Resources

Getting to Know Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge™

One of the best ways to ensure you get the most from your nonprofit software is to understand what it can do and how to use it efficiently. That’s why we’ve created resources to help you get to know your Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge software better.

Evaluating Your Raiser’s Edge System

Your Raiser’s Edge system is in a continuous state of change because your fundraising strategies, operational practices and staffing are always changing. In this dynamic environment, the appropriate goal is not the “perfect” database, but rather the appropriate system to meet your needs. This document will teach you three fundamental steps to help you get there.

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Organizing a Raiser’s Edge User Group

Are you looking for experienced advice to solve your Raiser's Edge conundrums? Or, just some peers with whom to compare notes? A Raiser’s Edge User Group can provide a great opportunity to network, learn and collaborate with colleagues. Armed with a bit of inspiration (and the simple steps outlined in this document), you can organize your own User Group and enjoy immediate and ongoing benefits.

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Raiser’s Edge Coding Best Practices

Want to fully unlock the power of your Raiser’s Edge system? Logically organized codes and a clean database are the key. When your codes are set up appropriately, you can run queries more easily and generate reports with a single click. Whether you're just starting with Raiser’s Edge and are determining how to set up your system, or you're a current user looking for ways to streamline your system, these practices will provide a good starting point for your efforts.

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Raiser’s Edge Importing Fundamentals

Culled from our Targeted Training course of the same name, these slides outline key concepts to consider as you begin working with the importing features in Raiser’s Edge. While importing is one of the most sophisticated things you can do in Raiser’s Edge, armed with the right information (and practicing first on the sample database), you can "try this at home!"

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Top Ten Raiser’s Edge Reports

Good, simple, accurate reporting. It’s the dream of every development team! In this document, we offer insights on where to start your exploration of Raiser’s Edge reports. These are the reports we find give the most number of our clients the greatest benefit (including information on Crystal Reports as well).

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Your Raiser’s Edge DBA: Qualities and Considerations

If you want your Raiser’s Edge system to function at its best, the most important factor is a good pair of eyes and hands-on management of the system. The role responsible for the system is called a “Database Administrator” (DBA) and, whether full-time or part-time, in the fundraising department or part of IT, this role is crucial for the success of your Raiser’s Edge database. We’ve created these points to help you craft or refine your DBA position.

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Getting to Know Your Raiser's Edge Data

Have you inherited your Raiser's Edge system from prior staff members? Or, have you decided to tackle data cleanup issues? For these, and many other reasons, examining your database is an important project. This resource offers simple instructions for running valuable reports that can lead to a more complete assessment or start you on your cleanup efforts. It also centralizes valuable information about your system in one "at-a-glance" resource.

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10 Steps to Implementing Raiser’s Edge

Successfully navigating a Raiser's Edge conversion and implementation is a critical task. Having a clear map of the process is a good start. These 10 steps are distilled from our experience helping organizations adopt Raiser's Edge as their fundraising system.

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Financial Goals and Raiser’s Edge Codes

Raiser's Edge has a fantastic suite of financial reports. You can find out who's giving to your organization, what's prompting them to give, and how they're designating their donations. All this is simple — if you've set up your financial codes (campaigns, funds and appeals) and constituency codes to align with your fundraising goals. This document gives you a good start on tackling this important area of your system.

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