The Professional Development PlaybookYour Organization’s Journey with Blackbaud University

2The Professional Development Playbook

Contents

Benefits of Training 3

Your Professional Development Journey with Blackbaud University 4

Private Training 5

Ongoing Education 6

Best Practices Training 8

Blackbaud Certification 10

Blackbaud Conferences and User Roadshows 11

About Blackbaud 14

3The Professional Development Playbook

BENEFITS OF TRAINING

Numerous statistics illustrate how instituting a staff training and development program is important

to building a successful organization with motivated and empowered employees. Organizations

that have partnered with Blackbaud University for their professional development report increased

efficiency and revenue. Having trained, confident staff members saves time that can then be used

toward furthering mission goals.

Staff training is important because:

✓ 76% of employees are looking for career growth opportunities1

✓ 40% of employees with poor training leave their jobs within the first year2

✓ 74% of employees feel that they are not reaching their full potential3

✓ 72% of employees even think of financially contributing to their own training4

✓ 68% of workers claim that training and development is the most important

company policy5

1-5 Source: https://guthriejensen.com/blog/statistics-employee-training/

6 Source: Survey results from 1,412 user responses (organization value based on a small nonprofit with $500,000 in annual fundraising)

Blackbaud University students reported the following impact:

Efficiency

87% reported an increase in efficiency

Time Saved

An average of five hours per week was saved

Productivity

Increased productivity translated to over 30 working days per year6

4The Professional Development Playbook

YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY WITH BLACKBAUD UNIVERSITY

Your organization’s people are its most important asset. At Blackbaud University, we want to ensure

that you are obtaining and retaining the best! With a proper professional development program in

place, your organization’s staff will feel engaged and empowered to move your mission forward. When

you partner with Blackbaud University, we provide your organization with a multipronged professional

development program. Not only will your staff feel confident using Blackbaud technology, they will

also be able to implement new ideas and strategies to keep up with trends and best practices in the

social good community.

Dive in to see the opportunities we offer to boost training and development at your organization!

Private Training

Get your staff on the same page with foundational knowledge.

Blackbaud Certification

Validate your staff’s product knowledge and industry expertise.

Organizational Best Practices

Engage in product-agnostic, discussion-based sessions to implement new strategies.

Ongoing Education

Subscribe to individualized, role-based training to keep your staff advancing.

Blackbaud Conferences and User Roadshows

Take advantage of exclusive training sessions at Blackbaud Conferences and User Roadshows.

5The Professional Development Playbook

PRIVATE TRAINING

Kick-start your Blackbaud University experience and professional development program with a private

training engagement located on-site at your organization or in a virtual learning environment. By

getting your team together in the same room, you’re ensuring that everyone has completed the first

phase of training and has the foundational knowledge to be successful.

SOME ADDITIONAL PERKS OF ON-SITE TRAINING INCLUDE:

A Tailored AgendaWork with a Blackbaud University training specialist to choose the courses that best meet your team’s needs.

In-Person LearningGet dedicated, on-site face time with a Blackbaud University instructor at your organization.

Actionable WorkbooksInstructors come equipped with workbooks for students to use during class and as a reference.

No SurprisesTravel expenses are bundled into a flat daily rate, so there are no surprise costs after your training.

6The Professional Development Playbook

ONGOING EDUCATION

Blackbaud Learn® SubscriptionAfter the initial on-site training, it’s important to enable your team members to keep advancing in their roles. With a Blackbaud Learn subscription, Blackbaud University will continue to guide your education using role-based training paths. This means your team can take additional classes on their own time about the topics most relevant to them.

SOME ADDITIONAL PERKS OF A MULTIYEAR BLACKBAUD LEARN SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDE:

Unlimited LearningEach user has unlimited access to the classes within the subscription, can take advanced courses, and can repeat classes as a refresher.

Flexible Class SchedulesBlackbaud Learn subscribers can choose from classes on our public calendar, which accommodates all time zones.

CertificationProduct certification exams are included in Blackbaud Learn subscriptions and empower your team to showcase their skills and expertise.

Continuing Education CreditsBlackbaud’s recognition by Certified Fund Raising Executive® (CFRE) International and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as an approved provider means that you can earn credits toward your continuing education.

Hear from a fellow Blackbaud customer about the results her institution has seen from its investment in a Blackbaud Learn subscription. Watch our on-demand webinar Education Matters: Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Blackbaud University Learn Subscription.

7The Professional Development Playbook

Also Available In:

Toronto, ON, and Vancouver, BC

London, England

Other cities may be available upon request if minimum participation numbers are met. Locations are subject to change. For more information, contact traininghelp@blackbaud.com.

Regional Classroom TrainingIn addition to our online course curriculum, we bring our most popular courses to 25 regional locations across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For our customers located near those locations, these courses provide an opportunity to network with peers and set aside time for professional development away from the distractions of your office.

Atlanta, GA

St. Louis, MO

Chicago, IL

Indianapolis, IN

Portland, OR

Minneapolis, MN

San Francisco, CA

Los Angeles, CA

Boston, MA

Philadelphia, PA

Cleveland, OH

Washington, DC

New York, NY

Austin, TX

Houston, TX

Dallas, TX

Tampa, FL

Denver, CO

Milwaukee, WI

Seattle, WA

Charleston, SC Blackbaud Headquarters

Detroit, MI

8The Professional Development Playbook

BEST PRACTICES TRAINING

Organizational Best Practices CoursesAs your staff members are mastering Blackbaud technology, further empower them to move your mission forward with the skills needed to stay on top of trends in the social good community. Blackbaud University’s Organizational Best Practices courses are product-agnostic, discussion-based sessions designed to help you implement new ideas and strategies in your organization and advance your mission.

