare organizations and purpose-driven companies maximize their impact through technology.

The 2025 Blackbaud Partner Network Awards winners are:  

• Zobrio – Partner of the Year Award
  • Zobrio is a software, services and IT management company that specializes in fund accounting, bank reconciliation and budgeting software, as well as the required software, consulting, training and implementation services needed by clients. This trusted partner embraces Blackbaud values and the meaning of Partnering for Success through their ongoing collaboration and adoption of resources and practices that have led to mutual success. 
• Trellis – Breakout Partner Award
  • Trellis is an all-in-one fundraising platform that empowers charities to create beautiful event and campaign experiences, sell tickets, collect donations, and engage supporters. This partner is being recognized for their significant shared customer growth this past year.   
• BrightArrow – Co-Sell Award
  • BrightArrow is a communications software company specializing in mass notification systems for schools and educational institutions. This award recognizes BrightArrow for their close partnership with the Blackbaud sales team to deliver a seamless and unified experience for shared customers.  
• FundMiner – Marketplace Growth Award
  • FundMiner enables customers to experience more effective capital utilization, increased fundraising revenue, reduced risk exposure, and improved donor experience. As last year’s Rookie of the Year, FundMiner has looked for innovative ways to help solve business challenges. They leverage the Blackbaud Marketplace to elevate the visibility of their solutions to customers.   
• Martus Solutions – Rookie of the Year Award
  • Martus Solutions is a budgeting and reporting platform that simplifies financial planning for nonprofits and CPA firms, This award celebrates Martus as a new partner that immediately embraced the Blackbaud Partner Program tools and resources to quickly grow joint customer engagement.   
• Prenger Solutions Group – Referral Partner of the Year Award
  • Prenger Solutions Group is a provider of digital fundraising and strategic development services for Catholic dioceses, schools, and parishes is being recognized for their dedication and support of Blackbaud’s Referral Program, which helps connect customers in need to Blackbaud software.  
• Capital Business Solutions – Implementation Award
  • Capital Business Solutions equips nonprofit organizations with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in fundraising endeavors. For the second year in a row, this award recognizes Capital Business Solutions for demonstrating expertise and superb customer experience when implementing Blackbaud solutions.  

Learn more about Blackbaud’s Partner Program here and visit the Blackbaud Marketplace to see Partner solutions. For more information, please reach out to partnerprogram@blackbaud.com.

The post Announcing the 2025 Blackbaud Partner Network Award Winners appeared first on Blackbaud.

I get it because I’ve been there. Before joining Blackbaud, I served as both a scholarship provider and Foundation partner, to execute donor agreements. I collaborated with institutions nationwide balancing donor stewardship, student support, and mission advancement with limited resources.

That’s why I’m excited about what Blackbaud is surfacing within the very solutions that you rely on today. We’re at a point where technological innovation—particularly AI—can make the difference between surviving and thriving.

Where AI Meets Advancement
Blackbaud’s Intelligence for Good® strategy is about enhancing how you do what you do— making it easier and more certain for you to accomplish your goals. AI isn’t here to edge you out or put fundraising on autopilot. It’s here to clear the clutter, reveal opportunities, and free you to do the strategic work only you can do.

When we connect the dots of innovation across the Blackbaud products most heavily relied upon by higher education professionals, something powerful happens. Let me break it down:

• Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT®: Annual fundraising and major gift cultivation are both streamlined by powerful AI within Raiser’s Edge NXT. With Prospect Insights, gift officers can zero in on high-potential prospects with predictive analytics that guide cultivation strategies. It’s like shining a spotlight on the donors in Raiser’s Edge NXT who are most ready and able to give more. And simplified, streamlined, AI-powered online giving forms are optimized for conversion and upsell – with outstanding results, like one-time and monthly recurring gift sizes that average 3x the industry norm. Soon, chat and assistants powered by Blackbaud AI (available early 2026) will help fundraisers work even more efficiently by summarizing donor history, generating outreach content, and building out cultivation and engagement plans.
• Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT®: Finance leaders gain transparency into budgets, expenses, and revenue pipelines with a complete fund accounting General Ledger—making it easier to forecast and align advancement priorities with institutional goals.
• Blackbaud Award Management: Scholarship administrators can be more strategic with built-in workflow automation and streamlined review processes. Match the right scholarships with the right students to increase fund utilization while reducing administrative burdens, advancing equity and the student experience, and improving donor stewardship outcomes.

Individually, each product drives value. Together? They create an ecosystem that advances your institution’s ability to recruit, retain, and steward resources with agility.

