Ask an Expert: Your Questions Answered on Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT® Gift Management
Published
Raiser's Edge NXT Principal Product Manager, Anthony Gallo, recently answered community member questions around Gift Management functionality.
Below are the top questions asked. However, you can read all the questions on his Ask an Expert page.
Q: Is ability to adjust gifts on the work plan?
A: Yes, this is currently in the planning process. If you're referring to the Edit > Gift Amount screen (which is somewhat misnamed since it involves more than just amounts), it’s not available for all gifts right now. We need to ensure this functionality is accessible, as it’s where edits like splits, credits, and other adjustments can be made. Additionally, tiles such as the Gift and Marketing Codes tile need editing capabilities, which we are working on. This initiative is reflected on our roadmap under the “Complete single gift workflow,” and we aim to start on it by Q4. However, if you mean adjustments to posted gifts rather than simple edits, those are also in the planning stages but are expected to be part of a later release in 2025.
Q: We don't have many use cases, but we can't find a way to easily apply NXT online giving forms gifts entered through web view gift batch to existing pledges. Do these all have to be applied in database view after posting the batch?
A: We've been rolling out pledge-related features in phases. Initially, we enabled the ability to "add a pledge," followed by enhancements to the pledge payment application process. Next on the roadmap is the integration of pledges from donation forms into batch with automated payments.
The use case you mention—applying one-time gifts to existing pledges—is part of our future plans. We aim to implement this functionality in 2025, though the specific timing (early or late in the year) is still to be determined.
For now, this process can be completed in database view, if needed. We are also working on enabling a one-off option for this process, which will be incorporated into our new batch workflow and released in stages.
Q: We currently use a third-party online platform. When we receive a monthly gift online, we manually add the recurring gift in database view with a gift type of “credit” and a gift code “online” and we are not required to add any credit card information; we are unable to add this recurring gift in web view because we are required to add a credit card number; if we add a credit card number the gift will be processed through Blackbaud Merchant Services, thus double charging; will we be able to add online monthly gifts through web view through a third-party online platform so we don't have to enter credit card information?
A: A flag called “Is manual” was introduced to accommodate third-party API users, allowing them to send in manual, database view non-auto recurring gifts. When this flag is marked, it bypasses the typical fields required for an automated recurring gift in web view.
Q: Will we have the ability in web view to manually add payments on a recurring gift in batch and/or on an individual constituent record? We don't use Blackbaud Merchant Services, but a different donation platform, so all our recurring gifts have to be entered “manually." I am currently able to do it both on a constituent record and in batch in database view. This is very important for us to be able to do in web view.
A: We are actively discussing the long-term approach for handling manual recurring gifts in web view. While it’s unclear if Blackbaud Merchant Services will remain a permanent requirement, the introduction of global direct debit capabilities could address some current challenges. We’re also exploring processes for manual EFT-style processing in web view, which will guide us in addressing similar needs for manual pledge payments. Once these processes are finalized, we’ll be better positioned to provide a definitive answer on workflows for recurring gifts. For now, we’re working on it but don’t have a concrete solution yet.
Q: Many organizations depend on constituent and gift business rules (Database view - Config - Business rules - User defined rules) to pop up with information when adding gifts to a batch. Is this functionality planned for the upcoming grid version of web view gift batches? If so, what is the projected time for it to be available?
A: The planning for business rules and general gift defaults is still in its early stages and is positioned further out in our timeline. We’re working on workflows to notify users about applicable pledges or potential matching gifts, which is a priority and will definitely be included. The outcome of that work will influence the approach we take for implementing other types of notifications when they become available.
Q: Will the ability to add and load default sets be available for Add a Single Gift? Will the standard and user defined business rules be activated in the Add a Single Gift feature?
A: We briefly touched on this in a previous post, but here’s a more focused update regarding defaults. We are in the early planning stages for both gift defaults and gift business rules, specifically for single gift additions. For the new grid view batch, gift defaults will be part of that release.
The plan is to develop defaults functionality in Web View so that when a gift is added via the single gift add form, the fields will auto-populate (or populate through a defined trigger), reducing the effort for larger gift entry workflows. This work is in the early planning phase, with development not expected to start until late 2025. We’ll provide more details during our next round of Product Update Briefings in May.
