The Buzz: March 2024 Edition

Hello Community and Happy March!

It’s not too late to submit a session for bbcon 2024. You still have one week left to apply to share your your real-life experience, successes, and lessons learned. Check out these benefits:

• Complimentary conference pass

• Expand your professional reach

• Help fuel impact and expand your network and influence with change makers like yourself

Want to submit but need some inspiration? Check out the session content ideas on the bbcon call for speakers website! The call for speakers closes Friday, March 15th.

You can also tell us what topics you’d like to hear more about and read what other members are saying in this discussion happening in the bbcon community. Keep an eye out in the coming months for more exciting activities in that community including the 2024 attendee badges, registration details (including early bird) and bbcon Bingo!

Important Update:

Last week, we posted an announcement in Community News about upcoming changes to Blackbaud ID. Please be sure to read the post, which includes details on timing and informational webinars happening this week, to ensure your organization is prepared for any required actions.

March Challenge: Inspiration Station

This month, we are sharing what inspirates us! We encourage you to visit the Organizational Best Practices community and share the names of people who were important to you on your journey, who made a big impact, or simply just inspired you in your life or career. It could be an author, a panelist, or a great presentation you attended! Whatever or whomever inspires you, share it with the community. Everyone who shares what inspires them will receive March’s exclusive badge:

If you are looking for inspiration, you can read the thread or you can always check out our discussion in Just for Fun: Whatcha’ up to?

International Women’s Day:

Blackbaud celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th by elevating the voices of employees who shared how they are inspiring women’s’ inclusion and offered practical steps all of us can take to  #inspireinclusion.. Read what they had to say and share how you are inspiring inclusion in the comments to inspire others!

Community News Kudos:

KUDOS to Christine Roberston for welcoming 988 members in February and Austen Brown for welcoming 560. If you’ve recently joined Blackbaud Community, chances are you’ve seen a friendly welcome from them. The member search page lists our new members first, so you can also welcome new people by clicking on members and saying hi to them!

Alex Wong continues his reign as top responder in the community with 149 replies. Wow! Thank you, Alex, for so generously sharing your time and expertise with your fellow members.

Community Tip of the Month:

Do you know someone who joined recently or are you looking for ways to get started or more involved? You can check out the new member page with five easy steps to get you going.

Blackbaud Products win G2 and TrustRadius Awards

Blackbaud was proud to announce recently that Blackbaud Enrollment Management System was recognized by G2 in its 2024 Best Software Awards, which rank the world’s best software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users. Blackbaud Enrollment Management System was named one of the top 50 best education products.

Additionally, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT and Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT each won a 2024 Most Loved Award from TrustRadius. Award winners were chosen by scoring every review TrustRadius collected in 2023. You can read more about the TrustRadius awards here.

We’re so thankful for all the reviews from our customers that shared how our essential software is helping them have an impact.

Join the AI Revolution:

Artificial intelligence is the topic du jour right now and we have the resources to help you join the AI revolution!

• This great blog post from The Engage Blog™ highlights ways to increase your impact through AI and low code platforms. Inside, you’ll find the top five fundraiser automations to try with Microsoft Power Platform and the low code options proudly offered by Blackbaud.

• Education management professionals can learn how Nick Marchese, director of academic and strategic Technology at Emma Willard School built up his coding skills to leverage Blackbaud’s SKY API to extend the school’s student information system and learning management system in this ENGAGE blog post.

• Developers (and those interested in learning more about how they can be a citizen developer and extend their solutions) should also join the SKY Developer community and get involved with events like bbdev days!

Events:

User Group: Microsoft Power BI Users (Wednesday, March 13th at noon EST)

User Group: Microsoft Power Automate Users (Tuesday, March 19th at noon EST)

User Group: (First ever!) Cincinatti, Ohio area Blackbaud User Group Meeting (Tuesday, April 2nd 10am EST)

Grantmaking webinar: The Road Ahead: The Future of Equity in Grantmaking (Thursday, March 28th at 11am EST)

Product Tour: Introduction to Grantmaking (Thursday, March 14th at 11am EST)

Birthdays:

Happiest of birthdays to all our Pisces and Aries! If you are celebrating a birthday in March, let us know in the comments below and we’ll be sure to wish you a happy birthday!