BLACKBAUD

To empower people for social good by powering an Ecosystem of Good® that builds a better world.

BLACKBAUD SWOT Analysis

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

How to Use This Analysis

This analysis for BLACKBAUD was created using Alignment.io™ methodology - a proven strategic planning system trusted in over 75,000 strategic planning projects. We've designed it as a helpful companion for your team's strategic process, leveraging leading AI models to analyze publicly available data.

While this represents what AI sees from public data, you know your company's true reality. That's why we recommend using Alignment.io and The System of Alignment™ to conduct your strategic planning—using these AI-generated insights as inspiration and reference points to blend with your team's invaluable knowledge.

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The Blackbaud SWOT analysis reveals a company at a critical inflection point. Its formidable market leadership, recurring revenue, and unparalleled dataset are powerful assets. However, these strengths are severely undermined by the erosion of trust following the 2020 data breach and ongoing product integration challenges. Competitors are exploiting this vulnerability. The path forward is clear but challenging: Blackbaud must aggressively rebuild its reputation through radical transparency in security, deliver a truly unified platform experience, and leverage its data with AI to create undeniable value. The core strategic imperative is to shift from a portfolio of products to a single, trusted ecosystem. This focus will be essential to defend its market position and unlock the next phase of growth in the social good sector, directly enabling its mission to power an Ecosystem of Good®.

Salesforce Bonterra Microsoft DonorPerfect Classy (GoFundMe)

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To empower people for social good by powering an Ecosystem of Good® that builds a better world.

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Strengths

SCALE: Dominant market share with 45k+ customers provides massive scale.
DATA: Unparalleled proprietary dataset on giving and constituent behavior.
RECURRING: High percentage of predictable recurring revenue (90%+).
VERTICAL: Deep, purpose-built functionality for non-profit workflows.
BRAND: Long-standing, recognized brand name in the social good sector.

Weaknesses

TRUST: Reputational damage from 2020 breach and subsequent SEC charges.
INTEGRATION: Portfolio of acquired products lacks seamless integration.
INNOVATION: Perception of slower innovation vs. cloud-native competitors.
PRICING: Customer complaints about high costs and complex pricing models.
DEBT: Significant debt load can constrain R&D and strategic investment.

Opportunities

AI: Leverage vast dataset for predictive analytics and donor personalization.
CROSS-SELL: Drive growth by selling more integrated solutions to base.
PAYMENTS: Grow transaction revenue by embedding payments everywhere.
CSR: Expand into the corporate giving market with YourCause acquisition.
INTERNATIONAL: Untapped growth potential in Europe and APAC markets.

Threats

COMPETITION: Intense pressure from Salesforce.org, Bonterra, Microsoft.
SECURITY: Ongoing cybersecurity threats targeting non-profit data.
REGULATION: Increased scrutiny and potential fines on data privacy/handling.
ECONOMY: Macroeconomic uncertainty pressuring non-profit tech budgets.
CHURN: Risk of customer churn to more modern, user-friendly platforms.

Key Priorities

TRUST: Rebuild market trust via transparent security leadership post-breach.
INTEGRATE: Accelerate platform integration to deliver a unified UX & data.
INNOVATE: Launch AI-powered features to prove innovation and value.
GROW: Drive ARR growth via cross-selling integrated solutions to the base.

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BLACKBAUD OKR

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The Blackbaud OKR plan is a focused and necessary response to its current strategic challenges. By converting the SWOT priorities into clear, ambitious objectives like 'RESTORE TRUST' and 'UNIFY PLATFORM,' the plan directly confronts the company's most significant weaknesses and threats. The key results are largely outcome-oriented, linking actions like launching a trust center to measurable goals. This plan provides the clarity and alignment needed to rally the organization around rebuilding its foundation, innovating with purpose, and leveraging its core strengths to drive sustainable growth. Its success will hinge on relentless execution and transparently tracking progress against these critical outcomes.

Salesforce Bonterra Microsoft DonorPerfect Classy (GoFundMe)

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To empower people for social good by powering an Ecosystem of Good® that builds a better world.

RESTORE TRUST

Become the undisputed industry leader in security and trust.

SECURITY: Launch a public trust center dashboard detailing security audits and compliance status by Q3.
COMPLIANCE: Achieve full compliance with two new major data privacy regulations ahead of schedule.
COMMUNICATIONS: Execute a C-level comms plan resulting in a 20-point increase in customer trust sentiment.
CERTIFICATION: Secure a top-tier, industry-recognized security certification (e.g., FedRAMP) by EOY.