Imagine AI Advancements in Advancement
Think about it: enrollment volatility has a ripple effect. Fewer students mean tighter budgets, and tighter budgets put pressure on advancement to fill the gaps. But with AI-powered Raiser’s Edge NXT, your fundraisers know exactly where to focus their efforts. Finance leaders using Financial Edge NXT can forecast revenue on demand, aligning advancement dollars with institutional needs. Meanwhile, Award Management ensures that scholarships are awarded to the most deserving students, helping them complete college without inordinate debt.

Looking forward, Blackbaud is exploring new ways AI can serve advancement leaders. Imagine what could come next:

• Predictive Enrollment/Advancement Modeling that integrates enrollment forecasts with pipelines so advancement teams can anticipate funding gaps and mobilize donors proactively, complete with early alerts for financial need indicators to proactively mitigate dropout risks.
• AI-Powered Donor Journey Maps that adapt in real time, guiding each prospect along the most effective path to engagement, showcasing where the greatest need exists with visualizations illustrating the impact of their donated dollars.
• An AI Matchmaker that instantly connects donor passions with student needs, creating compelling stewardship touchpoints with immediate reasons to give.
• An Institutional Health Dashboard that brings Raiser’s Edge NXT, Financial Edge NXT, and Award Management into a single AI-driven view, showing where your strategies are working and where to pivot quickly to impact outcomes—with an AI Campaign Coach that monitors campaign momentum in real time and advises advancement teams where to focus next.

It’s not just about solving a single pain point—it’s about creating resilience across the entire advancement cycle.

Why Blackbaud?
There’s a lot of hype around AI, but not all AI is created equal. Blackbaud’s Intelligence for Good® strategy is built specifically for the nonprofit and education sectors, not retrofitted from a one-size-fits-all approach.

Blackbaud’s tools aren’t just smart in theory. They’re infused with insights from decades of working alongside institutions like yours. That’s what makes Blackbaud practical, trustworthy, and effective.

AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement
The unknown can be unnerving, but when the AI you’re using is crafted specifically for institutions just like yours, modeled on proven higher education processes and using your own sector’s specialized data, you eliminate some of the ambiguity. You can trust the recommendations because it’s purpose-built with advancement and higher education in mind. AI isn’t a colleague you’re competing with—it’s a partner that can make you sharper, faster, and more effective.

If you’ve ever wished for thank you notes to be written for you, it’s now possible with Blackbaud’s AI, complete with reminders of who to thank and message framing suggestions. Blackbaud AI won’t set your budget priorities, but it will give you the clarity to make the best calls. It won’t sit across the table from a donor, but it will help you be better prepared to show them how their dollars change students’ lives.

AI will give you more space to do what you entered this field to do: build relationships, steward generosity, and ensure students have access to educational opportunities.

A Colleague’s Perspective
As someone who has walked alongside advancement leaders and scholarship administrators just like you, I know the stakes are high right now. But with the right tools, you can amplify your impact so your institution can continue to open its doors to the students who need it the most. And that’s work worth leaning into together, leveraging AI to make it happen.

The post Advancement Reimagined: A Peer-to-Peer Look at the AI-Driven Future appeared first on Blackbaud.

This year’s observance carries particular historical significance, as it commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Race Relations Act of 1965. This landmark legislation was the first of its kind in the UK, prohibiting racial discrimination in public places and laying groundwork for future advancements in equality and civil rights. 

At Blackbaud, we are proud to honor this pivotal moment in British history and to stand alongside others in amplifying the stories, achievements, and milestones that shape Black history and culture. As part of our commemoration, employees are participating in a range of educational and community-focused initiatives. These include an employee-led webinar exploring the legacy of the Race Relations Act and its impact over the past six decades, as well as volunteering efforts to support young Black and underrepresented individuals through career development workshops hosted by a local nonprofit organization. 

We remain committed to fostering a workplace culture that values equity and inclusion. By engaging in meaningful reflection and action, we aim to deepen our collective understanding of Black history and continue building a more inclusive future—together. 

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While UX designers working within Financial Edge NXT have long envisioned action hubs strategically placed throughout the system to support key workflows, the General Ledger wasn’t the most obvious — or glamorous — place to start. After all, areas such as Treasury, Payables and Receivables have so much more, well, action by way of money going out or money coming in daily, often at high volumes.

But a surprising insight from last year’s (2024) home page discovery work changed the team’s perspective.

