Every major wave of digital transformation has reshaped where competitive advantage lives, and the one we’re in right now will be no different. The AI era isn’t just changing how software is built; it’s changing which companies will lead. Blackbaud CEO Mike Gianoni shares how the company is building for a future where data, context, choice, and trust come together to help the people changing the world move faster, act with greater confidence, and unlock outcomes that were previously out of reach.

AI is reshaping how social impact organizations operate, connect with donors, and deliver on their missions. As adoption accelerates, leaders face a growing responsibility to ensure this technology strengthens trust and long‑term impact.

Blackbaud highlighted customer outcomes that underline the real-world impact of Blackbaud’s intuitive and innovative solutions. These results speak to the differentiated power of Blackbaud’s specialized domain expertise. 

Blackbaud has received three prestigious industry awards recognizing the company’s pioneering work in artificial intelligence, responsible technology development, and thought leadership. The honors include the BIG Innovation Award from the Business Intelligence Group, Outstanding Organization in Responsible AI from the Responsible AI Institute’s RAISE Awards, and Thought Leadership Campaign of the Year from the Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service.

Blackbaud is proud to announce that we have been named a winner in the 2026 BIG Innovation Awards by Business Intelligence Group. This annual awards program honors organizations, products, and individuals that are bringing new ideas to life in innovative ways, and driving meaningful progress across industries.

We’re excited to announce that the call for speakers is officially open for bbcon 2026, which will take place September 29–October 1, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. bbcon is Blackbaud’s biggest in-person event of the year, bringing together thousands of social impact professionals to learn, connect and innovate. This is your chance to share your expertise and inspire the community.

The newest cohort, consisting of 11 participants, reflects Blackbaud’s ongoing commitment to fostering solutions that help nonprofits and socially responsible businesses maximize their impact. Notably, 61% of the founders in this cohort come from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the tech industry, underscoring Blackbaud’s dedication to expanding access and elevating diverse voices in social impact innovation.

During the Product Update Briefings, Blackbaud showcased its latest innovations featured at bbcon 2025, including the Development Agent – the very first of the company’s Agents for Good™ – which will operate proactively to manage donor portfolios, communicate with supporters, follow through on outreach, and enable organizations to reach prospective donors they couldn’t reach before.

We’re excited to announce a major milestone: NPOconnect is now the Blackbaud Verified Network. This new name reflects our expanded vision to better connect corporate and social impact customers, creating powerful efficiencies for nonprofits.