UNIFY PLATFORM

Deliver a seamless, integrated customer experience.

UX: Reduce clicks for the top 5 cross-product workflows by an average of 40% to improve user efficiency.
DATA: Consolidate 75% of customer records from legacy systems into the unified data platform by EOY.
API: Increase adoption of the unified API toolkit by certified partners by 50% to expand the ecosystem.
ONBOARDING: Decrease average customer onboarding time for multi-product deals by 30% through integration.

INNOVATE WITH AI

Demonstrate clear market leadership through AI.

PRODUCT: Launch a new 'Prospect Insights' AI tool and secure 200 paying customers within two quarters.
DATA: Implement a unified data governance framework across 80% of production data to enable AI development.
TEAM: Hire a core team of 10 specialized AI/ML engineers to build out a new AI center of excellence.
ROI: Publish three customer case studies showing a >15% increase in fundraising from using the new AI tool.

ACCELERATE GROWTH

Drive durable, profitable recurring revenue growth.

CROSS-SELL: Increase the percentage of customers with 3+ core products from 15% to 20% by year-end.
NRR: Improve Net Revenue Retention from 97% to 101% by focusing on upsell and reducing logo churn.
PIPELINE: Grow sales pipeline for integrated platform deals by 40% through targeted marketing campaigns.
PAYMENTS: Increase the attach rate of Blackbaud Payment Services in new deals from 60% to 75%.

METRICS

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): Achieve $1.05B
Net Revenue Retention (NRR): 101%
Adjusted Free Cash Flow (FCF): $200M

VALUES

We're passionate about our customers' success.
We build relationships on trust.
We work smarter and have fun.
We are generous.

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BLACKBAUD Retrospective

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Blackbaud FY2023 10-K Report
Blackbaud Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Blackbaud Investor Relations Website
SEC Filings Regarding 2020 Data Breach
Competitor analysis of Salesforce.org and Bonterra
G2 and Capterra for customer review sentiment

Salesforce Bonterra Microsoft DonorPerfect Classy (GoFundMe)

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To empower people for social good by powering an Ecosystem of Good® that builds a better world.

Toggle Theme

What Went Well

REVENUE: Consistent growth in total recurring revenue, showing stability.
MARGINS: Improvement in non-GAAP operating margins through cost discipline.
SALES: Strong bookings in key enterprise and mid-market segments.
CASHFLOW: Solid operating cash flow performance.
STRATEGY: Clear communication of strategy around integration and efficiency.

Not So Well

TRANSACTIONAL: One-time and transactional revenue remains volatile.
GROWTH: Overall organic revenue growth rate is modest, in low single digits.
LITIGATION: Significant cash outflows related to security incident settlements.
GUIDANCE: Conservative guidance reflects macroeconomic uncertainty.
NRR: Net revenue retention could be stronger, indicating upsell challenges.

Learnings

INTEGRATION: Cross-selling is most effective when products are truly integrated.
EFFICIENCY: Rule of 40 balance is key to sustainable, profitable growth.
CUSTOMERS: Enterprise customers are prioritizing platform consolidation.
MARKET: Non-profit budgets are resilient but scrutinize tech ROI closely.
SECURITY: Investments in security and compliance are non-negotiable.

Action Items

PRODUCT: Accelerate roadmap for integrating core platform capabilities.
GTM: Focus sales incentives on multi-product, platform-based deals.
FINANCE: Continue optimizing cost structure to expand operating margins.
LEGAL: Finalize remaining settlements to reduce uncertainty and cash drain.
MARKETING: Launch a campaign focused on security and trust leadership.

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Organization	SWOT Analysis	OKR Plan	Top 6	Retrospective

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BLACKBAUD Market

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Blackbaud FY2023 10-K Report
Blackbaud Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Blackbaud Investor Relations Website
SEC Filings Regarding 2020 Data Breach
Competitor analysis of Salesforce.org and Bonterra
G2 and Capterra for customer review sentiment

Founded: 1981
Market Share: Leading share in non-profit CRM, est. 25-30%
Customer Base: 45,000+ non-profits, foundations, education
Category:
Non-profit CRM
SIC Code: 7372 Prepackaged Software
NAICS Code: 511210 InformationT
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Zip Code: 29492
Congressional District: SC-1 BEAUFORT
Employees: 3600