An Unexpected Focus on Closing Checklists
Last year, the Financial Edge NXT UX design team conducted a round of discovery interviews to understand what users expect from an enhanced home page in the fund accounting platform. They uncovered several key findings, but one stood out: users’ reactions to a feature the design team hadn’t even spotlighted.  

Buried in a secondary version of the home page concept was a “monthly closing checklist.” The team hadn’t emphasized it, yet nearly every participant homed in on it as a compelling feature. One they’d welcome, albeit with caveats.

Almost 90% of participants remarked on the concept. As one said, “It [the monthly closing checklist] would be incredibly useful, actually. Especially since we share responsibilities between multiple people.”

The Bigger Picture: Close Management
As the team dug deeper, they learned that many organizations already maintain closing checklists. But the complexity and scope of these lists vary widely depending on the organization’s size and workflows.

Users described needing support for recurring tasks, assignments, approval workflows and more. What they described was far advanced compared to the simple list of checkboxes depicted in the prototype.

The checklist, it turns out, was just the tip of the iceberg. What users truly need isn’t just a checklist. They need a way to manage the broader closing process that ensures accurate financial reporting and audit readiness. This larger opportunity is what the team is now calling Close Management.

Helping Financial Edge NXT Customers Accelerate Their Closing Process
As the team explored this domain, it’s clear there’s significant room for improvement. Closing fiscal years on time reduces the risk of performance issues and degradations to the user experience.  More critically, poor data hygiene can result in inaccurate financial statements and audit findings.

The industry standard for organizations that do complete a monthly close is 6–10 days (APQC). By creating a more guided close experience within the platform, Financial Edge NXT users would be able to easily meet or beat that standard. So, there is a clear opportunity to accelerate the closing process for customers by giving them clear insights and actions through a new GL action hub.

Designing for Real-World Complexity
To begin supporting both the checklist concept and the broader Close Management needs, Financial Edge NXT users will soon see a “Closing assistant” tile in a new General Ledger action hub.

This tile and page surfaces key actions users need to complete before closing their fiscal period. It will surface unposted transaction lists proactively and provide users with greater visibility and context for closing fiscal periods and fiscal years.

What’s Next: GL reconciliation and AI-powered anomaly detection
As the Financial Edge NXT design team explores Close Management further, it’s important to acknowledge that Blackbaud isn’t building one particular feature; instead, it is introducing a broader set of capabilities to support this important domain, with the next areas of focus being General ledger reconciliation and AI-powered anomaly detection. 

GL reconciliation is a huge area of opportunity because many organizations aren’t properly reconciling their GL accounts. In fact, some organizations don’t even know they have a problem until it’s too late. In addition, data anomalies can lie hidden and make reconciliation more difficult. Once available, users will be able to leverage AI to help easily identify and resolve “problem transactions,” leading to faster reconciliations, and ultimately a much faster close process.

The new Close Management tools and General Ledger action hub in Financial Edge NXT will give users an easier, more confident way to handle the month-end process. These updates mean finance teams can move past old checklists and count on a strong foundation for more accurate data, faster financial reports and a much simpler audit experience. 

The post From Checklists to Confidence: New Tools for Smoother Monthly Closes with Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT® appeared first on Blackbaud.

Solving Real Challenges in Education 

Educators today are navigating increasing demands with limited time and resources. Teachers are balancing instruction with administrative work. School staff are managing complex operations while trying to stay connected to students and families. And school leadership is looking for smarter ways to leverage data to drive decisions. 

We’re designing AI to help schools reimagine what’s possible, shifting time and energy away from administrative burdens and freeing up time to focus instead on student success, personalized learning and empowered educators.

• Spend more time on student success and less on paperwork: Picture a classroom where teachers receive AI-generated feedback on assignments—giving them a thoughtful starting point for grading and comments. While AI will never replace the human insight educators bring, it can help lighten the load and free up time for deeper engagement with students. 

• Personalize learning experiences to meet individual student needs: Now, envision a future where every student has a personal AI companion at home—quietly supporting them through homework, easing frustration, and turning moments of confusion into opportunities for growth. 

• Streamline operations and reduce the burden on overextended teams: Consider the possibilities when product navigation intuitively guides users through complex workflows with simple, conversational prompts—like “Take me to the annual rollover”—transforming friction into flow and empowering users to move with confidence. Or envision an AI agent that automatically follows up with families on overdue tuition payments—saving school teams valuable time and allowing staff to focus on more meaningful, mission-centered work. 