ORGANIZATIONAL BEST PRACTICES OFFERS COURSES IN SEVERAL FOCUS AREAS:

FundraisingLearn to create a robust fundraising strategy to maximize your potential, raise more dollars, and retain more donors.

Marketing and CommunicationsLearn to craft and share your brand and mission more effectively through multiple channels and with audience-focused messages.

EssentialsLearn strategies to optimize your staff and processes across the social good ecosystem—including events, scholarships, finance, and more.

Discover how Denver Rescue Mission is benefiting from the Organizational Best Practices courses in the community blog post “Staying Sustainable and Successful in a Changing World.” Then, find out how Kohl Children’s Museum™ has made Organizational Best Practices part of its professional development program in our on-demand webinar Choosing Blackbaud University as Your Professional Development Partner.

9The Professional Development Playbook

“Blackbaud’s on-site Donor Acquisition and Retention workshop was truly an immersive best practices experience. This fast-paced, two-day class was engaging, informative, and fun! I brought back so much information to my organization, and the best part was learning it all through hands-on, interactive challenges and games.” —KAYLA SEWELL, Development Associate, Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

Immersive Best Practices ExperienceDo you ever wish you could test out new donor strategies without real-life consequences? Blackbaud University’s immersive best practices experience puts your team in the same room to learn industry-proven acquisition tactics and test your retention strategies in a team-based simulation.

THIS WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON:

BrandCreate, maintain, and communicate a consistent message to your constituents.

AcquisitionUse donor personas and communication methods to target prospects.

RetentionMaximize donor loyalty and revenue using a variety of strategies, channels, and technologies.

Real-World PracticeLearn and make mistakes without putting your organization’s budget on the line.

Learn more about this simulation-style workshop in our on-demand webinar Test-Driving Your Fundraising Tactics: Immersive Workshops with Blackbaud University.

10The Professional Development Playbook

BLACKBAUD CERTIFICATION

Your organization’s staff members have now taken the necessary training to become experts not only

with their Blackbaud technology, but with industry knowledge and best practices as well. When your

staff members achieve accreditation, they join a savvy community of Blackbaud experts and gain

credentials recognized as the industry standard. With a Blackbaud certification, they can enhance

their resumes and advance their careers.

Hear Robert’s full story in our on-demand webinar Validating Knowledge with Blackbaud Certification.

Blackbaud certification provides:

✓ A development opportunity for staff members to validate their

product and industry knowledge

✓ More than 13 technology certifications for

Blackbaud power users

✓ Organizational Best Practices Fundraising and Marketing Certifications

to demonstrate fundraising and marketing knowledge

✓ Special recognition to certified users at

Blackbaud-led conferences

“Since becoming certified, I have received multiple pay raises, reduced workload by as much as 80% on some projects, and decreased my time spent on tasks from weeks to just a day or two for completion.” —ROBERT BROWN, Grace Church School

11The Professional Development Playbook

BLACKBAUD CONFERENCES AND USER ROADSHOWS

Blackbaud K–12 User Conference and bbcon®Blackbaud holds two conferences each year, the Blackbaud K–12 User Conference and bbcon. Blackbaud University has a presence at each one. We hold an exclusive training day with new Learn Labs and best practices sessions that are only available to conference attendees.

Attend these conferences for:

✓ Idea sharing

✓ Networking

✓ Hands-on product training

✓ Industry best practices

“My teammate and I both attended Blackbaud University Day at bbcon and were very impressed with the classes and materials presented. We have the Blackbaud Learn® subscription and found this training day to be above and beyond what you experience with the classes included in the subscription.” —CHRISTINE BIRKETT, Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation

12The Professional Development Playbook

Blackbaud User Roadshows

Take advantage of these free events that provide Blackbaud customers the opportunity to enhance their product knowledge and skills, network with users in their community who share their passion, and just have fun!

ATTEND A BLACKBAUD USER ROADSHOW TO:

Develop your knowledge of Blackbaud products and hone your skills.Blackbaud User Roadshows provide a forum for users to share best practices and success stories, learn new tips and techniques, and collaborate with other users and Blackbaud experts.

Meet people who share your interests and passions.Blackbaud User Roadshows are free events where we encourage people to network and connect with nonprofit peers to share how they are using Blackbaud products and services to impact their missions. They are great opportunities for you to make new contacts and build relationships that extend well beyond the event.

Have fun!What makes people come back to Blackbaud User Roadshows time after time? Maybe it’s the people they meet, the new tips they walk away with, or those “Aha!” moments they get when they inspire others!

13The Professional Development Playbook

What your peers are saying:

“Personally, I have saved approximately 85 hours by not having to train new users and putting them through Blackbaud University instead.” —AMANDA PALMER, bCRE-Pro, 4KIDS® of South Florida

“By taking training from Blackbaud University, our organization has been able to increase its gross fundraising revenue by 20% in the past two years!” —DANIELLA DOWIAK, Project Hero

“Blackbaud University has made our organization more efficient, allowing us to save $40,000 a year by not having to add another staff member to the team.” —HEATHER FLYNN, Covenant House California

14The Professional Development Playbook

This eBook is for informational purposes only. Blackbaud makes no warranties, expressed or implied, in this summary. The information contained within represents the current views of the authors on the topics discussed as of the date of this publication; it is the intellectual property of Blackbaud, Inc. and may not be reproduced without permission. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc. The names of companies or products not owned by Blackbaud may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

About Blackbaud

Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, foundations, companies, education institutions, healthcare organizations and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise, and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and relationship management, marketing and engagement, financial management, grant and award management, organizational and program management, social responsibility, payment services and analytics. Serving the industry for more than three decades, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com. ©September 2018, Blackbaud, Inc.

14The Professional Development Playbook