Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) today announced the global expansion of its Community Matters Grants Program, modeled after The Blackbaud Fund that has been providing grants to nonprofits in its Charleston-headquarters community for 17 years.

"The Community Matters Grants Program allows us to invest in the nonprofit sector throughout the year in the many communities where employees work and live," said Rachel Hutchisson, Blackbaud's director of corporate citizenship and philanthropy. "We are excited to extend this initiative to all our locations, engaging our employees in the giving process, and ultimately helping nonprofits accomplish the essential work they do."

The expanded grant program will continue Blackbaud's longstanding commitment to funding grant requests focused on education of disadvantaged populations, general operations and capacity building. Launched in January, the Blackbaud Community Matters Grants Program will make grants throughout the year to nonprofits in communities where the company has offices.

Having just concluded a grant cycle in Charleston, the Community Matters Grants Program is now open in Austin. Nonprofits in Travis and Williamson counties can submit applications through May 24. Funding decisions will be announced in July. To qualify, organizations need to have budgets of less than $2 million, seek funding from various sources for the same proposal, implement the program or project within a 12-month period and have been in existence for more than one year.

  • For more information or to apply, visit www.blackbaud.com/communitymatters.

Following Austin, the program will expand to Cambridge, Mass. and other domestic office locations with a deadline of June 30, with the exception of Indianapolis and all international office locations, which have a deadline of September 30.

2013 Community Matters Grants Program Charleston-area Grantees

Working under the guidance of the Coastal Community Foundation and Tina Fei, a Blackbaud technical writer and grants committee leader, a group of Charleston-based employee volunteers reviewed applications, conducted site visits and made final funding recommendations for this year's grantees.

"Blackbaud's support will enable the kids at Chicora Elementary School to develop critical social and emotional skills that will lead to success in school and in life," said Bridget Laird, chief executive officer of WINGS for Kids, one of the Charleston grantees. "We are thrilled to be a partner."

The following organizations were selected to receive grants:

  • WINGS for Kids
  • Communities in Schools of the Charleston Area
  • Charleston Volunteers for Literacy
  • Charleston Academy of Music
  • Avian Conservation Center
  • Metanoia
  • Florence Crittenton of South Carolina
  • Children's Museum of the Lowcountry

For more information or to submit an application, visit www.blackbaud.com/communitymatters.

About Blackbaud

Serving the nonprofit and education sectors for 30 years, Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) combines technology and expertise to help organizations achieve their missions. Blackbaud works with more than 28,000 customers in over 60 countries that support higher education, healthcare, human services, arts and culture, faith, the environment, independent K-12 education, animal welfare and other charitable causes. The company offers a full spectrum of cloud-based and on-premise software solutions and related services for organizations of all sizes including: fundraising, eMarketing, advocacy, constituent relationship management (CRM), financial management, payment services, analytics and vertical-specific solutions. Using Blackbaud technology, these organizations raise more than $100 billion each year. Recognized as a top company by Forbes, InformationWeek, and Software Magazine and honored by Best Places to Work, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, 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.

Media:
Blackbaud, Inc.
Melanie Mathos, 843.216.6200 x3307
media@blackbaud.com