Toronto, Canada (March 20, 2003) Two of the best-known developers of accounting software for nonprofit and governmental organizations -- Best Software and Blackbaud -- are pegging new growth strategies to fundraising management software.
Best's NonProfit and Government division has acquired software developer KTS Group to round out a fundraising line that includes products from JSI Fundraising Systems, which it acquired last summer. Blackbaud announced plans to open an office and consulting operation in Toronto, and launched a Canadian version of its "ePhilanthropy" solution, which enhances the Internet capabilities of its Raiser's Edge fundraising software.
A Best spokesman said that the KTS acquisition rounds out the company's fundraising line by providing a product designed for the "general nonprofit segment;" Best will position KTS in the segment between JSI's Millennium, designed for larger, more sophisticated end users, and JSI's Paradigm, used primarily by smaller organizations
Blackbaud expects to solidify its position in Canada with its Canadian version of ePhilanthropy," which enables users of Raiser's Edge to receive online donations, conduct e-mail campaigns, and use their Web sites for event registration, membership renewals and volunteer management. "We understand that nonprofits in different countries face different challenges, and to this end, we are dedicating additional resources exclusively on Canada," said Blackbaud chief executive Robert J. Sywolski.
Until Best acquired JSI last summer and added that line to a division anchored by MIP fund accounting software, Blackbaud was the only well-established fund accounting vendor to also offer its own fundraising system. Best's new KTS, based in Toronto, supports more than 650 nonprofit organizations, including a large number of the North American regional offices of the United Way and the Jewish Federation.
-- John M. Covaleski
