Communities Foundation of Texas Selects Blackbaud Solution to Manage C

Communities Foundation of Texas Selects Blackbaud Solution to Manage Complex Network of Relationships

    Business Editors

    CHARLESTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2005--

Will deploy integrated technology solution to strengthen connections with more than 750 funds for individuals, families, corporations and businesses
    Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), the leading provider of software and related services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, announced today that the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) has selected the company's integrated technology solution to better serve donors and nonprofits across the state.
    "As one of the largest community foundations in the country, we needed a partner who could not only provide a strong operational platform, but one who also understood our unique business needs," CFT Interim Executive Director Jack Kinnebrew said. "CFT selected Blackbaud because the company is held in high regard within our industry. Blackbaud was able to provide CFT with technology solutions to better manage more than 750 funds for individuals, families, corporations, and businesses representing more than a half-billion dollars in assets."
    Since 1953, philanthropists have turned to CFT for a long-term approach to charitable giving. CFT gives its donors customized solutions that implement the donor's philanthropic intentions through innovative programs that offer optimal tax advantages and combine responsible investing and effective grantmaking. Today, CFT is the largest community foundation in Texas and the South, having distributed more than $650 million in grants on behalf of donors, while building more that $600 million in assets.
    CFT needed a technology solution to manage their critical processes, from cultivating relationships with donors and charitable organizations to managing hundreds of funds. To this end, CFT signed an agreement in December 2004 to deploy a combination of software and services from Blackbaud including The Raiser's Edge(R) (for fundraising management), The Information Edge(TM) (for Business Intelligence), and The Financial Edge(TM) (for financial management).
    "Blackbaud has a long history of working with community foundations, providing technology solutions, developing best practices and understanding our own community's needs," said Robert J. Sywolski, chief executive officer of Blackbaud, Inc., which created its own fund at the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina and relies on employees to select grant recipients.
    "We are proud to collaborate with the Communities Foundation of Texas as they take a leadership role in using technology to strengthen bonds with donors and manage more than $600 million in valuable philanthropic assets," said Sywolski.
    The California Community Foundation, the Greater Lafayette Community Foundation and the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina also rely on Blackbaud solutions to cultivate relationships, raise money and manage hundreds of funds.

    About the Communities Foundation of Texas
    CFT was founded in 1953 and is committed to promoting the promise of philanthropy and to creating a growing and lasting endowment in the name of its donors, both living and departed, helping to carry out their legacies while building a better community. Over five decades, CFT has distributed more than $650 million in charitable grants on behalf of more than 750 donors and has built assets of more than $600 million dollars.

    About Blackbaud, Inc.
    Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and related services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations. More than 12,500 organizations - including the American Red Cross, Bowdoin College, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, the Detroit Zoological Society, Episcopal High School, Help the Aged, the Mayo Foundation, the New York Philharmonic and United Way of America - 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), The Patron Edge(TM), Blackbaud NetCommunity(TM), The Information Edge(TM), WealthPoint(TM) and ProspectPoint(TM), as well as a wide range of consulting and educational services. Founded in 1981, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Glasgow, Scotland, and Sydney, Australia. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.
    Blackbaud, the Blackbaud logo, The Raiser's Edge, The Financial Edge, The Education Edge, The Patron Edge, Blackbaud NetCommunity, The Information Edge, WealthPoint and ProspectPoint are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.

    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: risk associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organizations; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; adoption of our products and services by nonprofits; risks related to our dividend and stock repurchase program, including potential limitations on our ability to grow and the possibility that we might discontinue payment of dividends; risk associated with product concentration; economic conditions and seasonality; competition; risks associated with management of growth; risks associated with acquisitions; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; 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 upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department.

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CONTACT: Integrated Corporate Relations, Inc. Megan McDonnell, 203-682-8200 mailto:mmcdonnell@icrinc.com or Blackbaud, Inc. Rachel Hutchisson, 843-216-6200 x3070 mailto:rachel.hutchisson@blackbaud.com or Laurey Peat + Associates (for the Communities Foundation of Texas) Laurey Peat, 214-871-8787 lpeat@lpapr.com

KEYWORD: TEXAS SOUTH CAROLINA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EDUCATION BANKING SOFTWARE INTERNET E-COMMERCE MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Blackbaud, Inc.

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