Blackbaud and Northwest Software Technologies Partner to Deliver Integrated Fundraising and Auction Management Solution

Business Wire, May 10, 2005

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Will Deliver Auction Information with Fundraising Data for Complete View of All Supporters

Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), the leading provider of software and related services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, announced today that it has partnered with Northwest Software Technologies, Inc.(R) to provide an integrated fundraising and auction management solution.

More than 500 nonprofit organizations already rely on both Auction-Tracker(R) - for comprehensive auction management - and The Raiser's Edge(R), Blackbaud's award-winning fundraising software.

"Running auctions is serious business for many nonprofit organizations," said Robert J. Sywolski, chief executive officer of Blackbaud, Inc. "By integrating Auction-Tracker with The Raiser's Edge, we will be offering nonprofits the combined power of two best-of-breed solutions and allowing key staff to get a complete understanding of each supporter's relationship with the organization."

How it works

Nonprofit organizations rely on Auction-Tracker to manage the high volume of details associated with planning an event, including managing the item procurement process for both online and event night auctions, and providing on-the-ground support at the auction to ensure quick-and-easy checkout for guests.

By integrating the solution with The Raiser's Edge, nonprofits will also be able to:

--Allow auction staff and volunteers to provide superior customer service by quickly identifying attendees who are existing donors

--Combine auction-related information with data from a donor's main constituent record to allow staff to target appeals appropriately

--Eliminate duplicate data entry, freeing up hours of staff time to spend on strategic initiatives

"The entire development team at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is delighted that Northwest Software and Blackbaud are working together to integrate Auction-Tracker with The Raiser's Edge," said Tori Griffith, director of special events at the organization, which conducts four auctions a year, including a 900-person Hutch Holiday Gala that raises $5 million. "This combined solution will help us increase our operational efficiency, eliminate duplicate data entry, reduce errors, and develop new best practices."

Rockhurst High School, which collaborates with 400 volunteers to host a 550-person auction that raises $500,000, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Indiana, which has held auctions for more than 30 years and expects to raise $175,000 at an event next month, are also looking forward to the integrated fundraising and auction management solution. Both organizations already rely on Auction-Tracker and The Raiser's Edge.

"We are pleased to be collaborating with Blackbaud, leveraging our combined creativity to equip fundraising professionals with vital information," said Jack D. Wilson, president and chief executive officer of Northwest Software Technologies, Inc. "In addition to sharing a significant group of customers, we also share a common vision of the critical role technology plays in this competitive nonprofit environment."

About Northwest Software Technologies, Inc.

Northwest Software Technologies, Inc. is the pioneering and leading provider of event fundraising software to the nonprofit sector in the United States and Canada. More than 2,000 organizations in four countries use the Tracker-Series applications to manage fundraising events. Northwest Software offers a series of software applications for event fundraising management, including A'Thon-Tracker(R) for sponsor-based events, Auction-Tracker(R) for benefit fundraising auctions, Banquet-Tracker(R) for fundraising banquets and Tournament-Tracker(R) for benefit golf tournaments. Founded in 1985, Northwest Software is headquartered in Everett, Washington, with international distribution offices in Vancouver, Canada.

About Blackbaud, Inc.

Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and related services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations. Approximately 13,000 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 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(R) 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.