Seeking Guidance on Implementing SMS Functionality in Blackbaud CRM

Sanjaikumar Senthilkumar

Hi Community,

We’re planning to implement SMS functionality within Blackbaud CRM and are exploring both third-party integration options and the possibility of developing our own custom add-in.

I’d really appreciate any advice, ideas, or shared experiences in the following areas:

Recommended integration methods for SMS in BBCRM (e.g., using existing APIs, custom add-ins, or third-party connectors)

Managing opt-in/opt-out preferences and ensuring compliance (e.g., TCPA, GDPR)

Ideas or feature suggestions for building an in-house SMS add-in for BBCRM

Considerations around security, scalability, message tracking, and delivery reporting

Any existing tools or partner solutions you'd recommend evaluating first

If you've implemented SMS in BBCRM — whether for donor engagement, event reminders, or campaign outreach — I'd love to learn about your approach and any lessons learned

Simon Watson

Hi @Sanjaikumar Senthilkumar

At the Australian National University, we implemented the Blackbaud Pacific SMS feature pack a few months ago, which integrates with the SMS provider Clickatell.

The implementation and setup were straightforward, and the solution has been working well for our needs.

We primarily use it for event-related and donor-related communications.

Sanjaikumar Senthilkumar

Thanks for the response,

We’re planning to implement SMS functionality within Blackbaud CRM and are exploring the possibilities of using Custom APIs and Own APIs and developing our own custom add-in to handle SMS communications.

I’d really appreciate any advice, ideas, or shared experiences related to:

Best practices for implementing SMS in BBCRM via Custom APIs and Own APIs and custom add-ins, especially for managing constituent records in the Asia region.

Managing opt-in/opt-out preferences and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations such as TCPA, GDPR, and any region-specific privacy laws applicable in Asia.

Feature ideas or architectural suggestions for building a scalable and secure in-house SMS add-in tailored for BBCRM, with attention to the nuances of constituent data from Asia.

Considerations for security, scalability, message tracking, and delivery reporting when using custom-developed solutions.

Any lessons learned from those who have implemented SMS in BBCRM specifically using custom integration approaches — for Constitutents in Asia.

If you have any source code examples, sample projects, or documentation related to building SMS integrations or custom add-ins for BBCRM, I would greatly appreciate it.

If you’ve built or integrated SMS functionality into BBCRM via Custom APIs or add-ins, I’d love to hear about your approach