Blackbaud not showing as Connector option in Power BI Desktop

Abbie Joyce

I've followed all previous steps in the installation and setup of the Connector and have the .mez file in the correct Power BI Desktop > Custom Connectors folder (and I've connected the application to my Raiser's Edge account). However, when I select Get Data and follow those steps in Power BI Desktop, Blackbaud is not an option.

Has anyone else struggled with this and is there a solution? Thank you!

Matt Thacker

Hey @Abbie Joyce, you need to turn on the feature that allows uncertified connectors within Power BI. If you go to File > Options and Settings > Security

You want to change the Data Extension field to allow any extension. Once you hit OK, close Power BI and reopen and you should be good to go!

Abbie Joyce

Thank you!

Evan Webb

I am still unable to get this to work. I have installed Power BI Desktop, set up the Blackbaud app, have the Blackbaud.mez file in Documents/Power BI Desktop/Custom Connectors and have adjusted the security settings. But I cannot find Blackbaud in the Get Data section. I had to create both the Power BI Desktop folder and the Custom Connectors folder as these did not exist. Can anyone provide guidance? Thank you.

Matt Thacker

Hey @Evan Webb, did you connect your application in the Marketplace for your RE environment?

Evan Webb

Yes, the Power Platform app is connected in RE NXT. And I have set up the Sky App & have the keys set in the files in Blackbaud.mez.

Matt Thacker

This is a separate app. Once you've created the app in the SKY Developer platform for the BI Connector, you need to add that application to your Marketplace as well.

Evan Webb

Edit: I have fixed this. My issue was when creating the “mez” file, I zipped the folder, rather than the contents of the folder.

Hallie Guiseppe

@Evan I was having the same issue. I realized I named the folder in Power BI Desktop “Custom Connections” instead of “Custom Connectors”. Once I fixed that, it appeared in my PowerBi Desktop get data search. You may want to double check your folder names.

Kim Wolcott

@Evan Webb
I am stuck here as well…