Competitors

Salesforce View Analysis

Bonterra Request Analysis

Microsoft View Analysis

DonorPerfect Request Analysis

Classy (GoFundMe) Request Analysis

Products & Services

No products or services data available

Distribution Channels

BLACKBAUD Business Model Analysis

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Blackbaud FY2023 10-K Report
Blackbaud Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Blackbaud Investor Relations Website
SEC Filings Regarding 2020 Data Breach
Competitor analysis of Salesforce.org and Bonterra
G2 and Capterra for customer review sentiment

Problem

Inefficient, manual fundraising processes
Siloed data hinders donor relationships
Complex non-profit accounting & compliance

Solution

Integrated suite of cloud software
Unified constituent data platform
Purpose-built financial management tools

Key Metrics

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)
Net Revenue Retention (NRR)
Free Cash Flow (FCF)

Unique

Largest dataset on philanthropic giving
End-to-end solution for social good orgs
40+ years of vertical market expertise

Advantage

High customer switching costs
Network effects within the 'Ecosystem of Good'
Brand recognition and market incumbency

Channels

Direct enterprise & mid-market sales teams
Inside sales for smaller organizations
Partner and reseller channel

Customer Segments

Non-profit organizations (all sizes)
K-12 schools and higher education
Foundations and corporate giving (CSR)

Costs

R&D for software development and security
Sales and marketing expenses
Cloud hosting infrastructure (AWS, Azure)

BLACKBAUD Product Market Fit Analysis

Updated: October 4, 2025

Blackbaud provides the essential cloud software for the social good community. It helps non-profits and schools drive fundraising growth, improve operational efficiency, and deepen constituent relationships through an integrated, data-rich platform. This allows them to focus less on administration and more on their critical missions, ultimately building a better world by powering an ecosystem of good.

DRIVE FUNDRAISING GROWTH with integrated, data-driven tools.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY by automating core operational workflows.

DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS using a unified view of every constituent.

Before State

Disparate, siloed fundraising systems
Manual donor tracking and reporting
Inefficient financial management

After State

Unified view of constituent data
Automated fundraising and marketing
Integrated financial and grant mgmt

Negative Impacts

Missed funding opportunities
High administrative overhead
Poor donor engagement and retention

Positive Outcomes

Increased fundraising effectiveness
Improved operational efficiency
Stronger, more personalized donor relations

Key Metrics

Customer Retention Rates

~93% logo retention

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Varies by product, est. 10-25

User Growth Rate

Low single-digit % growth

Customer Feedback/Reviews

400+ reviews on G2, 3.9 stars

Repeat Purchase Rates

High within existing contracts

Requirements

Commitment to digital transformation
Investment in data migration & training
Strategic alignment on platform use

Why BLACKBAUD

Implement core CRM and financial systems
Integrate online giving and marketing tools
Leverage analytics for donor insights

BLACKBAUD Competitive Advantage

Purpose-built for non-profit workflows
Industry's largest data ecosystem
Comprehensive, end-to-end solution suite

Proof Points

45,000+ customers in 100+ countries
Over $100B raised annually on platform
Decades of non-profit industry focus

BLACKBAUD Market Positioning

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Blackbaud FY2023 10-K Report
Blackbaud Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Blackbaud Investor Relations Website
SEC Filings Regarding 2020 Data Breach
Competitor analysis of Salesforce.org and Bonterra
G2 and Capterra for customer review sentiment

Strategic pillars derived from our vision-focused SWOT analysis

Unify products into a seamless platform.

Leverage proprietary data for predictive insights.

Deepen focus on non-profit & education sectors.

Re-establish leadership in data protection.

What You Do

Provides cloud software for social good orgs

Target Market

Non-profits, foundations, education, CSR

Differentiation

Purpose-built vertical solutions
Vast, proprietary donor dataset

Revenue Streams

Recurring SaaS subscriptions
Payment processing fees

BLACKBAUD Operations and Technology

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Blackbaud FY2023 10-K Report
Blackbaud Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Blackbaud Investor Relations Website
SEC Filings Regarding 2020 Data Breach
Competitor analysis of Salesforce.org and Bonterra
G2 and Capterra for customer review sentiment

Company Operations

Organizational Structure: Functional structure with market groups
Supply Chain: Cloud infrastructure via AWS and Azure
Tech Patents: Focus on trade secrets and software IP
Website: https://www.blackbaud.com

Top Clients

Board Members

BLACKBAUD Competitive Forces

Threat of New Entry

Moderate: High capital is needed to compete at scale, but cloud technology lowers the barrier for niche, venture-backed startups to enter the market.

Supplier Power

Low: Key suppliers are cloud infrastructure providers (AWS, Azure) where Blackbaud is a large customer, giving it negotiating leverage.

