CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- #GivingTuesday is on track to shatter records as eager philanthropists and global citizens support the charities and causes they hold close to their hearts. Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading cloud software company powering social good and a founding partner of the movement, will provide key reporting, trend data and expert commentary throughout the day as it tracks online donations on #GivingTuesday.
Observed annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Since its inception in 2012, the movement has engaged over 10,000 nonprofit organizations worldwide and impacted over a million individuals in more than 70 countries.
Blackbaud has analyzed the data behind #GivingTuesday for the past five years and will again process the majority of online donations made in the U.S. this year. The company's data experts will be available throughout the day in a command center at Nasdaq headquarters in Times Square. Media is welcome to drop by to see charitable giving data tracked in real time as support pours in for an array of charities serving social good.
In its fifth consecutive year, #GivingTuesday has proven it is more than a hashtag, demonstrating the power of social and digital media as individuals rally to advance the philanthropic movement. In addition to hosting its big data command center on Nov. 29, Blackbaud will highlight the work of nonprofits and other change-makers across its marketing channels, social media platforms and in Times Square, in hopes that more cause-minded individuals will do their part to support the work of social good on #GivingTuesday.
"Blackbaud is proud to partner with customers to amplify the philanthropic message and collective impact of #GivingTuesday," said Rachel Hutchisson, vice president of Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy at Blackbaud. "It's important to remember that this movement is powered by individuals who donate and make a difference for charities as they kick off their end-of-year giving season. So we hope people around the world will be generous on #GivingTuesday so the movement has its biggest year yet."
Many nonprofits drive #GivingTuesday campaigns as they see the movement as a major catalyzer of supporter growth. Project HOPE used funds generated from its 2015 #GivingTuesday campaign to send a team of nurses to Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis, a disease that killed almost 4,000 people and left behind a crumbling health care infrastructure. "Donations from #GivingTuesday gave me the chance to travel to Africa to provide medical relief for people who felt helpless," said J. Beryl Brooks, retired American nurse and Project HOPE volunteer. "It's the philanthropy displayed on this day that demonstrates how we all can come together as a global community. Project HOPE provided neonatal relief to the affected areas in Africa, ultimately helping sick mothers deliver healthy babies. One family was so thankful for the aid that they named their baby after Project HOPE's CEO, Tom Kenyon."
Donations from #GivingTuesday have supported game-changing interventions around the world, such as research efforts to fight diseases and disorders. "This is an exciting time in MS research," said Cyndi Zagieboylo, president and CEO of the National MS Society. "The FDA is expected to approve the first-ever disease modifying therapy for primary progressive MS by the end of the year. That's a breakthrough for some of the 2.3 million people with MS worldwide. Giving Tuesday provides us a unique opportunity to continue to achieve breakthroughs in MS research and also in services like our MS Navigators who provide partnership and expertise in overcoming the unique challenges that MS can cause. The Society's vision is a world free of multiple sclerosis."
Keeping with the spirit of the season, Blackbaud will waive its administration fees for any U.S. donations made on #GivingTuesday via Blackbaud's crowdfundraising solution, everydayhero®.
For more information about Blackbaud and #Giving Tuesday, visit www.Blackbaud.com/GivingTuesday.
About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world's leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, foundations, corporations, education institutions, and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through software, services, expertise, and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and relationship management, digital marketing, advocacy, accounting, payments, analytics, school management, grant management, corporate social responsibility, and volunteerism. Serving the industry for more than three decades, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.
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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.
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SOURCE Blackbaud, Inc.