• Surface insights from data to inform decisions and improve outcomes: Imagine a future where data from traditionally siloed sources seamlessly converges—giving you the power to recognize when a student begins to disengage before the signs become visible. Intelligent agents for good could synthesize these insights in real time, not only surfacing emerging challenges but also recommending personalized interventions to help every student thrive. 

We’re shaping AI to be a quiet force for good—working behind the scenes, adapting to school workflows, and helping educators reclaim time for what matters most. Whether it’s helping a teacher provide timely feedback, enabling an administrator to quickly find critical information, or supporting a family to navigate the school day—our AI vision is to make every interaction more efficient and meaningful. 

We’re also exploring how intelligent agents for good can scale impact across key areas such as enrollment logistics, tuition collection, student retention, and alumni and donor engagement—enabling school teams to keep operations running efficiently while focusing on the human connection. 

Want to hear directly from educators about how they envision AI supporting their work? Check out our companion blog post, shaped by real teacher insights →

Built with Purpose, Powered by Partnership 

Our approach to AI is grounded in responsibility, transparency, and trust. We’re building with intention, listening closely to our customers, and partnering with innovators across the education ecosystem to ensure our solutions are both powerful and practical. 

As we continue to expand our Intelligence for Good® strategy, we’re excited about what’s ahead—and we’re committed to delivering AI that helps schools thrive in a dynamic, data-rich world. 

Join us at bbcon 2025 to see how we’re shaping the future of education—together. 

The post Blackbaud Is Reimagining the Future of Education with AI appeared first on Blackbaud.

This year’s national theme, “A Celebration of Honor Culture,” highlights the importance of embracing identity, traditions, and storytelling as a means of preserving cultural legacy.

At Blackbaud, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace for all and supporting the unique communities we serve. In observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our employees have shared personal reflections and cultural insights, offering a glimpse into cherished traditions, historical landmarks, culinary heritage, and more. These are featured in the infographic below.

As part of our month-long celebration, Blackbaud employees will participate in a virtual volunteer event to develop English language flashcards for children in the Latino community. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to educational equity and community engagement.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our employees for sharing meaningful aspects of their heritage and for contributing to a culture of belonging and respect. Observances such as National Hispanic Heritage Month reinforce Blackbaud’s year-round commitment to inclusivity and impact.

The post Blackbaud Recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month appeared first on Blackbaud.

Yes, 2025 brings its share of uncertainty. Economic shifts, changing donor demographics, and policy changes are all reshaping the way we work. But here’s the good news: fundraisers are adapting, and as they do so, they are both contributing to and riding the wave of positive macro trends in our space, some of which were reported in the latest Giving USA annual report. Total giving is on the rise, with contributions increasing 3.3% when adjusted for inflation. Generational participation, especially among Millennials and Boomers, continues to drive annual giving, while Gen Z is stepping in with innovative approaches to support. 

In fact, among the hundreds of professionals we surveyed in our latest Blackbaud Institute research, The Status of Fundraising in the AI Era (2025), most told us they’re meeting or exceeding their goals. That’s not just resilience—it’s evolution in action.

What’s Working—and Why
We found that—despite reporting significant concerns over the economy and changing policy environments—72% of fundraisers hit or surpassed their targets in the past year. That’s a powerful signal that even in a complex environment, success is possible. What sets the most successful and confident organizations apart in our study? Two things stood out, and, encouragingly, both of them are within the reach of any organization that prioritizes them: digital maturity and data health. 

We found that organizations that had integrated their tech stacks—one of the key markers of high digital maturity—were more likely to have seen revenue growth. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that integrated tech usually points to integrated teams, working together toward clear goals. And those with strong data practices are better positioned to act on insights, prioritize resources, and engage donors in meaningful ways. It’s not about having more data—it’s about collecting it in the right ways and knowing what to do with it. 

The study also underscored that individual giving remains the bedrock of nonprofit revenue. Even as donor-advised funds and other vehicles grow, individual contributions still make up the largest share of giving. That means building strong, lasting relationships with individual donors is as important as ever. 

AI: A Tool, Not a Trend
One of the most talked-about shifts in our sector—as with every sector right now—is the rise of AI. In our research, over 80% of nonprofit professionals said they’re using AI in their daily work. That’s a big leap from just a year ago. 

The most common uses reported in our study? Content creation, note-taking, and donor research. But AI is also helping with activities more directly tied to revenue, like segmentation and wealth screening.  

The sentiment across the fundraising pros we surveyed is largely positive—most fundraisers believe AI will make their organizations more efficient and help them better connect with supporters, even as they seek to ensure that AI is used responsibly and in ways that builds, not erodes, relational trust.

