bbcon 2025 - Is the investment worthwhile?

BrieAnna Clothier

Hello,

I've been working in RENXT for 3.5 years now with the nonprofit I am employed at. I'm considering attending bbcon this fall for the first time.

Before I purchase the tickets I wanted to get opinions on the best takeaways and/or recommendations for this. Its obviously a huge investment. Not only for the pass to attend, but the flights, etc.

I saw posts from previous years asking similar questions and noticed that bbcon is mostly a marketing and sales pitch. We do not plan to change/add anything from what we currently have invested as far as Blackbaud products go. We are already heavily invested with them and have been using their services for multiple decades, if what I'm told is correct.

I'm more so interested in learning how to get the most out of RENXT, becoming more proficient with it. I've done a ton of training within BB University but still find sometimes my reporting does not seem accurate. I use both database view and web view. I find web view seems more accurate.

With all that being said, is bbcon worth it? Should I purchase the $525 pre-conference workshop pass to go with it? Do we know what is being taught at the workshop? I know some have found the networking aspect very helpful. Can you explain how those relationships made have helped aside from just making friends? Keep in mind I'm rather introverted so starting conversations with strangers does not come naturally to me. If I go, hopefully you all will start the conversations with me first. ?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Dariel Dixon

@BrieAnna Clothier I think it really depends on how much you make of it. bbcon excels at allowing you to meet and talk with people who have similar experiences as you. The presentations are well done without question, but the engagement is the best part for me. Getting to talk to people and get in depth solutions to problems is the best time. However, if you plan on just going to the sessions and going back to your room, it might not be the best use of resources to me. You don't have to worry too much about being introverted as that description applies to A LOT of people there.

I'll say this. The individuals I've met at bbcon were instrumental to me for a variety of reasons. Some were able to give me encouragement through troubling times, some were able to give different perspectives on an issue that allowed me to come up with innovative solutions, and some were helpful in my career path. bbcon is good for the training, but the networking is excellent.

The pre-conferences can be helpful as they are usually not as populated and you can learn the material and more about the other people around you. If you have the budget to go, you should try it, even if you determine it isn't for you.

BrieAnna Clothier

@Dariel Dixon
Thank you for the response. I really appreciate your perspective.

Hallie Guiseppe

Hi @BrieAnna Clothier

I completely understand your hesitation, attending BBCON is an investment of both time and resources. Based on your goal of getting more out of RENXT, I do think it can be a very worthwhile experience.

While there are some sessions that lean toward marketing, you can easily focus your time on the peer-led sessions presented by experienced Blackbaud users. Speakers like @Dan Snyder, @Austen Brown @Alex Wong, @Shelby Lewis, @Elizabeth Johnson, @Victoria Wong, @Carlene Johnson, and many others share real, hands-on strategies for using the tools you already have. These sessions are practical, relatable, and often include takeaways you can implement right away.

You also mentioned that networking doesn't come naturally, please know you're not alone. Many of us in this community are introverts too, and we’ve found low-pressure ways to connect that work for us. Try introducing yourself to a presenter after a session if something they shared resonated with you, or follow up with a LinkedIn message or email afterward. You’d be surprised how many long-lasting professional relationships begin with a simple, “I loved your session and would love to learn more.”

BBCON itself can feel overwhelming, but the real magic happens after the conference—when you’ve built a network of peers you can call on when you run into a challenge, need fresh ideas, or just want to sanity-check something. I’ve found that these relationships have been as valuable as the sessions themselves. They're not just connections, they become your go-to people, your cheerleaders, and your best resources.

So yes, even as an introvert—and especially as someone looking to grow with RENXT, BBCON is absolutely worth it.

Feel free to reach out if you do decide to attend—I’d be happy to say hi first ?

BrieAnna Clothier

@Hallie Guiseppe
Awesome, I appreciate it!

Austen Brown

@BrieAnna Clothier - Check out this blog I wrote about previous bbcon experiences and why I will always attend the conference. Like other commentors, my top take-away is the networking - like Hallie, the connections I've made bbcon have informed my career, a peer group I can rely on for support and a safe space to explore ideas.

Other take-aways include access to Blackbaud staff, being able to engage directly with presenters and product experts, early access to where products are heading and meeting Blackbaud partners.

PS - I am an introvert, as Dariel mentioned it's very common in our world. Conferences can be a lot and social burnout is a real. @Amy Barker wrote a blog last year on tips/tricks to make a conference the best it can be, recommend reading as well.

BrieAnna Clothier

Thanks, @Austen Brown. I'll read those and will likely attend if budget is approved for it. ?

BrieAnna Clothier

@Austen Brown and @Hallie Guiseppe - Do either of you know what is being taught at the pre conference workshop?

Carlene Johnson

@Hallie Guiseppe:

BBCON itself can feel overwhelming, but the real magic happens after the conference—when you’ve built a network of peers you can call on when you run into a challenge, need fresh ideas, or just want to sanity-check something. I’ve found that these relationships have been as valuable as the sessions themselves. They're not just connections, they become your go-to people, your cheerleaders, and your best resources.

All of what you said, Hallie, is important and I particularly appreciate this piece!

