CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug 09, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB) today announced that the American Bible Society (ABS) has selected Blackbaud CRM to improve its supporters' experience, from direct marketing to online engagement.

"We are pleased to partner with American Bible Society, helping this renowned organization optimize its fundraising efficiency and multichannel communications," said Charlie Cumbaa, president of Blackbaud's enterprise customer business unit. "With Blackbaud CRM, ABS will be able to centralize its fundraising and marketing efforts to better serve supporters at all of the levels they engage with the organization."

The mission of ABS, a 195-year old organization, is to share God's word with people around the world in a language and format that they can understand so they can enjoy the benefits of transformation that comes from God.

"We have a mission that is ever-growing, and we are going to be equipped by Blackbaud solutions to be more intelligent and efficient in our fundraising efforts," said Joey Pierce, ABS's director of development. "The more money we are able to raise and the more efficiently we are able to raise it, the more capable we will be to provide Bibles around the world. Blackbaud CRM is going to enable us to extend our mission by allocating more dollars raised to extending God's word around the globe."

• Hear more from Joey Pierce at www.blackbaud.tv/fan-club

With an upcoming capital campaign and the need to integrate online and offline marketing activities, ABS staff researched many vendors and selected Blackbaud CRM, a solution designed to bring industry-leading fundraising, online applications, and direct marketing together in one platform to enable an integrated view of the constituent experience.

"It really was an easy decision to go with Blackbaud," said Carolyn Hobbs, ABS's director of data services. "Blackbaud has an all-encompassing solution that is strong in all of the areas we were looking for - direct response, major giving, and online. Other systems we saw were really strong in one area, but did not provide the overarching experience to help us move forward."

Blackbaud CRM will help American Bible Society in three key areas:

• Web integration - enabling ABS to easily and quickly distribute appeals and provide donors with a login to customize their online experience along with self-service tools. The organization's website will be highly personalized, providing targeted content related to subjects donors have expressed interest in and appeals they've given to before, and will report on how their dollars are being used.
• The supporter journey - allowing the organization to track the whole supporter strategy related to major and planned giving, including tracking moves, recording activities, donor appeals and responses.
• Direct marketing - allowing the organization to input its annual plan and budget as well as track activities and costs associated with them to immediately record, verify and monitor incoming gifts.

"Blackbaud is really going to help us have a holistic view of our supporters," said Hobbs. "By doing that in the most effective and efficient way, it will allow us to focus on our ministry."

For more information about Blackbaud CRM, visit www.blackbaud.com/crm.

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 24,000 organizations -- including The American Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, Earthjustice, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Lincoln Center, The Salvation Army, The Taft School, Tulsa Community Foundation, Ursinus College, the WGBH Educational Foundation, and Yale University -- 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, Blackbaud'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 organization; 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 SEC'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.

SOURCE: Blackbaud, Inc.

Blackbaud, Inc.
Melanie Mathos, 843-216-6200 x3307
media@blackbaud.com