Microsoft Azure to Power Blackbaud’s NXT Solution Line

Technology Leaders Partnering to Deliver Most Reliable, Flexible and Secure Cloud for Nonprofits

Charleston, S.C. (October 22, 2015) – Blackbaud, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software and services for the global philanthropic community, today announced a new collaboration with Microsoft Corp. to deliver Blackbaud’s cloud-based NXT Solution Line to nonprofit organizations. This expands their existing technology alliance, and now places Blackbaud in the elite and exclusive category of Microsoft Azure Cloud Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Partners.

Blackbaud’s NXT Solution Line, which features fundraising and relationship management with Raiser’s Edge NXT and financial management with Financial Edge NXT, is hosted in the Blackbaud Cloud and will be powered by Microsoft Azure.

The Blackbaud Cloud provides the reliability, security and flexibility that both nonprofits and Blackbaud Partners need—all within an innovative, modern architecture that boasts a common, elegant user experience. With this relationship, the Microsoft Azure platform will provide powerful, integrated web services while offering the reliability and scalability Blackbaud needs to support its rapidly growing, high demand suite of cloud offerings.

“We’re pleased to announce an expanded relationship with Microsoft today to power our NXT Solution Line with Microsoft Azure,” said Mike Gianoni, Blackbaud president and CEO. “This news combines the strength of both companies to bring unparalleled capability to customers, all within a more secure and modern environment they can trust.”

Microsoft is the only vendor positioned as a Leader across Gartner’s Magic Quadrants for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service, Application Platform as a Service, and Cloud Storage Services for the second consecutive year.

“Blackbaud is the technology leader in the philanthropic sector, and we’re pleased to work alongside this important partner as they rapidly innovate to deliver even more power and capability to customers,” said Larry Orecklin, vice president, Developer Experience and Chief Evangelist at Microsoft. “Blackbaud’s decision to power its NXT cloud workloads with Microsoft Azure means nonprofits will enjoy world-class performance, scalability and reliability in the hyperscale cloud.”

Blackbaud’s commitment to the Microsoft Azure platform for its flagship cloud solutions complements its existing investments in developing leading solutions for the global philanthropic community on the Microsoft stack.

Gianoni added, “We’ve made many investments that harness the power of Microsoft technologies over the last decade—all of which have proven extremely beneficial for customers. The addition of Azure to that story is paving the way for even more reliable and integrated innovation from Blackbaud, which is exciting.”

Microsoft executive Neal Suggs will join Blackbaud’s annual conference for the global philanthropic community, bbcon, on October 27 to share more details about the announcement.

For more information about Raiser’s Edge NXT or Financial Edge NXT, visit www.theNXTera.com.  For more information about Microsoft Azure, visit www.microsoft.com/Azure.

About Blackbaud

Serving the nonprofit, charitable giving and education communities for more than 30 years, Blackbaud (NASDAQ:BLKB) combines technology solutions and expertise to help organizations achieve their missions. Blackbaud works in over 60 countries to support more than 30,000 customers, including nonprofits, K12 private and higher education institutions, healthcare organizations, foundations and other charitable giving entities, and corporations. The company offers a full spectrum of cloud and on-premise solutions, and related services for organizations of all sizes, including nonprofit fundraising and relationship management, eMarketing, advocacy, accounting, payments and analytics, as well as grant management, corporate social responsibility, education and other solutions. Using Blackbaud technology, these organizations raise, invest, manage and award more than $100 billion each year. Recognized as a top company, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.

Media Contact
Nicole McGougan
Public Relations
843-654-3307
nicole.mcgougan@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.