Dariel Dixon

@BrieAnna Clothier: I don't think they've been announced yet. If you're interested, I'd suggest making plans to go now, and you can pull them back if you don't find anything worthwhile. I think they usually offer a new user precon if I remember correctly…

@Austen Brown and @Hallie Guiseppe - Do either of you know what is being taught at the pre conference workshop?

Austen Brown

@BrieAnna Clothier - That likely won't be announced until closer to the Conference. If you're interested in automation or Power BI, there is usually a session for these. I haven't taken a pre-conference class in a number of years but I'm hoping someone that has taken a pre-bbcon workshop recently can chime in.

Christine Robertson

@BrieAnna Clothier Every bbcon that I've attended has been different (I started attending in 2014 and have managed to attend every year since either in person or virtually). Much of what I find useful happens in the conversations that pop up at lunch tables or in chats after particularly interesting sessions. Now that I'm an exhibitor, I don't make it to nearly as many sessions as I used to, but I love getting to pick the brains of people developing third party tools, hearing real use case scenarios from those in the trenches and learning about new marketplace apps, etc.

Hallie Guiseppe

@BrieAnna Clothier
The workshops are listed on the BBCON website.

I am looking forward to the Microsoft workshops as recommended by @Carlene Johnson and if you are interested in leveraging automation, I highly recommend the Power Automate and Power BI Developer workshops.

Dan Snyder

@Hallie Guiseppe:
You also mentioned that networking doesn't come naturally, please know you're not alone. Many of us in this community are introverts too, and we’ve found low-pressure ways to connect that work for us. Try introducing yourself to a presenter after a session if something they shared resonated with you, or follow up with a LinkedIn message or email afterward. You’d be surprised how many long-lasting professional relationships begin with a simple, “I loved your session and would love to learn more.”

BBCON itself can feel overwhelming, but the real magic happens after the conference—when you’ve built a network of peers you can call on when you run into a challenge, need fresh ideas, or just want to sanity-check something. I’ve found that these relationships have been as valuable as the sessions themselves. They're not just connections, they become your go-to people, your cheerleaders, and your best resources.

So yes, even as an introvert—and especially as someone looking to grow with RENXT, BBCON is absolutely worth it.

Can I +1 @Hallie Guiseppe's response here and mention I think @Dariel Dixon expressed a similar sentiment! I first attended in 2017 and feel that there is a correlation between attending that conference and a huge growth in my career. Making those in person connections and then calling on other users when I faced a challenge gave me the confidence I needed to take on new things at work and believe in myself.

As a natural introvert, I would also say that I have become a bbcon extrovert. ?

Kimberly Pierce

@Austen Brown I appreciate these articles. I have been working with Raiser's Edge since 1986 when the company was based in New York (and sent representatives to your location to train) and when it was a DOS program. I'm finding the transition to NXT to be challenging but interesting, and I want to continue to learn and grow.

Lauren Henderson

@BrieAnna Clothier
As many have mentioned, bbcon is about the product content, but also about the face to face interactions with peers, and making contacts who can be a resource, inspiration, validation, network going forward. For me, it is all about the people and relationships I've been fortunate to meet and cultivate. In my experience it has been a wonderfully open environment of learning and friendship, which has enabled my career growth and increased and improved my job performance.

Hannah McKinney

@BrieAnna Clothier I understand the introverted side of it. It can be hard to put yourself in that situation, but I think a lot of people are actually in the same boat. The hardest thing for me to justify it in lean years is actually justifying multiple people from the team attending, maybe we will do a virtual pass for some.

Ashley Petty

@BrieAnna Clothier This is my first year attending but I always find having face to face conversations is beneficial. You can learn so much from others using the same system!

Carol Ewart

@BrieAnna Clothier Although I can't come this year it is definitely worth it and I recommend it!

Allison Reville

@BrieAnna Clothier
I attended my first BBCON last year, and look forward to going back. While a bit overwhelming, it was fun, offered a LOT, and found it wasn't too hard to start conversations with others who were on their own as well.

Emma Baguley-Lockwood

@BrieAnna Clothier Last year I looked at lots of different talks I would have loved to go to if I was able to attend but as I live in England it's a bit expensive to get there.

Amy Barker

@BrieAnna Clothier

I think my favorite thing about going to bbcon is being with such a diverse group of peers who understand you and your daily work! Being able to brainstorm fixes to problems, ask experts really intense questions, and make those connections that serve you well over the years. I have made some lifelong friends and have expanded my professional network so much from going to bbcon!

Carlene Johnson

I can't recommend bbcon highly enough! My career would not be where it is today without it. The connections I've made with other users, consultants, vendors, and BB product developers has made such a difference to me. Some of my best friends and colleagues are connections from bbcon. I talk literally every day to at least one of my connections from bbcon. We talk about everything: product questions and functionality, navigating our careers, troubleshooting data issues, work/life balance, professional and personal accomplishments. I couldn't do my job without having access to their support!

If you are looking to learn tangible skills within specific products like RE-NXT, the university day is totally worth it!

Blackbaud has ribbons/flags to attach to one's badges. They should have one that indicates one is looking to have someone else initiate the conversation!

