Meet Catherine LaCour: Ushering in the Next Phase of Growth for The Blackbaud Giving Fund
March 2, 2026 | 4 min read
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Catherine’s focus on governance and compliance ensures the Fund delivers generosity to nonprofits at the speed of need, allowing them to focus on their missions.
- Guided by Catherine’s strategic direction, the partnerships with Blackbaud and other social impact partners will continue to power workplace giving and peer-to-peer fundraising, connecting nonprofits to over 8 million potential donors.
- Drawing on her experience leading the Blackbaud Institute, Catherine is committed to translating data into actionable insights to help fundraisers better understand and leverage giving programs.
We are excited to share that Catherine LaCour has been named the new chief executive officer and executive director of The Blackbaud Giving Fund. Her appointment signals a broader commitment to strengthening the infrastructure that moves generosity from individuals and corporations to the nonprofits and causes they care about, so fundraisers can stay focused on impact.
With over 25 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Catherine’s career has centered on building systems that help social-good organizations scale impact and earn long-term trust.
“At its core, the Fund exists to do one thing well: move generous donations to nonprofits at the speed of need,” Catherine shared. “When that infrastructure works, nonprofits can stay focused on working toward their mission.”
Leveraging Expertise for the Growing Social Good Economy
As CEO and executive director, Catherine is responsible for shaping the strategic direction and guiding policies that ensure the Fund complies with charitable regulations. This commitment to strong governance is critical to reinforcing the reliability and transparency that make the Fund a strong partner to nonprofits and donors.
Her deep understanding of the sector, honed through her previous role as Blackbaud’s chief marketing officer and her leadership of the Blackbaud Institute, translates into a leadership approach focused on expanding social good networks.
Trust and transparency are increasingly critical as workplace giving, peer-to-peer fundraising, and donor-advised fund giving continue to grow. The Fund’s responsibility is to ensure that donations move efficiently and securely while maintaining rigorous oversight.
“The Fund supports hundreds of thousands of nonprofits every year,” she said. “That responsibility comes with an obligation to lead thoughtfully, communicate clearly, and help fundraisers understand how to take advantage of the giving programs that support them.”
Connecting Nonprofits to Over 8 Million Potential Donors
Under Catherine’s leadership, the Fund will continue to strengthen its partnerships with social impact partners and Blackbaud, which provides the technology and processes that power workplace giving and peer-to-peer fundraising. These collaborative relationships will expand access to giving, allowing fundraisers to tap new audiences and secure new revenue streams.
The Fund’s overarching goal remains simple: to make giving easier so nonprofits can meet their fundraising goals and achieve their missions.
Strengthening the Social Good Economy
While nonprofits remain at the heart of charitable impact, the future of philanthropy depends on collaboration across sectors: companies that invest in corporate social responsibility programs, donors that expect transparency, regulators that require strong oversight, and technology platforms that increase access. The Blackbaud Giving Fund operates within that broader environment, creating a network effect that ensures generosity moves from election to distribution efficiently and securely.
“We’re here to strengthen the social good economy,” Catherine said. “That happens when nonprofits feel supported, and donors are confident, communities are engaged, and every partner in the ecosystem has what they need to create lasting impact.”
We’re proud to welcome Catherine and look forward to what’s ahead for The Blackbaud Giving Fund and the nonprofits it serves.
Ready to reach over 8 million potential donors and achieve your fundraising goals? Check out our other blogs about setting up and optimizing a free Blackbaud Verified Network account, making sure your organization is eligible for corporate matching gifts, how to ensure your nonprofit shows up in AI results, and more.
For more information about Blackbaud Verified Network or to sign up, visit https://nonprofit.yourcause.com/login/create-account.
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