Buyer Power

Moderate: While switching costs for core systems are high, buyer power is increasing as modern, cloud-native alternatives become more viable.

Threat of Substitution

Moderate: Organizations can substitute with generic CRMs, point solutions, or in-house systems, though they lose purpose-built functionality.

Competitive Rivalry

High: Intense rivalry from horizontal platforms like Salesforce and vertical specialists like Bonterra. Competition is based on price, features, and UX.

Analysis of AI Strategy

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The Blackbaud AI SWOT analysis highlights a classic dilemma: possessing a world-class data asset while potentially lacking the modern architecture and agility to fully exploit it. The company's proprietary dataset is its ultimate unfair advantage, the fuel for a powerful AI engine that could redefine fundraising effectiveness. However, legacy data silos and customer trust issues are significant headwinds. The critical path is to invest heavily in a unified data strategy while simultaneously launching a high-impact, ethically-sound AI feature, like a predictive giving model. This will not only create immense customer value but also serve as a powerful proof point that Blackbaud is a forward-looking technology leader. The goal isn't just to add AI features; it's to use AI to make the entire Ecosystem of Good® more intelligent and impactful, which is the core of its mission.

Salesforce Bonterra Microsoft DonorPerfect Classy (GoFundMe)

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To empower people for social good by powering an Ecosystem of Good® that builds a better world.

Strengths

DATA: Massive, proprietary dataset on decades of giving is a huge asset.
CUSTOMERS: Large installed base for deploying and testing AI features.
DOMAIN: Deep vertical expertise to build relevant, specific AI models.
SCALE: Ability to fund and acquire necessary AI talent and technology.

Weaknesses

ARCHITECTURE: Legacy data silos hinder the creation of unified AI models.
TALENT: Potential gap in cutting-edge AI/ML engineering talent vs. tech giants.
TRUST: Customer hesitancy to adopt AI tools due to past security issues.
AGILITY: Slower development cycles may lag nimbler AI-native startups.

Opportunities

PREDICTIVE: Develop AI to predict donor churn and identify major gift prospects.
PERSONALIZATION: Use AI to automate hyper-personalized donor communication at scale.
EFFICIENCY: Automate back-office tasks like grant reporting and data entry.
INSIGHTS: Offer customers unique benchmarking insights from aggregated data.

Threats

COMPETITORS: Salesforce (Einstein) and others embedding AI more rapidly.
ETHICS: Risk of biased algorithms or misuse of sensitive donor data.
PRIVACY: AI usage could attract further regulatory scrutiny on data privacy.
COST: High cost of developing, deploying, and maintaining AI models.

Key Priorities

DATA: Unify data architecture to enable powerful cross-platform AI models.
TRUST: Build ethical AI framework to ensure responsible and secure use.
VALUE: Launch a flagship predictive fundraising tool to show clear ROI.
TALENT: Acquire or develop a world-class AI team focused on social good.

Create professional SWOT analyses in minutes with our AI template. Get insights that drive real results.

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BLACKBAUD Financial Performance

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Blackbaud FY2023 10-K Report
Blackbaud Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Blackbaud Investor Relations Website
SEC Filings Regarding 2020 Data Breach
Competitor analysis of Salesforce.org and Bonterra
G2 and Capterra for customer review sentiment

Profit: -$12.3 million (FY 2023 GAAP Net Income)

Market Cap: $4.1 Billion (as of early 2024)

Stock Performance

Annual Report: View Report

Debt: $1.13 billion in total debt (FY 2023)

ROI Impact: Customer ROI impacted by integration costs

SWOT Index

Composite strategic assessment with 10-year outlook

/ 100

Market Leader

ICM Index

STRATEGIC ADVISOR ASSESSMENT

Blackbaud's Iconic Index reflects its position as a Market Leader with a societal-level ambition, tempered by significant execution risks. Its high Ambition score is balanced by moderate Achievability due to trust issues and integration challenges. The SWOT score is neutral, as powerful data assets are offset by severe reputational threats. The OKRs are strong and category-shaping. The low growth multiplier indicates a defensive battle against competitors and internal challenges before it can capture exponential growth.

SWOT Factors

Upside: 83.3 Risk: 86.7

OKR Impact

AI Leverage

Top 3 Strategic Levers

RESTORE TRUST: Aggressively execute on security and transparency.

UNIFY PLATFORM: Eliminate product silos to unlock ecosystem value.

LEVERAGE DATA: Monetize unique data asset with high-value AI.

AI Disclosure

This report was created using the Alignment Method—our proprietary process for guiding AI to reveal how it interprets your business and industry. These insights are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.

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