Case Study: Claflin University achieves record $108M campaign and 53% alumni giving with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT

Claflin University achieves record-breaking fundraising and unparalleled alumni support

Claflin University, a historic HBCU committed to broad access to higher education, faced the challenge of building a modern fundraising program from paper-based records and a limited donor base. When leaders set an ambitious $96.4 million capital campaign goal after an economic downturn, consultants warned it was unrealistic—Claflin needed better data, systems, and alumni engagement to succeed.

By adopting Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT to digitize records and centralize donor intelligence, Claflin transformed cultivation and personalized outreach. The university exceeded its goal and raised $108 million, achieved a 53% annual alumni giving rate (the highest among HBCUs), added 15,000 prospects, and regularly raised about $400,000 per city on campaign trips—demonstrating measurable improvements in fundraising efficiency and donor relationships.

Claflin University

Whittaker Middleton

Vice President for Institutional Advancement