I recently had the opportunity to connect with Melissa Nelson, Blackbaud's Media Production and Outreach Manager, to learn more about their new initiative, Blackbaud TV. Blackbaud provides software and services to nonprofits to enable them to improve operational efficiency, build relationships, and raise funds. Blackbaud TV is the newest tool they’ve created in an effort to support Nonprofits through informational resources, and I hope this interview serves as a good introduction to the service.

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Q: What is Blackbaud TV?

Blackbaud TV is an online video portal with videos on current topics specific to the nonprofit community. When you watch Blackbaud TV, you can expect to learn about trends, news, current issues, best practices, and technology, plus a few tips that will help you do your job better and make an impact on your mission.

Q: Why Blackbaud TV?

It is so easy these days to get involved in video making. From webcams, and cell phones to Flip cams and cameras, if you want to show your organization's needs and explain your mission, a visually captivating video can be extremely effective.

So Blackbaud is getting involved in video making too by offering Blackabud TV as a resource to nonprofits who are looking to learn more about everything from video making, to fundraising, web development, and even hear from peers about what they are doing.  

Q: What type of media and content can people expect on Blackbaud TV both now and moving forward?

Content will include interviews from industry thought leaders about best practices, the latest trends in technology, coverage of industry events, inspiring videos from nonprofits, and even live streamed video!  

Blackbaud TV will be evolving as we want to better serve the nonprofit community with video.  We are open to suggestions and we will be adding fresh content.  If there are subjects you want to hear about, or great videos you’ve seen-- let us know!

>> You can contact the Blackbaud TV team at BBTV@blackbaud.com

Q. What is the Inspired Contest and how can people get involved?

The Inspire Contest was designed as a way to get organizations thinking about video making or sharing inspiring videos they’ve already created.  The videos are not being judged, they should simply answer the question: “How do you inspire supporters?”  and each video a nonprofit submits will be entered in our drawing. There will be four winners — two people will receive free registration to Blackbaud’s 2010 Conference for Nonprofits in Washington, D.C., and two people will win an Apple iPad®!

>> For more details and instructions on the contest and how to submit a video, visit: www.blackbaud.tv/Inspire

Q: What's next in terms of innovations at Blackbaud/BlackbaudTV?

The 2010 Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits in North America is taking place on Oct. 20-22 in Washington, DC. There will be tons of educational content dedicated to your specific needs, plus some really neat opportunities to network and interact with peers and industry experts.

Plus the Blackbaud Conferences in Sydney and London will be full of information and networking for global nonprofits.  

Q: Besides BlackbaudTV, are there any other information resources Blackbaud is providing to nonprofits?

• www.blackbaud.com/resources is a great place for nonprofits to get access to free white papers, reports, latest news, statistics, current trends, new tools, and more.
• The Blackbaud Index reports on monthly giving trends – both on-and-offline for the largest sample set in the industry.
• Our industry experts, whom you may also see on Blackbaud TV, are experienced in their field many also have blogs-- which are also great resources to subscribe to.
• ProspectResearch.com is also a new resource Blackbaud just launched in July, with current topics in prospect research.
  
  

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Thanks so much to Melissa and to Blackbaud for sharing this information with us! For more information about Blackbaud products and services, check out Blackbaud.com.