Case Study: Coastal Community Foundation builds an employee-led grantmaking program with Blackbaud

Coastal Community Foundation - Customer Case Study

Blackbaud, a Charleston-based company, established the Blackbaud Fund to put employees at the center of its corporate philanthropy and address educational needs of minority and disadvantaged youth in the tri-county area. The challenge was to engage staff meaningfully in grantmaking while ensuring thoughtful, local investments that truly benefit community nonprofits.

Working with the Coastal Community Foundation, Blackbaud created an employee grant committee trained to review applications, conduct site visits, and make funding decisions, supported by company payroll donations and a corporate contribution. Since 1997 the fund has awarded more than $330,000 to about 50 nonprofits, broadened employee understanding of the nonprofit sector, and—beginning in 2012—enabled organizations to request up to $10,000 annually.

Coastal Community Foundation

Tony Bakker

Founder