Insights that fuel impact.
The Blackbaud Institute is a research lab that explores topics essential to the operations of nonprofits, foundations, CSR teams, and educational institutions.
Committed to research for the real-world.
We arm you with data and insights to drive your mission forward. Our approach is informed by an appreciation for the complexities and ever-changing needs of the sector.
Data Driven
We draw from Blackbaud’s comprehensive dataset and facilitate new public qualitative and quantitative studies.
Practical
Our research is grounded in topics that have immediate, actionable business use for social impact organizations.
Accessible
We are committed to providing well-rounded research that is timely, transparent, and free to access.
Research in Partnership
We’re proud to partner with leading academic and social sector institutions through the exchange of insights, experience, and expertise.
Catherine LaCour
Head of the Blackbaud Institute
Catherine LaCour brings 25 years of experience to her roles as Chief Marketing Officer for Blackbaud and Head of the Blackbaud Institute. She is a highly effective, seasoned executive, versatile business growth strategist, innovator and empathetic leader who has driven growth for public, private and nonprofit organizations. Catherine has an MBA from American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) and a BS in Business from the College of Charleston. Catherine serves on the boards of the Coastal Community Foundation (Chair of Marketing and Communications) and Women’s Refugee Commission (Chair of External Relations); and sits on the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Council for Innovation Initiatives. Catherine was named a 2017 Liberty Fellow as part of the Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network.
Carrie Cobb
Chief Data and AI Officer, Blackbaud
Carrie Cobb is an accomplished innovator and change-agent capable of translating multifaceted data and analytics products into successful business initiatives and consumer experiences. She holds over 25 years of experience in developing data-driven analytic solutions, with the goal of leveraging advanced analytic methodologies and artificial intelligence to create easy to execute strategies for the social impact community. As the Chief Data and AI Officer at Blackbaud, Carrie leads the Data Intelligence Center of Excellence, and is responsible for Blackbaud’s AI and data strategy, vertical-focused product innovation, data science and engineering disciplines, and data governance and ethics. She chairs the Advisory Council on Methodology for the Giving USA Foundation, serves on the Governmental Affairs Committee for the Nonprofit Alliance, and is a member of the Advisory Council for Fundraising.AI. Carrie has been honored as one of DataIQ’s 100 Most Influential People in Data in both 2024 and 2025, and was named to CDO Magazine’s Global Data Power Women List 2023. She holds a Chief Data Officer Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University.
Lori Poer
Director of the Blackbaud Institute
Lori Poer is passionate about supporting the health and effectiveness of the social impact community. In her role at Blackbaud, Lori brings an empathetic and enthusiastic eye for the needs of those driving change across the nonprofit sector grounded in her own deep experience of leadership at high-impact organizations. She has owned the brand and communications functions at prominent nonprofits addressing international human rights and American educational inequity. She served as lead editor of the Washington Post bestselling book The Locust Effect (Oxford University Press) and has led and contributed significant research initiatives across the social and private sectors. She is an alumna of the University of Arizona.
Sally J. Ehrenfried
Policy Advisor
Sally J. Ehrenfried, Head of Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives for Blackbaud, leads the company’s global government relations portfolios and the law department’s annual and strategic planning, internal and external communications, and team culture. Sally spent 13 years in the United States Senate where she served in leadership staff roles for three United States Senators. Sally is chair of Giving Institute’s Public Policy Committee, a member of the Council on Foundations’ Public Policy Advisory Committee, served on the Generosity Commission’s Task Force on Government Affairs and Policy, and is a past co-chair and current member of Philanthropy Southeast’s Public Policy Committee. She presents regularly on advocacy and the impact of public policy on nonprofit organizations. Sally graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, ME, with a BA in political science and received an MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. She is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Business Partnership Foundation for the Darla Moore School of Business and volunteers with English Springer Rescue America.
Kate Averett Anderson
Research and Publications Lead
Kate Averett Anderson is a content strategist and art historian with hands-on experience in nonprofit development, donor engagement, and strategic planning. Prior to joining the team at Blackbaud as a Senior Content Manager for Global Brand, she received her MA from UNC Chapel Hill and managed communications, digital content, and outreach for a globally renowned arts and culture nonprofit. She is Vice Chair of the PACE Board of Directors for ArtSpace, a nationally recognized K–8 arts integration charter school in Swannanoa, North Carolina. Kate brings a collaborative, outside-the-box approach to her work, with a love for sharing ideas and an appreciation for the challenges and triumphs of the social impact organizations she serves.