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Get Started with Raiser's Edge NXT

Follow this step-by-step new user guide to get started using your database!

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Welcome a'baud! Let's introduce you to the amazing resources at your fingertips now that you're live with Raiser's Edge NXT. We'll reference these throughout this Get Started Guide as we explore must-see resources for the topics we'll cover. For more information on how to use these resources, check out the Resource Guide on this page. 

10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpg Customer Success Sessions
10822_CS_Icon_HowToDoc.jpg How-to Documentation
10822_CS_Icon_Community_2.jpg Blackbaud Community
10822_CS_Icon_KB.jpg Knowledgebase
10822_CS_Icon_Support_2.jpg Chat with Support
10822_CS_Icon_Training_3.jpg Blackbaud University instructor-led training (available through a Blackbaud Learn subscription)*
10822_CS_Icon_eLearning_2.jpg Blackbaud University free eLearning*

*Our Blackbaud University courses are organized into learning paths. Each recommended training will be linked to the full learning path. From there, you can view the suggested course.

This ten-step guide will get you ready to start using Raiser's Edge NXT to its fullest potential:

Step 1

Get Access to Raiser's Edge NXT and So Much More

The first thing you’ll need to do to harness the goodness of Raiser’s Edge NXT is log in! One key to logging into Raiser’s Edge NXT is setting up your Blackbaud ID, if you haven’t done so already. We’ll also familiarize you with the two views of Raiser’s Edge NXT.

Get Started
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How to create a Blackbaud ID
10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpgOne Solution, Two Views
10822_CS_Icon_Community_2.jpgJoin the Raiser's Edge NXT Community

Take it to the NXT Level 
If you are the administrator for your organization, you might also be responsible for inviting users to Raiser’s Edge NXT and assigning them to security roles and groups. You’ll find a review of these steps below.
Logging In and Adding a New User 
How to Add a User to Raiser's Edge
10822_CS_Icon_eLearning_2.jpg Basics of Security (15 minutes)
Introduction to Database Administration
Effective Database Administration*
 *Some courses have pre-requisites. We highly recommend taking the Fundamentals courses or earning your Fundamentals Certification (the test is free!)

Step 2

Constituents Make the World Go 'Round

One of the first keys to Raiser’s Edge NXT success is ensuring that you are effectively tracking your supporters and taking advantage of built-in analytics to keep your data clean. Constituents, and the other record types, are the backbone of Raiser’s Edge NXT, so ensuring these records are properly maintained is a must!

Get Started
 Basics of Records (15 minutes)
 
Basics of Ratings (15 minutes)

Take it to the NXT Level 
Fundamentals - Work Center (Web View) 
Constituent Updates*
Strategies for Duplicate Management
Get Started with Automated AddressFinder
Database Health and Administration*
*Some courses have pre-requisites. We highly recommend taking the Fundamentals courses or earning your Fundamentals Certification (the test is free!)

Step 3

Work Your Work Center

One of the most valuable features of Raiser’s Edge NXT is the new and improved work center. Your work center offers easy access to all the relationships and activity assigned to you as a fundraiser, so that you can stay on top of your open opportunities and next steps. Take the next steps to ensure your work center is set up properly so you can focus your fundraising energy where it matters.

Get Started
Are you set up as a fundraiser? Follow these steps to make yourself a fundraiser. (Note: You need a constituent record in the database before you can be a fundraiser! Learn how to add an individual constituent here.)
Quickly assign constituents to your portfolio by following these steps.
 
Basics of Fundraising (15 minutes)

Take it to the NXT Level 
 Power Your Fundraising with Actions and Opportunities

Step 4

Streamline Your Gift Processing

The primary goal of your fundraising efforts is the money you raise toward your mission. Are you streamlining your gift processing so that it is ready to scale? There are two different ways to batch gifts – one simple option is in Web View. This approach is best for entering one-time or recurring gifts, or when you don’t have complex data entry needs like custom fields. For other gift types and more complex gift entry needs, take it to the NXT level and learn how to batch in Database View.

Get Started
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How to Add a Batch of Gifts (Web View)
10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpg Entering Gifts in Batches (Web View)
Streamline Your Gifts Processing with Receipt Management
10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpg How to Prepare Donor Acknowledgement Letters

Take it to the NXT Level 
 
How to Create a Gift Batch
10822_CS_Icon_Training_3.jpg  Fundamentals - Gift Management (Web View)
10822_CS_Icon_Training_3.jpg  Batch (Database View)*
*Some courses have pre-requisites. We highly recommend taking the Fundamentals courses or earning your Fundamentals Certification (the test is free!)

Step 5

Accelerate Your Online Giving

Now that you’re familiar with gift processing in Raiser's Edge NXT, let’s take it online! Raiser’s Edge NXT provides you with two different integrated options for accepting online donations: NXT donation forms and Online Express. Similar to what we saw with batches, NXT donation forms are best for accepting one-time or recurring gifts, while Online Express supports pledges, tribute giving, and collection of custom gift fields. With either option, you can quickly generate an easily embeddable donation form that feeds donations directly into your Raiser's Edge NXT database.

