Resources

Here are free resources to help you with Raiser’s Edge. No login or questions must be answered first, but please consider joining Bill’s email newsletter list (form is below right). He promises practical, useful content in every newsletter for both fundraisers and database staff, including notices when new resources are added to this page.

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May 2021 re: final follow-up from the Security webinar series and update on the move from blackbaudhosting.com to Blackbaud ID/blackbaud.com
September 2021 re: the role and responsibility of a database manager and preparing for bbcon

Raiser’s Edge Security

Bill presented a free webinar series in partnership with Blackbaud in March and April 2021 on Security in Raiser’s Edge. The recordings and other resources from the series are below and are free to access, although the recordings require registration with Blackbaud.

Details of webinar series
Resources from webinar 1, Creating a Culture of Security, on March 23, 2021, with Ashley Wyand from Blackbaud’s cybersecurity team:

  • Raiser’s Edge NXT: What’s Called What? DOWNLOAD
  • Adding and Inactivating Users in Raiser’s Edge NXT DOWNLOAD
  • Bill’s slides from the presentation DOWNLOAD
  • (The recording of the presentation is no longer available)

New resources from webinar 2, Understanding Security in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, on March 30, 2021:

  • Bill’s slides from the presentation DOWNLOAD
  • The recording of the presentation can be watched here

New resources from webinar 3, Deep Dive into Raiser’s Edge Security Options, on April 6, 2021:

  • Bill’s slides from the presentation DOWNLOAD
  • The recording of the presentation can be watched here
  • Bill’s answers to two questions that arose during the webinar for which there was not time to answer then

The series FAQ can be found here.  Thanks to Taylor Francis and others at Blackbaud for doing the hard work of taking 700 questions that arose during the series and producing this document.

Raiser’s Edge NXT

  • Why Fundraisers Want Raiser’s Edge NXT DOWNLOAD
  • Raiser’s Edge NXT – Moving to and Mastering the Next Generation of RE (bbcon presentation slides) DOWNLOAD
  • Raiser’s Edge NXT Pricing – To Delete or Not Delete Constituents DOWNLOAD
  • Raiser’s Edge NXT: What’s Called What? DOWNLOAD
  • NEW! Why Database Managers Should Use Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT Web View (bbcon 2021 presentation slides) DOWNLOAD

Policy and Procedure Documentation

  • Blackbaud Conference presentation available on YouTube
  • Policy and Procedure Documentation (bbcon presentation slides) DOWNLOAD
  • Documentation Example 1 — Process for Generating Direct Mail Files DOWNLOAD
  • Documentation Example 2 — Annual Report Process DOWNLOAD
  • And see Chapter 8 and Appendix C of Bill’s book on Raiser’s Edge

Other Topics

  • Managing the “Manager” Part of Database Manager in the Fundraising Profession Today (bbcon 2019 presentation slides) DOWNLOAD
  • How Would You Enter THIS Gift? (slides from bbcon 2018 presentation about soft credits, DAFs, etc.) DOWNLOAD
  • Getting the Best Success with Mailings from RE (slides from bbcon presentation about Mail) DOWNLOAD
  • Best Practices in the Use of Constituent Codes (Blackbaud K12 Conference 2019 presentation slides) DOWNLOAD
  • “Former” Constituent Codes? (post to fundsvcs) DOWNLOAD
  • Reports from Raiser’s Edge for a New Head of Fundraising DOWNLOAD
  • Preparing Raiser’s Edge for a Capital Campaign – Gift Management DOWNLOAD

“We are so fortunate to have you as a resource, and I’m really glad that you were able to be part of our project team. I really think there’s no way we’d have been as successful in completing these conversions and implementing RE NXT had it not been for you.

“Your genuine interest in wanting to understand our organization, along with your guidance, wisdom, expertise, and patience were vital to our project being a success. I most appreciate how you truly became part of our team; helping us get into all the nitty-gritty details that we needed to address in order to strategically set up and effectively utilize our new database for long-term success.

“I think it’s rare to find a consultant who really cares as much as you do about the long-term success of the organizations you are helping. I’m so confident in how our database has been configured and in our staff’s ability to effectively use it.

“I’m certain I would not have this level of confidence, especially in my own abilities as database manager, had our conversion and implementation assistance been limited solely to that of Blackbaud’s trainings and resources. I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done to help us. Seriously, anyone doing a database conversion needs to have you on their team.

“There’s so much to learn in RE NXT and the numerous tips and insights you were able to give us that we didn’t get from trainings are why I know our database is set up so well. I really don’t know how we could have done it without you.”

Director of the Annual Fund & Donor Analytics
Foundation in the San Francisco Bay Area

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