New Blackbaud Solution Helps Nonprofit Leaders Make Informed Decisions

The Information Edge drives decision making with a single view of nonprofit activity

CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 9, 2004 -- Blackbaud, a leader in bringing technology solutions to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, announced today the release of a new solution designed to help nonprofit leaders make critical decisions. The Information Edge(TM) enables high-speed analysis of key data from across a nonprofit operation, providing executives with a comprehensive view of all organizational activities.

The first Business Intelligence tool designed exclusively for nonprofits, The Information Edge enables nonprofits to effectively integrate and analyze the high volumes of data they collect every day. With insights from this data in their hands, nonprofit leaders can make more informed decisions faster, increase the effectiveness of their operations, and improve results of fundraising campaigns.

"The Information Edge is helping us quickly turn large amounts of data into actionable information that equips both staff and volunteer leaders to develop deeper relationships with alumni and raise more financial support," said Tim Kobosko, vice president of information services at the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA/NAF), which has a staff of 80, hundreds of volunteer leaders located throughout the world, and 50,000 members.

AA/NAF initially used The Information Edge to provide 500+ volunteer leaders with constantly changing class and chapter reports via a permission- based Web site, freeing their time to focus on increasing membership and attracting new applicants to the service academy. With The Information Edge as its centralized management reporting engine, AA/NAF is positioned to tackle a series of key challenges, such as frequently providing updated alumni data to the 3rd-party call center that handles the service academy's annual fund drive.

"Nonprofit leaders looking to stay competitive and grow their operations must have key information at their disposal to ensure they make the right moves at the right time," said Robert J. Sywolski, CEO of Blackbaud, Inc. "The Information Edge provides this critical 'nonprofit intelligence,' dramatically improving their return on investment for everything from extensive fundraising campaigns to program service delivery."

The Dallas Museum of Art, which provides arts education to 175,000 public school students, relies on The Information Edge to aggregate and report on high volumes of participant and volunteer information, providing a platform for future growth in how the organization serves the community. WaterAid, a UK-based international non-governmental organization, is using the flexible reporting and analysis tools in The Information Edge to better segment its direct marketing appeals to 60,000 donors, increase ask amounts and decrease donor attrition.

The Information Edge extracts, integrates and organizes disparate data into meaningful datamarts that allow for high-speed, interactive analysis. Data are enhanced with the application of SmartFields built specifically for analysis of nonprofit key performance indicators and best practices in segmentation for effective direct marketing. The resulting information is delivered to the organization's decision-makers via dynamic reports and performance dashboards.

To learn more about The Information Edge or to register for a Web demonstration, please click here -- http://www.blackbaud.com/solutions/businessintelligence.asp -- or call 800-443-9441.

About Blackbaud, Inc.

Blackbaud is a leading provider of technology solutions to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions worldwide. More than 13,000 organizations use Blackbaud products and consulting services for fundraising, financial management, business intelligence and school administration. Blackbaud's solutions include The Raiser's Edge(R), The Financial Edge(TM), The Education Edge(TM) and The Information Edge(TM), as well as a wide range of analytical, consulting and educational services. Founded in 1981, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and has offices in Glasgow, Scotland, and Sydney, Australia.

For more information, please contact:

       Rachel Hutchisson
       Director of Corporate Communications
       Blackbaud, Inc.
       mailto: rachel.hutchisson@blackbaud.com
       http://www.blackbaud.com
       +1 843-216-6200 x3070


  SOURCE Blackbaud, Inc.
  Web Site: http://www.blackbaud.com