At Blackbaud, we see the massive potential of AI to transform what’s possible for nonprofit organizations while supporting and expanding, but not replacing, the deeply human elements of fundraising. It’s why we’re investing so significantly in expanding our Intelligence for Good® AI strategy to make AI responsible, powerful and convenient for the essential business operations of social impact.

And we also already have a good picture of the types of organizations that will be able to harness the potential of AI in the most transformative ways. It’s the same two distinctives that separate the nonprofits adapting in today’s environment and those struggling to: digital maturity and data health.

When an organization has a strong foundation of integrated technology and clean, well-managed data, it’s far better positioned to unlock the full potential of AI. These two elements aren’t just operational advantages; they’re prerequisites for using AI in ways that are truly transformative. Without them, AI tools can’t deliver meaningful insights or scale impact effectively. But with them, fundraisers can move from being reactive to being strategic, using AI to deepen donor relationships, streamline workflows, and make smarter decisions faster.

A Moment of Possibility
What we’re seeing is a sector in motion. Fundraisers are not just reacting to change—they’re leading through it. They’re asking big questions, trying new approaches, and leaning into the tools that help them do more of what matters.

At the Blackbaud Institute, we believe this is a moment of possibility. A moment to rethink what’s possible when we combine smart strategy, strong relationships, and the right technology.

If you’re curious about what’s next—and how your organization can stay ahead—we invite you to explore the full findings in our latest report: https://institute.blackbaud.com/resources/status-of-fundraising-2025. 

We think you’ll find insights that not only inform your strategy but inspire your next move.

This article was originally published on August 18 by Giving USA here. 

Author Bio
Carrie Cobb is an accomplished innovator and change-agent capable of translating multifaceted data and analytics products into successful business initiatives and consumer experiences. She holds over 25 years of experience in developing data-driven analytic solutions, with the goal of leveraging advanced analytic methodologies and artificial intelligence to create easy to execute strategies for the social impact community.

As the Chief Data and AI Officer at Blackbaud, Carrie leads the Data Intelligence Center of Excellence, and is responsible for Blackbaud’s AI and data strategy, vertical-focused product innovation, data science and engineering disciplines, and data governance and ethics.

She chairs the Advisory Council on Methodology for the Giving USA Foundation, serves on the Governmental Affairs Committee for the Nonprofit Alliance, and is a member of the Advisory Council for Fundraising.AI. Carrie has been honored as one of DataIQ’s 100 Most Influential People in Data in both 2024 and 2025, and was named to CDO Magazine’s Global Data Power Women List 2023. She holds a Chief Data Officer Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University.   

The post The State of Modern Fundraising appeared first on Blackbaud.

For more than four decades, Blackbaud has been a trusted partner to changemakers around the world. Our software solutions empower nonprofits, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and purpose-driven companies to amplify their missions and accelerate their impact. The Impact Awards were created to spotlight the incredible work our customers are doing and to recognize how they’re transforming potential into progress.

“The energy and creativity our customers brought to this year’s nominations blew us away,” said Catherine LaCour, Chief Marketing Officer at Blackbaud. “It’s deeply moving to see how they’re harnessing technology not just to meet goals, but to reimagine what’s possible. We’re proud to celebrate their bold vision and the transformative impact they’re making.”

This year, customers from across the globe submitted nominations in seven award categories, highlighting both organizational excellence and outstanding leadership. The finalists represent a diverse cross-section of the social impact sector—from grassroots nonprofits and local schools to global enterprises and mission-driven companies.

“What makes this year’s finalists so compelling is the diversity of their impact,” said Todd Lant, Chief Customer Officer at Blackbaud. “Across sectors, geographies, and missions, they’re using data and technology to drive transformation—from building smarter systems and breaking down silos to launching innovative outreach strategies and empowering teams. These organizations remind us that when purpose meets the right tools, the ripple effect can be profound.”

The 2025 Blackbaud Impact Awards finalists are, in alphabetical order:

The Silo Buster Award: Recognizes organizations that have broken down silos and increased collaboration for greater impact.  

• Alvernia University  

• CDW Corporation   

• Dexter Southfield 

The Changemaker Award: Recognizes agile organizations that have embraced new tech capabilities to overcome challenges and deliver results.   

• Bauer Radio’s Cash for Kids  

• IWK Foundation 

• Save the Children 

• The Planning Council 

• Wesco International 

The Fueling Greatness Award: Recognizes organizations that have reached or surpassed ambitious goals.   

