AI Coalition for Social Impact, Convened by Blackbaud, Officially Opens the Free AI for Social Impact Certification Program
Rhea-AI Summary
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), through the AI Coalition for Social Impact, has officially opened the free, product-agnostic AI for Social Impact Certification Program, launching its first course, AI Fundamentals for Social Impact, on July 14, 2026. The certification is designed to build confidence, skills, and governance for responsible AI use in social impact organizations.
The first course includes three expert-led lessons on AI foundations (Databricks), AI tools and trends (McKinsey & Company), and generational perspectives on AI (Blackbaud). According to Blackbaud, Course 2, focused on responsible AI principles and regulations, will be released later in 2026.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – BLKB
On the day this news was published, BLKB declined 3.30%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +8.8% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 12 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $50M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $1.47B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Previous AI Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24 | AI research release | Positive | +2.4% | Blackbaud Institute research highlighted AI effectiveness gaps and AI-Adaptive benefits. |
| Jun 17 | Conference keynote news | Positive | -4.4% | Announcement of AI innovator Priya Lakhani OBE headlining bbcon 2026. |
| May 19 | Impact report AI focus | Positive | -1.8% | 2025 Impact Report detailed responsible AI progress and ESG achievements. |
| Apr 27 | AI product showcase | Positive | -0.8% | Showcasing AI fundraising tools and Microsoft non-profit AI certifications at AFP ICON. |
| Mar 26 | Conference registration | Neutral | -0.0% | Opening registration for bbcon 2026 focused on AI innovation in social impact. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-tagged announcements have shown a modest average decline of about -0.93%, with several upbeat AI stories met by negative next-day moves.
Key Terms
ai agents technical
responsible ai technical
ai maturity technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Free, product-agnostic, expert-led course content is designed to train social impact practitioners in responsible and effective AI use
"AI could bring the greatest unlock of mission acceleration in the history of social impact, but adoption alone is not enough," said Carrie Cobb, chief data and AI officer at Blackbaud. "The key is building AI maturity: investing in education and best practices to govern AI well, plus deploying tools designed for specific workflows. This training—combined with the right technology—will empower organizations to move from tentative AI use to transformative AI results."
Recent data from the Blackbaud Institute (June 2026) found that
The first course in the certification program features three lessons, led by experts from AI Coalition for Social Impact member organizations:
- Lesson 1: Foundations of AI | Led by Ari Kaplan, a pioneer in digital transformation and currently the global head of evangelism at Databricks, this course offers a clear, accessible introduction to the world of artificial intelligence for social impact professionals. Ari brings his decades of experience translating complex technical concepts into practical frameworks. The course explores the foundations of AI, including its history, evolution, and the key types of AI in use today. It explores not just what AI is, but how to understand and evaluate it in ways that strengthen missions and empower teams.
- Lesson 2: Navigating AI Tools and Trends | This course, guided by Daniel Wallace and Dante Gabrielli of McKinsey & Company, provides a practical overview of today's AI landscape and what it means for social impact organizations. It explores why AI transformation is happening now, why many organizations struggle to move beyond pilots, and how emerging tools like AI agents are reshaping how work gets done. Through clear frameworks, real-world examples, and accessible explanations, this course helps demystify AI and connect technology trends to mission-driven outcomes. The course is designed to help organizations understand where they are on the AI maturity journey and how to take informed, thoughtful next steps.
- Lesson 3: Understanding Generational Perspectives of AI | This course, led by Dr. Laurene Currie, Responsible AI Research Scientist at Blackbaud, explores how attitudes toward AI differ across age groups and what these differences mean for adoption in the social impact sector. Drawing on real-world research and examples, Laurene provides insight into generational trends, trust factors, and expectations around AI use. The course is designed to inform how organizations can tailor AI strategies and communication to engage diverse audiences effectively.
The AI Coalition for Social Impact, convened by Blackbaud in 2025 brings together leaders from philanthropy, technology, education, and corporate social responsibility to provide guidance, shared standards, and practical resources for responsible AI use. This free, product-agnostic certification program is the coalition's flagship initiative. Course 2, Responsible AI Principles and Regulations, will be available later this year.
Organizations and individuals can learn more, register for the course, and share the opportunity with their networks at:
https://www.blackbaud.com/ai/certifications
About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world's leading provider of AI-powered solutions for social impact. Serving nonprofits, educational institutions, companies committed to corporate social responsibility, and individual change makers, Blackbaud propels impact at scale with the sector's most intelligent solutions for fundraising and engagement, education solutions, financial management and CSR and grantmaking. With the deepest expertise powered by the world's largest philanthropic data set, the most connected workflows, and the most powerful impact network, Blackbaud's solutions are building a future where resources are unleashed at the speed of need. Blackbaud has been recognized by Fast Company, Newsweek, Quartz, Forbes and more for AI innovation, responsible leadership and workplace excellence. Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Inquiries
Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-coalition-for-social-impact-convened-by-blackbaud-officially-opens-the-free-ai-for-social-impact-certification-program-302824759.html
SOURCE Blackbaud