Blackbaud Learn Provides Training Options for Ongoing Skill Development

Charleston, S.C., Oct. 27, 2009 — With new classes every month, a role-based curriculum, and exclusive sessions on strategy and best practices, Blackbaud has made training more accessible to the nonprofit organizations it serves. Blackbaud is offering a free training session, , as a sample of the instructor-led courseware from Blackbaud Learn that explores basic querying techniques.), announced the availability of Blackbaud Learn™, a subscription-based training program that provides ongoing skill development and job knowledge training to nonprofits.

“Blackbaud Learn empowers nonprofits to fulfill their missions with courses tailored to their specific needs,” said Mark Banning, Blackbaud’s director of educational services. “With the introduction of Blackbaud Learn, we are providing nonprofit professionals the training they want and need to do their jobs better and be more productive, while keeping staff members engaged in active, lifelong learning.”

Sylvia Hrbek recently joined the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) Foundation as the organization’s accounting manager and immediately started training through Blackbaud Learn. “It was refreshing to know that when I joined the organization, I was not only provided the initial training I needed to do my job well, but will also have an ongoing resource to constantly improve,” she said. “Blackbaud Learn is extremely valuable, because it offers so many classes on a range of topics to help our staff continuously evolve in its professional development.”

CALGB Foundation is an organization with four staff members who need to learn about allocation management, budget management, exporting and importing, and queries. With these online and classroom courses, the organization plans to increase productivity and effectiveness while streamlining what staff members currently do manually. “Training is definitely not an optional expense, it is a smart investment,” said Hrbek.

Blackbaud Learn is available as a renewable annual subscription, starting at $1,000 to best meet the needs and budget of any organization. Training packages are offered at three different levels with classes spanning fundamental skills development to advanced coursework. All three Learn packages include access to exclusive nonprofit strategy sessions, on-demand software skills lessons, and role-based classes. Blackbaud Learn is available in three different subscription levels:

· Learn: All the essential online classes a staff of any size needs to enable success, including introductory classes and coursework devoted to building critical skills.

· Learn More: All the basic online classes included in Learn, plus the entire staff gets unlimited access to all advanced online classes such as volunteer management and complex importing and exporting.

· Learn Everything: All-access pass to everything included in Learn and Learn More, including critical skills lessons, advanced coursework, and unlimited registrations at regional classes throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Blackbaud’s staff of educational consultants provides individualized attention to nonprofits, examining the long-term goals of the organization and recommended learning tracks based on needs and job functions. Small class sizes promote interactivity among students and instructorsmonthly access to experts for live question and answer sessions is available. With hundreds of online, self-paced, and on-demand classes, new and fresh classes every month and resources available 24/7, Blackbaud Learn offers employees the ability to learn when and where it is convenient for them. , and learning objectives are introduced and reinforced through practice. In addition, nearly 95 percent of the coursework offered through Blackbaud Learn is delivered through an interactive online classroom. “It is the fastest, most effective way for us to get new curriculum to our customers,” said Banning. Watch a video about Blackbaud’s online classroom training on the company’s YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/blackbaudinc.

Blackbaud online and classroom training is recognized by Certified Fund Raising Executives International (CFRE) as qualifying for CFRE Education points. Blackbaud is also a registered sponsor of the National Registry of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Sponsors, a program offered by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
For more information about Blackbaud Learn, visit www.blackbaud.com/Learn.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. Approximately 22,000 organizations — including University of Arizona Foundation, American Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, The Taft School,Lincoln Center, In Touch Ministries, Tulsa Community Foundation, Ursinus College,Earthjustice, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the WGBH Educational Foundation — use one or more Blackbaud products and services for fundraising, constituent relationship management, financial management, website management, direct marketing, education administration, ticketing, business intelligence, prospect research, consulting, and analytics. Since 1981, Blackbaud’s sole focus and expertise has been partnering with nonprofits 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 Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.