Thoughts on the NCOA updates?

Question

We run NCOA updates on our constituents four times per year. Recently, we worked with an outside consultant for a data analysis project, and they also processed our file through NCOA. It appears they identified significantly more address updates than we typically see.

Has anyone else experienced discrepancies like this? Does anyone have insight into the accuracy of Blackbaud’s NCOA processing?

Joe Moretti · Answer

Sara is so on the mark with her comment!

Sara Niemiec · Answer

I agree with what everyone has said above. My org uses the NCOA/Address Finder feature, and I greatly appreciate that the updated addresses automatically update on the records, rather than simply getting a massive file back that I'd have to manually import. We're a university with over 200K grads. Shopping around for a similar service may be a good idea; please make sure that you take into consideration how you're going to get the updated data back in there and how much time that will take. Your time is incredibly valuable.

Irene Hui · Answer

We use Blackbaud's AddressFinder's NCOA quarterly.  Additionally, our mail houses run NCOA on our mailing lists that we submit for our individual print jobs such as direct mail, invitations, newsletters, etc.  If a mailing has dropped around the same time as one of BB's NCOA runs - I find that that there is overlap where AddressFinder has already changed the address that the mail house's NCOA change file has returned which confirms accuracy and saves time in changing it in RE.  Using both in tandem is helpful and has kept our donor records current.