October 13, 2011

Blackbaud Acquires Australian Fundraising Company

Staff Report  /  Charleston Regional Business Journal

Blackbaud Inc. has further expanded its international presence with the acquisition of Queensland, Australia-based Everyday Hero, which provides online fundraising tools to individuals in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

"This strategic international expansion of our online fundraising portfolio through the acquisition of Everyday Hero helps us to offer the most comprehensive suite of interactive solutions for nonprofits worldwide," said Brad Holman, president of Blackbaud's international business unit. "We are excited to invest in the growth and development of this powerful fundraising solution and to help extend its reach so even more individual and peer-to-peer fundraisers can get involved in supporting great causes around the world."

Blackbaud paid AU$7.4 million ($7.52 million) to purchase all outstanding shares of the Australian company.

Blackbaud plans to integrate data between Everyday Hero and its own fundraising products, The Raiser's Edge and eTapestry. Full integration is expected to occur in the coming months and be initially launched in Australia and New Zealand. Everyday Hero is also integrating data, helping non-Blackbaud customers integrate their data into the new platform.

Everyday Hero's 27-person staff will stay on to serve fundraisers and fundraising events in Australia and will work to expand the company's presence in Asia-Pacific and the U.K., according to a news release announcing the acquisition.

"We're poised for growth in Asia-Pacific, the U.K., and globally and we're excited that Blackbaud chose us to help grow its international individual and peer-to-peer fundraising offerings," Everyday Hero CEO Nathan Betteridge said.

Everyday Hero serves thousands of individual fundraisers and 1,400 customers in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Blackbaud serves about 24,000 organizations from operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico and the Netherlands.

Blackbaud does not expect the acquisition to affect fourth-quarter or year-end revenues.