Item: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT
Rating: 10
Author: Denise Flynn

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT to track donors and gifts and to acknowledge the same. I use it to query info for evaluation and reports. I am learning other tools that can make our processes more efficient, such as creating and managing our events from start to finish inside the program. I'm hoping to get buy-in for using dashboards for internal short-term use reports to save time, paper, ink, and the planet. I've also pitched the integration of Double to Donation to capture the matching gifts we are likely missing at this time. I really like how easy it is to see duplicates and that it gives us the power to decide before just merging based on points of duplication. This allows us to confirm and follow up on the differences to confirm which are correct or which are updates we should mark and date or annotate in some way.

Pros and Cons

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT is great with de-duplication and notifying of possible duplicates before you complete a new record. It also helps when adding relationships so that you use an already created record rather than creating a duplicate.
By adding "aliases" and "preferred names," Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT helps to find people even when you only have a nickname to search on.
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT is really great at allowing one to set up defaults in a batch that happens to have gifts with common information. This makes batch entry really quick. Even if the entire batch doesn't have the same info in common I am able to save the group items with common info for the end and reset the defaults to bring up the tail end of the batch, again, making entry faster and easier.

It would be helpful to be able to edit the batch name and description even after validation and submission in case of misspellings and the like, but I assume this is for accounting purposes.
I'm finding creating letters a challenge, but I started just after the major change from Microsoft due to security issues, so I have to go through a lot of steps to create letters.
Probably a top priority would be to make it easier to save outside of the cloud to my own folders on my computer, as there is no access once saved to the system. Or, there could be a way to access the system where things are saved!

Most Important Features

Batch managing donations
Detail on donors
Queries
Reporting

Return on Investment

I have not been here long enough and am not involved in the finances at all, so I am not sure.

Data Intelligence

That is above my pay grade. I can see where a lot would be helpful, as I described regarding using it for event/donor tracking but my position has no authority/insight into that aspect.

Training Types Used

Online Training

Online Training

It is really helpful in some ways, but I am a kinesthetic learner and could use more hands-on and in-person training. I hope to be able to take advantage of the online/in-person courses soon.

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?

Yes

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

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

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

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT again?

Yes

Likelihood to Recommend

I believe that managing an event would be a perfect scenario for Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT. If we start invites in there, track your RSVPs there, then we can print check-in sheets and name tags from there. If the Development Director puts in their goals we can create a dashboard item that shows progress on goal! I love that Development Director can also make notes in the event for each donor they call leaving no need to go back and add their notes from handwritten notes to the donor records!

Let's track a party.

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT