Blackbaud and Microsoft to Strengthen Strategic Partnership to Digitally Transform the Nonprofit Sector

Social good software leader Blackbaud bets big on Microsoft Azure as the two companies plan to go deeper on integrations, innovation and sector leadership to scale global good

BALTIMORE, Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of bbcon 2017, Blackbaud (Nasdaq: BLKB), the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), plan to expand their partnership in support of their mutual goals to digitally transform the nonprofit sector.

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The nonprofit sector represents the third largest workforce behind retail and manufacturing in the United States with approximately 3 million organizations globally. Blackbaud, the largest vertical cloud software provider in the space, announced its intention to fully power its social good-optimized cloud, Blackbaud SKY™, with Microsoft Azure. The two companies highlighted a three-point commitment to collaboration for the good of the global nonprofit community. This announcement comes just days after Microsoft launched its new Tech for Social Impact Group, which is dedicated to accelerating technology adoption and digital transformation with the nonprofit industry to deliver greater impact on the world's most critical social issues.

"This newly expanded partnership between Microsoft and Blackbaud will allow both companies to better meet the unique technology challenges nonprofits face," said Justin Spelhaug, General Manager of Microsoft Tech for Social Impact. "By combining Microsoft's cloud platforms and expertise with Blackbaud's leading industry solutions, we will create new opportunities for digital transformation to empower nonprofits to make an even bigger impact on the world."

"The nonprofit community plays a vital role in the health of the entire social economy, and we've been working for more than three decades to help these inspiring organizations achieve big, bold mission outcomes," said Mike Gianoni, president and CEO of Blackbaud. "For nearly that long we've also been a Microsoft partner, and we're incredibly enthusiastic about forging new ground together as we tackle some of the most pressing issues nonprofits face. Both companies couldn't be more committed to this space, so the nonprofit community should expect great things from this expanded partnership."