Ann Fleming

@BrieAnna Clothier If you have never attended or have not attended for a long time, I think it is worth the investment. Other than the sessions, you can meet people at breakfast, lunch, or the social events that might be able to help you with some ideas for your reportings. I would say try it once, you may get really good info out of it!

Sara Niemiec

@BrieAnna Clothier, I went to bbcon for the first time last year. It was…amazing. I'm incredibly introverted and still managed to make friends, especially folks who attended the same sessions I did. When I first checked in, there was a wall of ribbons and one of them (in rainbow!!) said “First Time Attendee” and I put it on my badge with pride. Because of this one ribbon, one other attendee saw it and immediately took me under her wing (shoutout to Angela Finley Hunter and her lovely crew!) I plan to pay this kindness forward and look out for a first-timer every time I go to bbcon in the future.

I planned out my session choices based on what I wanted to improve at my organization, specifically data health and clean-up (my absolute favorite!). The session presenters include their contact info in the slides, so if you're interested in learning more about what they did, you can reach out. Another seasoned attendee I met told me to leave any session I didn't immediately find valuable and go to another one. I brought a notebook with me and took notes at each session. One of them was about switching to automated recurring gifts. I implemented it, and never looked back. If I hadn't gone to this session, I would've never considered it. Other sessions included building a culture of innovation and how to go about making change happen. Power Automate is huge right now, and getting a chance to see examples of successful implementations at other orgs was huge. The sessions, to me, felt like a great source of excitement and inspiration, and a good starting point, like, “ooh, this sounds cool. How can I do this thing?”

bbcon also had a marketplace where you could visit vendors, as well as various sub-departments within blackbaud in general. I was a huge fangirl and spent most of my time saying hello to all of my favorite instructors who staffed the blackbaud university booth. Being able to tell them how much I appreciated their instruction made me so happy.

I hope this helps, and I'd be happy to talk details with you further if you're interested. If you do decide to attend bbcon this year, I'd be happy to say hello to you in-person.

Vincent Catapano

@BrieAnna Clothier I have never attended but I have a great friend who manages the Database and she has raved about the worth of the BBCon program. She has found it to be extremely helpful and although I was hesitant as she is much more advanced than I am she assured me that I would find it helpful and useful as I progress my journey in Blackbaud.

Art Bryman

@BrieAnna Clothier BBCon is a great place to learn what Blackbaud is working on, to meet fellow users, and to learn what the partners have to offer. The best parts are discovering new ways to do things, new online communities to join, and getting away for a few days. If you are in education, the Education conference is coming back separately next year in July - so this is worth considering when planning.

Karen Tuecke

@BrieAnna Clothier Attending Blackbaud’s bbcon offers valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and grow—both professionally and organizationally. With sessions led by industry experts and changemakers, attendees gain insights into the latest strategies and trends in fundraising, data management, and social impact. You’ll also get hands-on training with Blackbaud tools like Raiser’s Edge NXT and Financial Edge, plus sneak peeks at upcoming product features. We use eTapestry and benefit from the product updates, new features and sneak peaks, so it is not just about NXT!

Beyond education, bbcon is a powerful networking space. You’ll connect with peers using similar tools, share ideas, and build relationships that can lead to collaboration and innovation. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, expand your network, or reignite your passion for your mission, bbcon provides the tools and inspiration to help you do more good.

Mary Beth Wells

@BrieAnna Clothier I attended bbcon for the first time last year, and while yes, there is definitely a marketing/sales element to some of the sessions (particularly keynotes and partner booths), I found a lot of value in the practical, user-led sessions—especially the ones focused on RENXT. Some were even led by fellow fundraisers sharing their own workflows, which was super helpful and relatable. I left with a few new tips and tricks that immediately made my day-to-day work more efficient.

I also found that the in-person conversations—whether with Blackbaud staff, session speakers, or other users—helped me troubleshoot a few lingering RENXT challenges that hadn’t been resolved through BB University alone. And as someone who also leans introverted, I get it! But the vibe is very welcoming, and I was surprised by how many quick chats turned into helpful follow-ups weeks later. (And yes—I’ll start the conversation with you if we both go. ?)

As for the pre-conference workshops: it really depends on what’s being offered this year. Last year’s topics varied in usefulness depending on your role. If you’re deep in the database every day and there’s a hands-on RENXT workshop, it might be worth it—but I’d wait to see the session list before deciding.

Happy to chat more if you want to DM—good luck deciding!

M. Hummel

@BrieAnna Clothier bbcon is a huge investment! I was fortunate enough to go a while back and really enjoyed the sessions and learned a lot. It was very beneficial to talk to other RE users and discuss how they use certain features in the database. I am going to attend virtually this year for the first time and interested to see the pros/cons of attending in person compared to virtually.

Amy Dana

One of the best things about bbcon if you're struggling with reporting, is they have product experts on-site. So you can literally take your database to someone and show them what's happening instead of trying to describe it to a chat bot or someone who doesn't actually use the product. And yes, some of the sessions are marketing-y but it's perfectly ok to leave that session and find a new one (I like to look for ones led by users, not BB staff).