Pulling lists and updating constituent data, and updating information in Raiser's Edge is now even more efficient!  While admins can pull data from Raiser's Edge independently with minimal effort, they still need to pull lists every time they want to pull constituent data, which requires them to keep moving between Almabase and RE. As we continuously make the database processes more efficient, we want to simplify how you create new records, pull  lists, and fix errors seamlessly.
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And that’s precisely what we’ve done with our latest auto-pull feature!

Dive in to find out more.

Add New Constituents Automatically with RE Lists or RE-Query

The auto-pull feature lets you set up and update RE lists and queries through multiple one-time and auto-recurring pulls, simultaneously. If a new profile or record is added to RENXT, the recurring pull will automatically add new information from RENXT to the directory, improving data accuracy. Admins can save time by setting up daily, weekly, or monthly auto-pulls.

‍Note: Recurring pulls allow admins to add only new constituent information without updating existing records, as the sync system handles updates. For bulk updates, administrators should create a separate one-time pull session with the recurring pull option disabled.

Pull email lists using RE list or RE-query and keep them fresh ‍

The new auto-pull feature streamlines email list management on Almabase. With the auto-pull update, admins can pull constituent data for email lists. For example, if you establish a daily pull for a list with 100 records on RENXT, any changes—such as adding or removing records—will be automatically reflected in your Almabase list. This means new records will be created for constituents not already on Almabase, and existing records will be updated accordingly.

Note: Almabase will periodically pull data from the RE list or RE query, and depending upon the type of configuration, it will add/remove constituents from the email group or list of records on Almabase.

Easily spot any errors and fix them seamlessly

The new sync data dashboard lets you set up and manage: set upone-time or recurring and view historical pulls, all in a single dashboard. If there are any errors in constituent records or email lists, you can fix them directly within the same dashboard by clicking on the "Fix errors" button, eliminating the need to switch different tabs on Almabase or RENXT.
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Our latest auto-pull feature is available starting today.

If you’re an Almabase customer, simply log into the platform's database settings to create your first auto-pull session.

If you’re not an Almabase customer, click here to learn more about our industry-leading integration with Raiser’s Edge NXT.

It can be terribly hard to keep data sane and organized, and even more so when your team’s working with different platforms to store constituent data.

Moving things across several platforms can be a daunting task, but we’ve got you covered. If your institution uses Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT to store constituent data, Almabase’s state-of-the-art integration with RE NXT makes data management a breeze. The integration works right out of the box, and with a push of a button, you can have your data flow seamlessly between Almabase and RE NXT.

Read how Northwestern Health Sciences University leverages Almabase & Raiser's Edge integration for their engagement and fundraising needs.

Here’s everything you need to know about Almabase’s integration with RE NXT.

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Almabase <> Raiser’s Edge NXT Integration Overview

We started working on this integration with a simple goal – to ensure that your team won’t have to spend resources (and their time) on an expensive third-party solution. That’s why our integration works right out of the box, without the need to set it up manually. With the integration, Almabase and RE NXT can sync multiple data points with the push of a button. What’s more, the data that flows between the platforms is going to be clean and structured, without the hindrance of duplicates. This means that there will be zero compromise on the quality of your data when it flows between systems, which is a huge plus for your IT team.  

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We’ve approached our integration to sync data based on three distinct fields, which are:

• Constituent data
• Event data
• Gift data
  

Each of these fields relates to an engagement touchpoint that a constituent might create through different channels. For instance, imagine an alum makes a gift to one of your campaigns, or another registers to and participates in your next event. All of these data-points will be captured and relayed back to RE NXT through the integration.

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👥How Constituent data stays in sync on Almabase and RE NXT

With Almabase, your alumni have the option to sign up using social sync (either through LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google). By using social sync to sign up, the platform automatically pulls the latest information of your constituent. This information will be fed back to RE NXT, where their records will be updated. Here’s a look at the data that gets collected and updated:

• Full name
• Email ID
• Phone number
• Address
• Profile picture

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However, that’s not all. Any time a constituent updates their information while registering for, or participating in an event, the updated information automatically flows back to their record on RE NXT. All of this magic happens behind the scenes, without you or a team member having to lift a finger. This can be a huge time-saver for Advancement Services professionals.

