Local non-profit data analytics startup Attentive.ly was acquired by philanthropic software services giant Blackbaud this week for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is the latest sign of the growing interest in applying the tools of the tech industry to charity and non-profit work.
"When we introduce social data as a tool, non-profits can get to know their supporters better," Attentive.ly co-founder Rosalyn Lemieux told DC Inno in an interview. "It helps us segment and personalize communication."
Data analytics are an integral part of the digital economy, but philanthropic groups have a reputation for being behind the curve on using analytics and other advances in technology. But Blackbaud has a history of not just relying on old-fashioned mailing lists, including a partnership with Attentive.ly prior to the acquisition.
"It's a new phase in our relationship, but we've worked together for a while," said Lemieux, who is now general manager of product management for Blackbaud. "They're building what they call an ecosystem for good. Changing to [use] social data [from Attentive.ly] lets them leapfrog ahead. It's a natural fit."
The acquisition demonstrates the potential strength of companies using tech for social good and there are plenty of startups in the Washington, D.C. area that represent that mixture. Here are some of the others you should know.
What they do: Direct donation to partner charities with a hashtag. People can use #donate on Twitter and indicate how much they want to donate to a tagged charity, speeding up the process and capturing donations that people might forget about sending.
Latest news: Scored a $25,000 donation tweet from Kiddar Capital founder Todd Hitt to theAlexandria-based Child & Family Network Centers of tuition-free preschools, with an even larger single donation expected soon.
What they do: A philanthropic wedding registry platform startup, Heartful.ly offers a platform for people to register for charitable donations as wedding gifts much like department stores offer for their products.
Latest news: Founder Kate Glantz became a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, with new potential for investment and recently expanded her team and hired a CTO.
What they do: Founded in 2012, Phone2Action runs a digital communications platform for advocacy. It streamlines the process of connecting people with elected officials on behalf of its client organizations, boosting their presence on social media and analyzes the data it collects for those organizations to help them plan ahead.
Latest News: Phone2Action closed a $4.7 million Series A funding round and will be moving to a new headquarters in Arlington.
What they do: Bethesda-based Salsa Labs offers non-profits marketing, fundraising, analytics and other software tools.
Latest News: Salsa Labs started a merge with donor management platform DonerPro late last year and is continuing to integrate the suite of products from both companies. The combined company is still operating as Salsa Labs.
