Item: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT
Rating: 4
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We recently migrated from a self-hosted Raiser's Edge to Raiser's Edge NXT hosted by Blackbaud. NXT made the most sense at the right cost to continue using as it is a relationship management program that helps us track alumni, donors and friends of the university.

Pros and Cons

Gift Tracking
Biographical information
Event Attendance
Relationships to orgs and individuals

Web View and Database view are not synced up - have to use both in order to make certain things work
Web View reporting (insights and dashboards) are very lacking in what is available to report on
PaperSave doesn't integrate in database view and therefore certain documentation is impossible to get to within Raiser's Edge (EG: fund documentation)
Customer service is very lacking - no knowledge of who we are or the issues we've been experiencing. Turns problems back on us saying it's on us to figure out.

Most Important Features

Tracking our alums, donors and friends
Tracking giving of our constituents
Easy to understand reporting for the executive staff
Easy and straightforward ways to communicate with our constituents and track those communications

Return on Investment

The biggest ROI has been for our IT department. They no longer need to manage a server and the constant updates
NXT webview is a fantastic tool for the frontline fundraisers and alumni staff

Data Intelligence

The algorithms used for giving on the tiles and tags in web view are helpful to front line fundraisers.

Training Types Used

Online Training

Online Training

It is impossible to take trainings needed or interested in until other 3 hour trainings are taken. I have used Raiser's Edge for 15 years and do not to take the basic courses. I had to constantly reach out to support to get them to bypass the restrictions on courses I wanted to take because the system didn't recognize my certificates earned.

Key Insights

Do you think Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT's feature set?

Did Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT live up to sales and marketing promises?

Did implementation of Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT go as expected?

Would you buy Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT again?

Other Software Used

ImportOmatic, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Blackbaud NetCommunity

Likelihood to Recommend

Raiser's Edge NXT is well suited for small shops that do not have a lot of specific needs as it relates to reporting on data. It's less appropriate for organizations that desire to have a robust integrated reporting tool. Data needs to be exported in order to do this. Also, be prepared to have terrible customer service and functionality taken away.

tracking alumni
tracking giving
tracking event attendance

Likelihood to Renew

We really have no other choice due to cost and staffing needed to support a new platform.

So close, but oh so far away

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT