Blackbaud, Inc. has announced the release of a report focused on fundraising trends based on monthly findings from The Blackbaud Index and featuring commentary from Drakes Bay Fundraising and CARE USA. Additionally, Blackbaud announced the release of a new specialty index focused on international affairs organizations. These organizations are defined by Giving USA as international aid, development and relief, as well as policy and analysis organizations.

“For the 10th consecutive month, The Blackbaud Index of Charitable Giving has shown positive growth, and for the first time in a very long time, that growth exceeds 10 percent for the three months ending May 2011 over the prior year,” said Chuck Longfield, Blackbaud’s chief scientist and creator of The Blackbaud Index. “Also, for the first time since the start of the Great Recession, that growth is being experienced by organizations of all sizes.” However, he added, “The increase wasn’t universal as human services and environmental organizations were still down from their year earlier results. And with job growth flat the past two months and the economy weakening; a real challenge for all nonprofits going forward will be maintaining this momentum.”

For international affairs, the Blackbaud Index of Charitable Giving reports that organizations had an overall charitable revenue increase of 13% for the three months ending May 2011, as compared to the same period in 2010. This trend is based on $375 million in 12 month revenue from 17 organizations.

The Blackbaud Index of Charitable Giving and The Blackbaud Index of Online Giving are updated on the 15th of each month and are based on a three-month moving average of year-over-year percent changes in charitable giving.