Q: Is ability to adjust gifts on the work plan?
A: Yes, this is currently in the planning process. If you're referring to the Edit > Gift Amount screen (which is somewhat misnamed since it involves more than just amounts), it’s not available for all gifts right now. We need to ensure this functionality is accessible, as it’s where edits like splits, credits, and other adjustments can be made. Additionally, tiles such as the Gift and Marketing Codes tile need editing capabilities, which we are working on. This initiative is reflected on our roadmap under the “Complete single gift workflow,” and we aim to start on it by Q4. However, if you mean adjustments to posted gifts rather than simple edits, those are also in the planning stages but are expected to be part of a later release in 2025.
Q: We don't have many use cases, but we can't find a way to easily apply NXT online giving forms gifts entered through web view gift batch to existing pledges. Do these all have to be applied in database view after posting the batch?
A: We've been rolling out pledge-related features in phases. Initially, we enabled the ability to "add a pledge," followed by enhancements to the pledge payment application process. Next on the roadmap is the integration of pledges from donation forms into batch with automated payments.
The use case you mention—applying one-time gifts to existing pledges—is part of our future plans. We aim to implement this functionality in 2025, though the specific timing (early or late in the year) is still to be determined.
For now, this process can be completed in database view, if needed. We are also working on enabling a one-off option for this process, which will be incorporated into our new batch workflow and released in stages.
Q: We currently use a third-party online platform. When we receive a monthly gift online, we manually add the recurring gift in database view with a gift type of “credit” and a gift code “online” and we are not required to add any credit card information; we are unable to add this recurring gift in web view because we are required to add a credit card number; if we add a credit card number the gift will be processed through Blackbaud Merchant Services, thus double charging; will we be able to add online monthly gifts through web view through a third-party online platform so we don't have to enter credit card information?
A: A flag called “Is manual” was introduced to accommodate third-party API users, allowing them to send in manual, database view non-auto recurring gifts. When this flag is marked, it bypasses the typical fields required for an automated recurring gift in web view.
Q: Will we have the ability in web view to manually add payments on a recurring gift in batch and/or on an individual constituent record? We don't use Blackbaud Merchant Services, but a different donation platform, so all our recurring gifts have to be entered “manually." I am currently able to do it both on a constituent record and in batch in database view. This is very important for us to be able to do in web view.
A: We are actively discussing the long-term approach for handling manual recurring gifts in web view. While it’s unclear if Blackbaud Merchant Services will remain a permanent requirement, the introduction of global direct debit capabilities could address some current challenges. We’re also exploring processes for manual EFT-style processing in web view, which will guide us in addressing similar needs for manual pledge payments. Once these processes are finalized, we’ll be better positioned to provide a definitive answer on workflows for recurring gifts. For now, we’re working on it but don’t have a concrete solution yet.
Q: Many organizations depend on constituent and gift business rules (Database view - Config - Business rules - User defined rules) to pop up with information when adding gifts to a batch. Is this functionality planned for the upcoming grid version of web view gift batches? If so, what is the projected time for it to be available?
A: The planning for business rules and general gift defaults is still in its early stages and is positioned further out in our timeline. We’re working on workflows to notify users about applicable pledges or potential matching gifts, which is a priority and will definitely be included. The outcome of that work will influence the approach we take for implementing other types of notifications when they become available.
Q: Will the ability to add and load default sets be available for Add a Single Gift? Will the standard and user defined business rules be activated in the Add a Single Gift feature?
A: We briefly touched on this in a previous post, but here’s a more focused update regarding defaults. We are in the early planning stages for both gift defaults and gift business rules, specifically for single gift additions. For the new grid view batch, gift defaults will be part of that release.
The plan is to develop defaults functionality in Web View so that when a gift is added via the single gift add form, the fields will auto-populate (or populate through a defined trigger), reducing the effort for larger gift entry workflows. This work is in the early planning phase, with development not expected to start until late 2025. We’ll provide more details during our next round of Product Update Briefings in May.
News Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT® Blog
01/21/2025 10:00am EST
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