March InsideTrack Recap: A First Look at the Reimagined Experience in Blackbaud Enterprise Fundraising CRM™

Alison Madrigal

In March, I had the pleasure to host the inaugural InsideTrack for Blackbaud CRM—a new monthly series designed to give customers a direct line to our product management team and a clear view into what’s new, what’s next, and why it matters. The March session focused on the reimagined user experience powered by SKY UX.

During the session, attendees got an early look at how the new SKY UX experience is simplifying core workflows, modernizing everyday interactions, and laying the foundation for faster innovation across Blackbaud CRM. Chris Ager, from the Blackbaud CRM Product Management Team, led a walk-through of streamlined layouts designed to make common tasks more intuitive and efficient, helping fundraisers spend less time navigating the system and more time focused on impact.

The discussion also highlighted how SKY UX enables faster delivery of new capabilities—allowing Blackbaud to innovate more quickly while maintaining the depth and flexibility enterprise fundraising teams rely on. Built-in accessibility was a key theme as well, with a focus on designing experiences that help all users work more confidently and productively.

InsideTrack isn’t just about product updates—it’s about transparency and connection. Each session includes live engagement with product experts, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions, share feedback, and better understand how upcoming changes may affect their teams and workflows.

👉 Missed the March session? Catch up anytime with the on-demand recording.

The InsideTrack for Blackbaud CRM Series continues monthly, with each session diving deep into a focused topic—from the Blackbaud CRM Resource Center to upcoming intelligence and innovation. Register once to stay connected to every InsideTrack session and catch up anytime with on-demand recordings.

👉 Register for the upcoming May Product Update Briefing (PUB) to get the latest Blackbaud CRM updates, roadmap insights, and what’s coming next.

InsideTrack Q&A Summary: SKY UX for Blackbaud CRM

Availability & Customer Eligibility Q&A

Q: Who is participating in the SKY UX Early Adopter Program (EAP)?A: The SKY UX EAP currently includes Blackbaud Cloud Operations–hosted customers only. On-premises customers are not part of the EAP at this time, as Blackbaud is taking a phased approach to rollout.

Q: When will SKY UX be available to on-premises customers?

A: As part of our phased roll out plan for SKY UX, Blackbaud is first validating the experience with hosted customers and working through connectivity, firewall, and SKY Services requirements before expanding support. At this point, we are not ready to commit to a specific date or timeline. We will continue to share details and timelines as we ensure the successful roll out to our BCO customer base.

Q: What does “general availability” mean for SKY UX?

A: General availability refers to availability for Blackbaud Cloud Operations-hosted customers, with access controlled by administrators. SKY UX does not automatically appear for users.

Enablement, Control & Adoption Q&A

Q: Will SKY UX automatically turn on after a service pack update?

A: No. While service pack 42 enables the connection to SKY Services, SKY UX must be explicitly enabled by an organization administrator once available to Blackbaud Cloud Operations-hosted customers. Access is granted through security roles in the admin portal.

Q: Can administrators control who sees SKY UX and when?

A: Yes. Admins can assign SKY UX access to specific users and allow them to toggle between classic and SKY UX views. This supports phased adoption and change management.

Q: Will new SKY UX updates be automatically pushed?

A: Early releases will be delivered automatically. Later in the year, Blackbaud plans to introduce controls that allow customers to test and approve new SKY UX features in non-production environments before enabling them in production.

Customization & Configuration Q&A

Q: Will existing Page Designer configurations and custom tabs work in SKY UX?

A: Initial releases will not display Page Designer configuration but support for existing configurations—including custom tabs, subtabs, and user-defined data lists—will be honored in SKY UX automatically. Changes made in classic view will appear immediately in SKY UX.

Q: What about custom tiles and custom UI models?

A: SKY UX will attempt to render existing customizations automatically. Most custom tiles and UI models are expected to work without changes, though highly complex or heavily scripted customizations may require minor adjustments. Blackbaud is using the EAP to identify patterns and provide tooling and documentation.

Q: Will users be able to reorder tabs or personalize layouts?

A: Initially, SKY UX reflects existing classic configurations. Longer term, Blackbaud plans to offer more user-level personalization, including customizable homepages and tailored views.

Functional Coverage & Experience Q&A

Q: How will SKY UX roll out across CRM functional areas?

A: The initial release focuses on constituent records (including interactions and addresses). Additional areas—such as prospect plans, revenue, and events—will be added incrementally throughout the year.

Q: Will switching between released and unreleased areas feel disruptive?

A: No. Only released SKY UX areas will appear in the navigation. As additional areas are enabled, they will be added progressively, minimizing disruption.

Integrations, Reporting & Analytics Q&A

Q: Do third-party integrations work in SKY UX?

A: Many integrations work as-is. For example, BrightVine Data Link is being tested in SKY UX without adjustment. Some tools (such as PaperSave) are not yet supported, and Blackbaud is actively working with partners to expand compatibility.

Q: What is the plan for Power BI and reporting?

A: SKY UX will support embedding Power BI reports directly within Blackbaud CRM, creating a more integrated analytics experience. Support for additional tools like Tableau is also being explored.

AI & Future Innovation Q&A

Q: How does SKY UX support future innovation?

A: For Blackbaud Cloud Operations customers, SKY UX enables upcoming capabilities such as Chat for Blackbaud AI, which allows users to query CRM data using natural language, and Agents for Good™, which aim to automate engagement and extend fundraiser capacity—all while reducing clicks and manual effort.

Explore What’s New—and What’s Next—for Blackbaud CRM

Join the upcoming InsideTrack sessions and Product Update Briefing (PUB) to stay informed on the latest Blackbaud CRM updates, roadmap priorities, and what’s ahead. Hear directly from Product Management and walk away with clear insight to help you plan and move forward with confidence.

👉Register for the April InsideTrack session for a hands-on walkthrough of the Blackbaud CRM Resource Center.

👉Register for the upcoming May Product Update Briefing (PUB) to get the latest Blackbaud CRM updates, roadmap insights, and what’s coming next.