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.
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.
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.
Kate Averett Anderson
Research and Publications Lead
Kate Averett Anderson connects the worlds of art, research, and social responsibility to spark fresh conversations that drive change. As Senior Content Manager for Global Brand at Blackbaud and Research and Publications Lead for the Blackbaud Institute, she creates research-driven content for the social impact sector that inspires innovation. She received her MA in Art History from UNC Chapel Hill in 2016 and has curated exhibitions across Western NC where she explored the intersections of art, identity, and community. These experiences sharpened her ability to tell complex stories with clarity and empathy—skills she now applies to amplifying the voices of mission-driven organizations. With a background in nonprofit development, board service, and arts administration, Kate brings a collaborative, creative lens to the challenges and triumphs of the organizations she serves.
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.
Sam Venable
Research Advisor, AI Innovation
Sam Venable is proud to serve as the Director of Data and AI Products in Blackbaud’s Data Intelligence Center of Excellence. In his more than ten years at the company he has specialized in building and scaling data products and experiences that deliver measurable value for his customers. He geeks out on data analysis, continuous improvement, product/software development, value creation, and the exploration of the implications of sociotechnological cultural change. Prior to his work at Blackbaud, Sam worked at Ohio University from 2008 – 2016 for the duration of the university’s $450m The Promise Lives capital campaign. During his time in the development office, he worked as a front-line fundraiser (focusing on scholarships for first-time students and students of need) and then moved into his role as the Director of Prospect Research and Development. Sam holds a MA in Communication Studies and a B.S. in Journalism from the (original) Ohio University, where he explored the impact of permanent representations of self in online spaces. He has also lived and studied internationally at Universidad Pùblica de Navarra.
Dr. Laurene Currie
Research Advisor, AI Innovation
Laurene leads research at the intersection of experience and ethical AI innovation. With two decades of experience researching human behavior, human-avatar interaction and consumer, nonprofit and higher education technology experiences, she has driven initiatives that shape how organizations can adopt AI responsibly. She has a PhD in Usability Engineering, where she focused on people’s experiences of interaction, collaboration and learning via avatars in financial services contexts and a Master of Arts in Sociology. As a Sr Principal User Experience Researcher at Blackbaud and Research Advisor, AI Innovation for the Blackbaud Institute, her work includes developing AI experience frameworks, principles for agentic and generative AI to foster trust and clarity and conducting in-depth studies on customer and donor sentiment towards AI-enabled services. Laurene champions human-centered AI practices that prioritize transparency, inclusivity, and positive social impact.