85% of professionals in the field of social impact are using AI, but only about 10% of organizations have seen significant returns. Blackbaud indicates that Lantern is aimed at narrowing this gap and was developed through strategic collaboration with Databricks.
Columbus, Ohio, USA, September 29th / PRNewswire / -- Blackbaud (Nasdaq ticker: BLKB) today launched Lantern ™ at bbcon 2026, calling it the first domain-specific language model designed specifically to optimize fundraising intelligence. Blackbaud is a global leader in providing AI solutions that drive social impact.
Blackbaud indicates that the field of social impact has not fully benefited from large language models. Although 85% of professionals in the social impact sector say they use AI in their daily work, only about 10% of organizations have seen significant returns from their investments. Blackbaud has established a strategic partnership with Databricks to ensure that the social impact sector achieves better results from AI. Lantern is built on Blackbaud's over 40 years of experience in fundraising processes, decision-making, and outcomes; therefore, it understands donor behavior, not purchasing behavior. Blackbaud claims that this will provide social impact organizations with customized intelligence to help them raise more funds and thus continue to address the most urgent societal challenges.
Blackbaud, President, CEO, and Vice Chairman of the Board, Mike Gianoni stated: "Every organization has access to powerful AI, but cutting-edge models learn from the internet, whereas Lantern learns from philanthropy. With over $100 billion raised, allocated, or managed through our platform each year, Blackbaud possesses profound expertise in social impact and generous donations, including understanding why people donate, when they donate, and how they donate. Lantern understands fundraising goals, donor dynamics, and non-profit priorities in a way that AI cannot, and hands that actionable intelligence to fundraising professionals, enabling them to make more informed decisions."
Combining cutting-edge technology AI with fundraising expertise
Blackbaud indicates that in the process of collaboration with Databricks, the company combines the leading open-source weight models on Databricks Data + AI Platform with over 40 years of expertise in the field of social impact. Lantern undergoes post-training based on the comprehensive Social Impact Signal Graph ™ model developed by Blackbaud to reflect real-world fundraising patterns, bringing the unique complexities of fundraising into the model. Blackbaud states that this flexible approach enables Lantern to evolve with technological advancements.
Databricks, President of Global Field Operations, stated: "There are tremendous opportunities in the philanthropic sector to benefit from AI, but to see returns, appropriate data, context, and governance are required. Blackbaud and Databricks are working together to provide non-profit organizations with the data foundation needed to expand their fundraising efforts and maximize their real impact."
Blackbaud indicates that Lantern follows the company's Responsible AI principles during the development process, focusing on privacy, transparency, and governance that aligns with industry characteristics to serve the unique needs of social impact organizations.
Models that support social impact
Blackbaud indicates that Lantern understands the rhythm of fundraising, including how to establish relationships, nurture them, and transform them into generous donations. It can highlight opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked, help social impact organizations to cope with complexity, discover new possibilities, and focus their efforts where they can have the greatest impact. Blackbaud states that it embodies important factors such as retention, pathways for improvement, and long-term relationships, which are all core to fundraising, but not inherent capabilities of the AI model.
Blackbaud Chief Data and AI Official Carrie Cobb stated: "The future of AI does not lie in who has the largest model, but in who can best reflect the world in which customers live. Lantern is designed specifically for fundraising, incorporating decades of industry experience as well as the intelligence embedded within Blackbaud Social Impact Signal Graph. The result is more trustworthy intelligence, as it is more relevant, transparent, and actionable, because it understands the relationships, behaviors, and opportunities that drive customer influence. This industry does not need more AI, but rather AI that is designed for social impact."
Blackbaud indicates that Lantern is jointly developing with clients including Boston University, Hesed House, YMCA, of, the, and North to support the goals that frontline fundraising personnel wish to achieve.
Tim Cerato, Assistant Vice President and Head of Relationship Management at Boston University, stated: "Every industry has its own language, professional knowledge, decision-making processes, rules, and boundaries. One of the greatest breakthroughs of AI is its ability to understand these subtle differences and enhance the efficiency of those who carry out the work. We have seen that technologies that can enhance team knowledge and professional capabilities have tremendous potential; they can expand what people are able to accomplish and allow them to focus their efforts on the work that brings the most meaningful results."
Availability
Blackbaud indicates that Lantern will embed its Platform for Good ™, bringing fundraising intelligence directly into the organization's daily practices to attract supporters, enhance generous donations, and advance its mission.
Lantern will begin to support certain Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT ® and Agents for Good ™ features from 2027, with plans to launch them more broadly during Blackbaud's Platform for Good.
About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (Nasdaq ticker: BLKB) is a globally leading provider of AI solutions that drive social impact. The company serves non-profit organizations, educational institutions, companies committed to corporate social responsibility, and individual change agents, leveraging the industry's most intelligent fundraising and engagement, education solutions, financial management, as well as CSR and funding management tools to drive impact on a large scale. Relying on the world's largest charitable dataset, the most tightly connected work processes, and the profound expertise provided by its strongest impact network, Blackbaud's solutions are building a future where resources can be released at the speed of need. Blackbaud has been recognized by media such as Fast Company, Newsweek, Quartz, Forbes, and others for its AI innovation, responsible leadership, and workplace excellence. Blackbaud operates in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India, and the United Kingdom, and provides support to users in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.blackbaud.com, or follow the company on X/ Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
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Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all statements, expectations, and assumptions in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud endeavors to ensure the accuracy of these forward-looking statements, future circumstances may differ from the assumptions on which they are based. In addition, other important factors that could lead to significant differences in results include: general economic risks; uncertainties regarding the growth of existing customer business and increased renewals; the continued success of sales growth; the management of integrating acquired companies, as well as other risks associated with acquisitions; risks related to the successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks related to growth management; long sales and implementation cycles; technological changes that could reduce the competitiveness of the company's products and services; and other risk factors occasionally listed by Blackbaud in documents submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which can be obtained for free on the SEC website www.sec.gov, or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names mentioned in this text are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud and Inc.
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