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🎟️How event data flows between Almabase and RE NXT

Every time you create an event page on Almabase, the integration syncs key data points of this event (event name, date, description, ticketing details, and so on) with RE NXT. This means that all events created on Almabase will also be reflected in your RE NXT database.

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Once an event page is live and open for registrations, you can go to the corresponding event page on RE NXT to view detailed participant information. Here are a few key details that get recorded on RE NXT as soon as your constituent completes their registration:

• Participant information
• Ticketing information
• Payments made for registration
• Accompanying guests
• Associated gifts made for the event

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You can always create custom workflows to dictate how the data should flow back to RE NXT, and which fields they should correspond to. You also have a whole host of options when it comes to printing receipts. All of these features take the stress out of events for your event managers!

💰How Gift data flows between Almabase and RE NXT

Every time a constituent pledges a gift to your giving campaign on Almabase, the data associated with each gift will be reflected on our versatile gift dashboard. Payments made on Almabase can be split into gift amount and services/tickets to accommodate any downstream processes as well. From the dashboard, you have the option of creating a batch of gifts, using a broad set of data filters. Once you’ve created a batch, you can run a workflow to import all the gifts corresponding to that batch into RE NXT. Here are some of the data points that get synced:

• Gift amount
• Fund(s) supported
• Payment method
• Acknowledgement letters
• Tributes and honor messages

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Creating a batch of gifts on Almabase is simple, as you have plenty of filters at your disposal. Once gift data flows to your RE NXT database, you can view all your gifts, and even make edits to gift details wherever needed. This can help professionals working with Annual Fund and Major Gifts to plan more effective campaigns and raise more funds.

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So there you have it – an overview of Almabase’s best-in-class integration with Raiser’s Edge NXT. While we tried to cover most of how the integration works, there’s still a lot we couldn’t fit into this blog post, for obvious reasons.

If you want to learn more about how the integration can help set your Advancement Team up for success, we have a blog post just for that.

Get in touch with one of our Alumni Success specialists if you want to see the integration in action - we have a feeling you’re going to like what you see!

“Are we really doing well compared to our peers and industry benchmarks?” is a question that keeps many advancement professionals guessing. In an industry where performance can be highly variable and context-specific, having a benchmark to compare your performance to industry standards isn't just useful—it's essential.

Understanding where you stand relative to similar institutions can provide crucial insights and drive strategic improvements. That's why we've updated and revised our program reports, designed to give you a clear, actionable picture of your program's effectiveness and your standing in the broader landscape.

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Benchmark your progress with peer institutions for continuous improvement

These monthly reports go beyond simple round-offs of your community engagement. Leveraging AI-driven engagement data from peer institutions, we add peer comparisons to these reports, letting you see how your engagement strategies stack up against those of institutions facing similar challenges and opportunities. This helps you better understand your program's position within the broader landscape. These comparative insights are based on two key factors:

• Institution Type: Whether you’re a large state university, a focused college, or a nurturing high school, we tailor reports to include industry benchmarks relevant to your specific educational sector.
• Contactable Record Size: Do you have a unique number of contactable alumni who don't neatly fit into a pre-defined category? You'll receive reports on your program's performance from the previous month, ensuring data-driven decisions specific to your alumni base

Monthly ROI snapshots of your digital engagement programs delivered to your inbox

The new program reports, delivered straight to your inbox each month, will provide insights into your program performance and a clear comparison of overall engagement activity against the previous month. This means you can see precisely what's resonating with your alumni and what areas might need fine-tuning—all within a single, easy-to-digest format.

These fine-tuned reports provide detailed performance insights for individual programs, helping you tailor your approach to various alumni groups and segment your strategy more effectively.

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Scale community engagement with smart, automated tools

To ensure you're continually improving engagement, our platform also supports several automation tools. These tools can help you maintain consistent communication across directories, networking, recommendations, and email newsletters, making it easier to reach and engage your audience effectively. With these insights and tools at your disposal, you not only keep pace with your peers but also set the standard in scaling alumni engagement.

The new updates on program reports are available starting this month

If you’re an Almabase customer, you will receive these reports at the start of every month now!