Overall Satisfaction with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT
I use Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT mostly for day-to-day work with the fundraising part of my job. I still rely on Raiser's Edge (database) for most gift entries. I do like that Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT offers a way to automatically process monthly gifts with credit cards or bank (direct debit) with "a few clicks." It's nice to have that reliability and security for those gifts. I do wish they would figure out a way to do auto-pay with pledges. I use "Lists" a lot, it's user-friendly but very linear. As my job duties change, I feel I will be using it more, especially managing a portfolio.
- User-friendly interface
- Auto-payment for recurring gifts
- Summaries/Lists
- Gift Entry- I absolutely cannot use Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT for day-to-day gift entry - that has to be done in RE (database)
- It would be nice to have auto-pay for pledges
- Sometimes lists are difficult to use- it's very linear and/or not all options needed for a robust list are available
- Ease of access and use
- Users of every level being able to manage their own information (portfolios)
- Automatic payments for recurring gifts
- We're not fully integrated into a single system yet, and until some of the functions as described elsewhere in this review, we will not be able to do single system
- It has been impactful where it empowers our people in the field/satellite offices to stay engaged and be able to manage their workloads without a "middle person"
- I'm not the person to speak toward ROI, but I do think Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT has saved us a lot of time, specifically as mentioned above- our satellite offices and the "middle person"
I'm far less into analytics than some of my colleagues, but having conversations with them, I do see the benefit of having information literally "at our fingertips." It allows me to organize my information and workload to make it more manageable, especially because I have split duties (gift entry and fundraising), which are not always compatible and/or can be difficult to manage if I don't have a product that helps me organize and prioritize.
- Online Training
- In-Person Training
I came into this job and learned Raiser's Edge. We were a relatively early adopter of Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT, so I have not had experience using any other products like this. In previous jobs, I used specific designed software (think insurance entry and claims) and this software is far more user-friendly than any other product that is specialized software.
Do you think Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT delivers good value for the price?
Yes
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
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT Feature Ratings
Using Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT
15 - This is a guestimate on how many- our entire fundraising department uses it, we're working with another department on utilization and working toward further integration. The other functions currently using are communications and marketing and our lifelong learning branch. It will be used a lot for events and event management across all departments as we integrate it more.
5 - I'm honestly not sure what this question is asking.
- fundraising
- gift management
- event management
- cross-departmental collaboration
- Auto-payment of recurring gifts
- mapping for planning trips and visits to donors
- sending electronic (emailed) receipts
- I'd really like to see more integration between database and NXT and/or NXT to become more functional in more areas so that only one product is needed
- I'd like to see continued growth and expansion with communication to donors and other stakeholders
- continued and expanded departmental collaboration
Evaluating Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT and Competitors
Not Sure
- Cloud Solutions
- Integration with Other Systems
- Ease of Use
I did not make this decision, and we were already users of Raiser's Edge database. It just seemed natural to convert to NXT. I like the security of cloud-based, it does integrate well with some other systems (others could use some work). I find it easy to use, some of my colleagues who were to use other systems (also Blackbaud products) did not find the systems easy to use. I honestly cannot imagine trying to do the work I do without this product.
I would be part of the evaluation process but not selection. User-friendly is always extremely important when I advocate for anything. With so many different abilities of the multiple users (from advanced to beginner) all products should integrate well with each other and allow for all users of all abilities be able to find what they need, support when they need it, and learning tools to become more adept at the product. As of right now, Blackbaud does deliver on that.
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT Implementation
Yes - I know it was but I honestly don't know the phases.
Change management was a big part of the implementation and was well-handled - A better view of how NXT would be helpful to an organization. We implemented as part of a restructuring of our department and it really wasn't ready to the point and level we needed it to be. It was supposed to free up our database administrator so she could refocus some of her attention and it just didn't provide that. It's all a retrospect thing, though, and truly no reflection on the product itself except that people who make these decisions should have questions ready and if the answers received are not what they need, keep asking until it is resolved.
- Database cleanup was necessary and not easy. Know your information, look at how and why things may not be working properly and get it working first.
- There was some unease from colleagues who are not as technologically advanced users. Be prepared with knowledge and resources for helping them navigate the system.
- Not enough awareness of what still needed to be done in database vs. what NXT could actually do at the time.
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT Training
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT Support
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed Support cares about my success | Need to explain problems multiple times |
not to my knowledge, and I do not make those decisions. Honestly, added/tacked on charges to upgrade seem unruly. I have peers from other organizations that have made complaints about that.
Yes - Yes and no. As mentioned previously the first time I encountered a specific and serious issue it was a long process, and a lot of sweat and tears. When I experienced it again, I had to rely on my memory to prompt the solution. It seems to me that there should be a better databank of problems and solutions than there is. I know that knowledgebase exists and I have used it on occasion, but, honestly, it sometimes seems cumbersome and/or you have to nail the right key words to get anything resembling a solution.
I tend to aim for self-reliance and only reach out when an issue disrupts my work and I cannot fix it. I actually looked back at old cases to see if something jogged my memory, and nothing. So while I want to answer this, I am unable to.
Using Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Like to use Easy to use Technical support not required Quick to learn Feel confident using | Not well integrated |
- Events (to a point)
- Navigating to records and having all information on one screen
- Basic lists
- Sending electronic (emailed) gift receipts
- Gift entry
- getting pledge payments to process automatically (like recurring gifts do/can. And the dysfunctionality of some recurring gifts not meeting criteria for autopay
- I really don't like the tiles- they provide absolutely no insight into my work and portfolio.