Get Started
10822_CS_Icon_KB.jpg 
Donation Forms in Raiser's Edge NXT
10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpg Basics of Blackbaud Online Express
 Online Express How-To Site

Take it to the NXT Level 
  Donation Forms: Raiser's Raiser's Edge vs. Online Express
10822_CS_Icon_Training_3.jpg  Online Donation Forms*
10822_CS_Icon_Training_3.jpg  Insights and Best Practices for Using New Raiser's Edge NXT Donation Forms
*Some courses have pre-requisites. We highly recommend taking the Fundamentals courses or earning your Fundamentals Certification (the test is free!)

Step 6

Get an Education on Segmentation

Now that you’ve completed the first five steps, you have a pretty good idea of how to enter data into Raiser's Edge NXT… but can you get it back out? Raiser's Edge NXT Lists and Query are two powerful ways of doing just that. Check out these resources to get an education on segmentation in Raiser's Edge NXT.

Get Started
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Basics of Lists
10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpg Basics of Query

Take it to the NXT Level 
Love It or LIST It
Fundamentals-Query (Database View)
Who wore it best? Lists vs. Query

Step 7

Drive Your Fundraising with Better Reporting

To increase the impact on your mission and inform your next steps, it's important to keep your finger on the pulse of your organization's fundraising efforts. Raiser’s Edge NXT offers a multitude of preconfigured and custom reporting options, both in Web View and Database View. Check out the resources below to get started!

Get Started
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Basics of Reporting (Web View)
10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpg Basics of Reports (Database View)

Take it to the NXT Level 
Basics of Data Extraction (Database View)
Actionable Reporting (Database View)*
Fundamentals - Lists and Dashboards (Web View)
Who wore it best? Database View Reports vs. Web View Reporting
Fast Wins with Insight Designer and Report Builder
*Some courses have pre-requisites. We highly recommend taking the Fundamentals courses or earning your Fundamentals Certification (the test is free!)

Step 8

Power Your Marketing and Outreach

Marketing and outreach efforts help you acquire donors, cultivate prospects and volunteers, and invite others to join your organization’s mission. Raiser's Edge NXT enables you to do just this through various channels – mail, email, and social media. Are you making the most of these features to effectively communicate with your constituents?

Get Started
10822_CS_Icon_KB.jpg 
Basics of Mail
10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpg Basics of Email
10822_CS_Icon_Community_2.jpg Basics of Social Posting

Take it to the NXT Level 
Learn more about Email
Learn more about Social Posting
10822_CS_Icon_eLearning_2.jpg Deciding between Online Express and Raiser's Edge NXT Email Marketing
10822_CS_Icon_eLearning_2.jpg Raiser's Edge NXT: Email*
10822_CS_Icon_eLearning_2.jpg Generating Exports*

*Some courses have pre-requisites. We highly recommend taking the Fundamentals courses or earning your Fundamentals Certification (the test is free!)

Step 9

Work Smarter with Workflow Designer

Now that you’re up to speed on emails and actions, the next skill you’ll want in your toolkit is Workflow Designer. Workflow Designer allows you to set up simple workflows to automate processes that you might be managing manually right now – think email automation and moves management. Check out the resources below to dive in!

Get Started
Learn more about Workflows
Automating Actions for Moves Management in Raiser's Edge NXT
Using Workflows to automate emails

Take it to the NXT level
Work Smarter with Workflow Designer
Raiser's Edge NXT Workflows*
*Some courses have pre-requisites. We highly recommend taking the Fundamentals courses or earning your Fundamentals Certification (the test is free!)

Step 10

Advance Your Fundraising with Raiser's Edge NXT Events

Many organizations leverage events to boost their annual fundraising or further engagement with their supporters. Learn more about how Raiser's Edge NXT can support your event and participant tracking needs with these resources below:

Get Started
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Basics of Events
10822_CS_Icon_Success_2.jpgLearn more about Events

Take it to the NXT Level 
Raiser's Edge NXT Basic Events: Making Events Simpler
Raiser's Edge NXT Events*
Raiser's Edge NXT or Online Express Registration Forms: Which one is right for you?
*Some courses have pre-requisites. We highly recommend taking the Fundamentals courses or earning your Fundamentals Certification (the test is free!)
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Congratulations!

You've made it through the new-user guide to getting started with Raiser's Edge NXT. We hope this helped get to know your database better, as well as help you understand where to go when you need help!

What do I do now? 

The Customer Success team offers an on-demand resource library as well as monthly live interactive sessions. We're here to help you continually optimize your workflows and help you tackle the busiest of times with seasonal topics.

Have a Blackbaud University Learn® training subscription? Explore the complete list of Raiser's Edge NXT courses for even more courses. 

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People in 164 countries are raising billions for the causes they care about. See how you can, too!


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Lorem Ipsum

People in 164 countries are raising billions for the causes they care about. See how you can, too!


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Lorem Ipsum

People in 164 countries are raising billions for the causes they care about. See how you can, too!


 
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