Blackbaud, Inc.: Blackbaud Support Wins Top Honours

London, Jun 22, 2009 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- BLKB | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), today announced that The Association of Support Professionals (ASP) has selected the company's support site as a winner of this year's "Ten Best Web Support Sites" award. The 12th annual competition honours companies that showcase excellence in online service and support. "The judges were especially impressed by Blackbaud's use of interactive technology to deliver a high-quality customer experience," said Jeffrey Tarter, ASP's executive director. "The site is much more than a place to look up answers-it's a platform for a genuine self-serve support community." The award winners were selected by a panel of judges with expertise in web support design and implementation, using a scoring system based on 25 separate performance criteria. The 10 winning sites will be profiled in a book called "The Ten Best Web Support Sites of 2009," to be published by ASP next month.

"Being selected as a Ten Best Web Support Site winner is truly a great honor," said Jerry Zink, Blackbaud senior vice president and chief customer satisfaction officer. "Our customer support team is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, which we achieve in part by providing comprehensive online resources and continually seeking ways to enhance them to meet our customers' needs. Customers are at the heart of everything we do-including the recent, and upcoming, enhancements to our support site."

Blackbaud was judged based on three key features of its site:

Blackbaud's Case Central, which enables customers to review and update their organisation's existing cases, create a new case, or initiate a chat session for immediate online assistance

Blackbaud's Support Newsletters, whichkeep customers informed about the latest software information, tips for using their software effectively, and upcoming events

Blackbaud's Idea Banks, which allow customers to submit their own suggestions, add comments, and vote for the suggestions they want the most. Blackbaud's product management team can then review customer suggestions, leave feedback, and update the status of a suggestion

Additionally, the company was evaluated based on the replacement of its user forums earlier this year. "Since we implemented the new forums in February, more than 500,000 users have contributed to over 14,000 threads and 36,000 posts-we have a truly engaged community of users," said Jeff Malmgren, Blackbaud's vice president of support. "Our forums are a lively gathering place for the not-for-profit community to exchange ideas, ask questions about best practices, share creative uses for Blackbaud software, collaborate and network." Blackbaud will also soon launch a new Knowledgebase, providing further enhancements to its now award-winning site. The new technology will power animproved search engine, an enhanced infrastructure, and the ability to subscribe to specific solution updates, so users will be notified automatically when the company updates solutions or provides a patch.

For more information on Blackbaud Support, visit www.blackbaud.co.uk/support/bbe_support.aspx , or visit Blackbaud Forums at http://forums.blackbaud.com/forums/default.aspx?GroupID=9.

To learn more about the new Knowledgebase, visit the company's Web Sitings Blog.

About The Association of Support Professionals

The Association of Support Professionals is an international membership organization for customer support managers and professionals. In addition to its annual "Ten Best" awards, the ASP publishes research reports on a wide range of support topics, including fee-based support, services marketing, and support compensation.

About Blackbaud Europe

Blackbaud Europe, Ltd. is a division of Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), the leading global provider of software and related services designed specifically for not-for-profit organisations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. More than 22,000 organisations - including Cancer Research UK, CRISIS, University of Cambridge and English National Opera - use one or more of Blackbaud products and consulting servicesfor in-house and online ticketing, marketing, website management, and fundraising. Blackbaud's solutions include The Raiser's Edge ,The Patron Edge ,The Information Edge, Blackbaud Gift Aid and Blackbaud NetCommunity as well as a wide range of consulting and educational services. Since 1981, Blackbaud's sole focus and expertise has been partnering with not-for-profits and providing them the solutions they need to make a difference in their local communities and worldwide. Headquartered in the United States, Blackbaud also has operations in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

Source: Blackbaud

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.

CONTACT: Michaela Wright, Blackbaud Europe e-mail: michaela.wright@blackbaud.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 7921 9648 WWW: http://www.blackbaud.co.uk

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