Businessweek

Services enhance the quality of the data in the company’s customers' databases. Services include identifying outdated address files in the database and making corrections based on the requirements and certifications of the United States Postal Service, as well as appending data by using known fields in an organization's constituent records to search and identify key demographic and contact information. Performance Management: Target Analytics creates relevant and insightful reports that benchmark performance and illustrate key industry trends based on performance attributes provided by the company’s nonprofit clients. Nonprofit organizations use the company’s performance and industry analysis reports to assess marketing and operational effectiveness and also to influence operational planning. Maintenance Most of the company’s customers enroll in one of its maintenance and support programs. Payment Processing The company’s products provide its customers payment processing capabilities that enable their donors to make donations and purchase goods and services using various payment options, including credit card and ACH checking transactions, through secure online transactions. Blackbaud Merchant Services is a value-added service integrated with its solutions. The service also provides customers with a PCI compliant process and streamlined bank reconciliation. Customers The company has customers in every principal vertical market within the nonprofit industry, including foundations, faith-based, arts and cultural, public and societal benefits, environment, and animal welfare, as well as international and foreign affairs. As of December 31, 2012, the company had approximately 27,000 active customers ranging from small, local charities, to healthcare and higher education organizations, to the national health and human services organizations. Sales and Marketing The majority of the company’s software and related services are sold through its direct sales force. These sales and marketing professionals are located throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Competition The company competes with Microsoft, Salesforce.com, and Oracle. Research and Development For the year ended December 31, 2012, the company’s research and development expenses included $64.7 million. Intellectual Property and Other Proprietary Rights The company has various registered trademarks, including Blackbaud, The Raiser's Edge, Blackbaud CRM, and Luminate. It has applied for additional trademarks. The company has two active patents on its technology, and has filed two provisional patent applications in 2012. History Blackbaud, Inc. was founded in 1981. The company was incorporated in 1982.