bbcon Preview: What’s Ahead in the Blackbaud Enterprise Fundraising CRM™ Track

Alison Madrigal

As nonprofits navigate increasing data complexity, rising expectations for insight, and the growing role of AI, enterprise fundraising teams are rethinking how they operate—and how Blackbaud CRM supports that work.

At bbcon, the Blackbaud CRM track brings these conversations together. Across sessions, you’ll hear how organizations are modernizing architecture, strengthening data foundations, and turning AI into real, measurable impact.

Here’s a preview of how the Blackbaud CRM sessions are coming together:

👉 Kick Off bbcon with the Minds Behind Blackbaud CRM*

Blackbaud Presenters: Andrea Avtjoglou, Chris Ager, Alison Madrigal

Begin bbcon with a clear, strategic view of where enterprise fundraising with Blackbaud CRM is headed.

This opening session highlights how customer feedback is shaping innovation across the platform—from core operations to AI-driven insight. You’ll gain perspective on how upcoming investments are designed to help you scale performance, improve efficiency, and strengthen high-value donor relationships.

👉 Evolving Your Architecture: Positioning Blackbaud CRM for What’s Next

Blackbaud Presenters: Andrea Avtjoglou, Brandon Winchester, Jason Metcalfe, Jenifer Alonzo

As expectations for connected data and AI accelerate, organizations are evolving how Blackbaud CRM fits within their broader technology ecosystem.

This session shares practical approaches to:

• Connect data across systems
• Support advanced analytics and AI-driven workflows
• Maintain performance, governance, and trust at scale

Walk away with guidance to optimize your current architecture while preparing for future growth and flexibility.

👉 Enterprise Intelligence in Action: Data, Insights, and AI with Blackbaud CRM (Panel)

Blackbaud Moderator: Brandon Winchester; customer panelists to be announced.

The shift to enterprise intelligence is redefining how advancement teams make decisions.

In this panel, Blackbaud CRM customers will share how they are:

• Unifying CRM data with broader analytics ecosystems
• Delivering real-time, actionable insight to stakeholders
• Scaling data-driven decision-making across the organization

Learn what’s working, where challenges remain, and how organizations are evolving their strategies to support more informed, timely decisions.

👉 Building and Advancing an Effective Data Governance Program & User Outreach for Blackbaud CRM

Presenters: Christina Provost (University of Nebraska Foundation), Jenifer Alonzo (Blackbaud)

Reliable, well-managed data is the foundation for enterprise fundraising—but sustaining it across teams is a challenge.

This session explores how to:

• Build and mature a data governance program
• Drive user adoption across varying levels of data literacy
• Maintain clean, trusted CRM data over time

Learn how leading organizations are creating governance strategies tailored to the realities of nonprofit operations.

👉 From AI Innovation to Advancement Impact: How Executive Leaders Turn Blackbaud CRM Capability into Performance

Presenters: Tim Cerato (Boston University), Elie Sirotta (Boston University), Jason Metcalfe (Blackbaud)

AI’s potential in advancement is clear—but realizing value requires leadership, alignment, and focus.

In this session, leaders share how they are:

• Turning AI capabilities into measurable outcomes
• Enabling teams to move faster and work differently
• Building more agile, resilient advancement organizations

Gain actionable insights to move from experimentation to enterprise-level impact.

👉 Turn AI Interest into AI Readiness: Building a Data Foundation You Can Trust*

Presenters: Stacey Segal (BrightVine), Amanda Brown (Nature Conservancy)

Excitement about AI is high—but readiness depends on more than tools.

This candid discussion explores what it takes to:

• Improve data quality and consistency
• Connect systems to support AI-driven use cases
• Establish governance and processes for responsible AI

Hear how organizations are strengthening their foundations to move from interest to practical, scalable AI adoption.

👉 Learn how Customers are Applying AI to Prospect Intelligence: Scaling Prospect Intelligence in Blackbaud CRM with Generative AI

Presenters: Thomas Haley (University of Nebraska Foundation), Cameron Oelke (University of Nebraska Foundation), Amanda Hartman (University of Nebraska Foundation), Wadih Pazos (Esgenio), Gethin James (Blackbaud)

Generative AI is opening new opportunities to scale prospect intelligence.

This session highlights how AI is being used to:

• Summarize and analyze contact reports at scale
• Identify key themes and recommended next actions
• Improve data consistency while maintaining human oversight

Across the Blackbaud CRM track, a few key themes are emerging:

• Enterprise fundraising requires connected data: Blackbaud CRM is central—but value comes from how it integrates across your broader data and analytics ecosystem.
• Insight must drive action: It’s not just about access to data—it’s about delivering timely, usable insights that inform decisions.
• AI depends on strong data foundations: Governance, data quality, and connected systems are what turn AI potential into meaningful impact.
• Architecture decisions shape what’s next: The choices you make today determine your ability to scale, adapt, and innovate over time.

More to Come at bbcon

This is a preview of the Blackbaud CRM track, with additional sessions and details still being finalized and announced in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, explore the full bbcon agenda, including keynote sessions featuring award-winning actor, songwriter, and New York Times bestselling author Leslie Odom, Jr. and entrepreneur, innovator, and educator Priya Lakhani OBE, alongside other industry and nonprofit leaders sharing perspectives on the future of social impact.

* Not all Blackbaud CRM sessions are live yet—additional sessions and details will be announced soon. Use the Product filter on the bbcon site to find CRM-related sessions as they are added.

We look forward to connecting with you at bbcon!