• Royal Neighbors of America  

• University of Indianapolis 

• Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge 

• WSU Tech Foundation 

The Data Strategist Award: Recognizes organizations that showcase how data-informed decisions or problem solving have given them a greater edge. 

• Capgemini Americas 

• Center for Grieving Children 

• Deakin University  

• Zonta Foundation for Women 

The Futurist Award: Recognizes organizations that have pursued technological exploration and creativity within Blackbaud’s flexible ecosystem with notable results.   

• British Columbia Children’s Hospital Foundation 

• Citymeals on Wheels 

• Georgia Tech Foundation  

• University School 

The Outstanding Leadership Award: Celebrates exceptional executive-level leaders who empower their teams and organizations 

• Dawn Ingram, Director of Fundraising at Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity  

• Heather Geronemus, Senior Director, Social Impact at UKG 

• Nathan Smith, Vice President Philanthropy at RAIN, Inc.   

• Philip Thornton, Vice President of Advancement at University of Indianapolis   

• Suzanne Whitbeck, Executive Director at El Sol, Jupiter’s Resource Center   

• Vanessa Longacre-Wilcox, Senior Executive Director, Data Philanthropy at Fred Hutch Cancer Center  

The Rising Star Award: A new award category, recognizes ambitious individuals at manager-level or below (non-executive or director level) who demonstrate exceptional potential in their field 

• Ana Sapp, Donor Database Manager at Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region   

• Anna Gomez, Senior Specialist, External Communications & CSR, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits 

• Eleonore Heinrichs, Database & Reporting Team Lead at University of Manitoba 

• Liam Castellan, Development Operations and Database Manager, Shakespeare & Company   

• Rianti Bielder, Database Coordinator at Mary’s House Services   

Blackbaud will reveal the winners on September 10 and will celebrate their achievements at bbcon 2025, its annual technology conference happening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 6-8. For more details about the finalists and the awards, visit: https://www.blackbaud.com/impact-awards.

The post Blackbaud Announces the 2025 Blackbaud Impact Awards Finalists appeared first on Blackbaud.

“At Blackbaud, our purpose is woven into everything we do—from the solutions we build to the way we support our employees, customers and communities,” said Margaret “Maggie” Driscoll, chief people and culture officer, Blackbaud. “This award is a reflection of the passion and dedication our people have for making a meaningful impact, and we’re thrilled to be honored for the fourth consecutive year.”

To qualify for the Tech Cares Award, companies must demonstrate impactful CSR initiatives in areas such as volunteerism, inclusion, charitable giving, workplace culture, environmental sustainability and education.

“Blackbaud’s dedication to sustainability, inclusion, and community impact proves that business success and positive change go hand in hand,” said Allyson Havener, chief marketing officer, TrustRadius. “We’re proud to recognize their leadership in making a meaningful difference with their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives for the fourth year in a row as a Tech Cares winner.”

Blackbaud’s CSR efforts are anchored in four key priority areas: People and Culture, Fueling Social Impact, Environmental Sustainability, and Governance and Data Responsibility. Additionally, highlights of Blackbaud’s CSR commitment over the past year include:

• Employee Well-Being and Development: Blackbaud prioritizes the well-being and growth of its employees through programs that support mental health, professional development, and work-life balance. In 2024, employees completed an average of 12 hours of training, in addition to required compliance courses. Feedback is gathered through engagement surveys, focus groups, Affinity Groups, and direct input, ensuring that programs are responsive to the evolving needs of our global team.
• Volunteerism: Blackbaud fosters a culture of generosity and service, empowering employees to actively engage with their communities. Through volunteerism, giving, grantmaking, and community outreach, the company supports causes that are meaningful to its workforce. In 2024, over 70% of employees volunteered—significantly surpassing the industry median of 23%. Additionally, approximately 90% of employees indicated that Blackbaud’s commitment to social responsibility is important to them.
• Philanthropy: Blackbaud supports causes aligned with its mission, with a strong emphasis on education-focused initiatives that expand access and opportunity for underserved communities. These investments reflect a belief in the transformative power of education and a commitment to long-term social impact. Blackbaud also continues to champion women in technology through mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to foster innovation and equity within the tech sector.

These initiatives and more are detailed in Blackbaud’s latest Impact Report, which highlights progress we made against our CSR and ESG goals in 2024. As Blackbaud celebrates this recognition, the company remains committed to its mission of powering social impact and creating a more equitable and sustainable future.

Learn more about the TrustRadius Tech Cares Award and see the full list of 2025 winners here.

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