Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Tue, August 24, 2010
Mon, August 23, 2010 Blackbaud Social Launches to Help Nonprofits Increase Constituent Engagement through Social Media
CHARLESTON, S.C.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: [ BLKB ]) today announced the launch of [ Blackbaud Social ]a", a new offering that provides [ social media solutions for nonprofits ] to create both private-label and public socially-enabled communities. It is the only integrated social platform that offers organizations an easy way to extend their mission, access user data, and leverage it for meaningful constituent engagement.
"In turn, we can learn more about our supporters and centralize our chaptersa™ social media communities, while extending them to public social sites to increase our reach."
aNonprofits see the rapidly growing potential of leveraging social media to acquire new constituents and engage them with their mission and programs,a said Marc Chardon, Blackbauda™s chief executive officer. aBlackbaud Social finally gives organizations the ability to integrate their social media strategy with their overall communications, and most importantly, with their CRM.a
Blackbaud Social is a complementary solution to the companya™s existing suite of fundraising, Internet, and constituent relationship management (CRM) solutions. When integrated with Blackbaud Sphere®, it creates the most comprehensive online solution for social media, email marketing, online event management, website management, and advocacy. With Blackbaud Social, nonprofits can drive awareness and traffic from public networks such as Facebook®, Twitter®, and YouTube® to their own private-label house social networks where constituents can meaningfully engage. Blackbaud Social enhances an organizationa™s ability to more effectively communicate and gain insight into constituent behavior. With a single sign-in, the platform supports bi-directional data transfer to personalize a usera™s experience while capturing key data in the usera™s CRM profile.
In partnership with ThePort Network, the [ Association of Fundraising Professionals ] (AFP) will use Blackbaud Social to provide a private online community for its members. Founded in 1960, AFP advances ethical and effective fundraising through its 30,000 members in 213 chapters throughout the world. aThe fundraising profession advances through open communication, networking and the sharing of knowledge, which is why AFPa™s work with The Port and implementation of Blackbaud Social is so important,a said Kathy Compton, chief marketing officer for AFP. aThis robust social media platform will create an online community where AFP members can easily access new value-added programs, interact with colleagues, and work towards achieving their organizationsa™ philanthropic missions.a
Additionally, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation recently built an online community to connect people living with paralysis to friends, family members, scientists, and each other. aThrough the [ Reeve Foundation Paralysis Community ], powered by Blackbaud Social, we are able to provide a community where our members can engage, contribute content, and access information that is specific to them,a said Rob Gerth, the Reeve Foundationa™s director of digital media. aIn turn, we can learn more about our supporters and centralize our chaptersa™ social media communities, while extending them to public social sites to increase our reach.a
To introduce the technology and best practices built into Blackbaud Social, a free web seminar series a[ Blackbaud Social Hour: Engaging Your Supporters through Social Media ]a will kick off on September 17 and will continue the three following Fridays at 1 p.m. EDT. The series of four web seminars presented by industry experts will explore how to engage supporters using social media. The Blackbaud Social Hour web seminar series will feature the following four sessions:
> Unlocking the True value of Social Mediaa"the Answers are in the Data
Holly Ross, Executive Director, NTEN
September 17 at 1 p.m. ET
>Engaging Donors Through Social Media
Frank Barry, Professional Services Manager, Blackbaud
September 24 at 1 p.m. ET
>Private-Label House Social Networksa"10 Really Good Reasons to Build Community on Your Organization's Website
Jeff Patrick, President and Founder, Common Knowledge
October 1 at 1 p.m. ET
> Achieving Success with Blackbaud Social: A Reeve Foundation Case Study
Mark Davis, Director of Enterprise Internet Solutions, Blackbaud; Aaron Biddar, Executive Vice President, The Port; and Rob Gerth, Director of Digital Media, The Reeve Foundation
October 8 at 1 p.m. ET
Nonprofit professionals can register for one web seminar, or for the entire series at [ www.blackbaud.com/blackbaudsocial ].
To celebrate the launch of Blackbaud Social, the company is also holding a Blackbaud INSPIRE Tweetaway and will be giving away four passes next week to the [ 2010 Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits ], which is being held in Washington, D.C., from October 20 to 22, 2010. To enter, nonprofits can follow [ Blackbaud on Twitter ], and respond to the question aHow do you inspire supporters with social media?a by @replying Blackbaud and tagging it #bbsocial. For more information, visit [ www.blackbaud.com/inspire ].
More than 4,600 nonprofit organizations around the world use Blackbaud Internet solutions, including Blackbaud® NetCommunity, Blackbaud NetCommunity Growa", Blackbaud Sphere, Blackbaud Sphere® Growa", and now Blackbaud Social for content email, and event management; online fundraising, online community building, and advocacy. For more information about Blackbaud Social, or to request a demonstration, visit [ www.blackbaud.com/blackbaudsocial ].
About Blackbaud
Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. Approximately 22,000 organizations a" including University of Arizona Foundation, American Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, The Taft School, Lincoln Center, In Touch Ministries, Tulsa Community Foundation, Ursinus College, Earthjustice, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the WGBH Educational Foundation a" use one or more Blackbaud products and services for fundraising, constituent relationship management, financial management, website management, direct marketing, education administration, ticketing, business intelligence, prospect research, consulting, and analytics. Since 1981, Blackbauda™s sole focus and expertise has been partnering with nonprofits and providing them the solutions they need to make a difference in their local communities and worldwide. Headquartered in the United States, Blackbaud also has operations in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit [ www.blackbaud.com ].
Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks related to our dividend policy and share repurchase program, including potential limitations on our ability to grow and the possibility that we might discontinue payment of dividends; risks relating to restrictions imposed by the credit facility; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organizations; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SECa™s website at [ www.sec.gov ] or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respectiveowners.
