Introducing the Planned Communications List Add-in

Lindsey Rix

A first-of-its-kind integration on the Raiser’s Edge NXT ® Communications overview page!

The Communications overview page in Raiser’s Edge NXT now includes support for SKY Add-ins™ and introduces a genuinely innovative feature: SKY Add-ins data extension capability. 

This new capability allows partner applications to seamlessly add their own data alongside Blackbaud’s in a cohesive view. Previously, SKY Add-ins required experiences and data to remain separate from Blackbaud data, but now both can coexist within the same add-in. 

The Planned Communications List Extension Point 

The Planned Communications List extension point uses this new capability. Custom rows can now display alongside standard results. This highly requested feature lets partners add details and actions directly within the native Planned communications tile.  

Your customers will see upcoming communications from your platform alongside native Raiser’s Edge NXT records—date, channel, source, recipient count, and status—all in one place, without switching context. 

What your Add-in Can Surface 

Each partner record in the Planned communications tile can include:  

• Communication: Name or title of the upcoming communication. 
• Date: Scheduled send date. 
• Channel: Delivery channel (email, SMS, direct mail, etc.). 
• Source: Sending tool or application name (your platform or integration identifier). 
• Recipients: Projected recipient count. 
• Status: Current state (scheduled, in progress, sent, etc.). 
• Link: Opens the communication record in your system. 

Why This Matters 

Communications managers spend their day in this tab. By contributing your app’s data to the Planned communications tile, your integration becomes part of their primary workflow—not a separate tool they have to remember to check. It’s the difference between being adjacent to the workflow and being embedded in it. 

How to Build It 

To get started: 

1. Register your application in the SKY Developer Portal. 
2. Create an add-in and select the Planned Communications List extension point. 
3. Configure the endpoint to return your planned communications in the expected format; the host page renders the UI from your response. 

Resources 

• Planned communications list extension point: reference + expected data shape 
• SKY Add-ins documentation: framework overview + configuration guidance 
• SKY Developer Portal: register apps and manage add-ins 

Also New on the Communications Overview Page 

Along with the Planned Communications List extension point, the Communications overview page now supports two familiar add-in types you can start using right away: 

Communications page tile dashboard 

Surface partner metrics, KPIs, or status summaries directly on the Communications overview page. This is the same tile add-in model you’ve used elsewhere in SKY—just a new, high-visibility location. Learn more: Communications tile dashboard extension point docs 

Communications page action 

Add entry points to your workflows from the Communications tab. Users can launch your add-in in context without navigating away from the page. Learn more: Communications page action extension point docs 

Error Handling 

The Communications overview page includes graceful degradation if your add-in fails to load — the native experience remains intact. We still recommend implementing your own error states within your add-in for the cleanest possible partner experience. 

Start Building 

The new Communications extension points for SKY Add-ins are available now. Building something interesting? Share it in the SKY Developer Community—we’d love to see what you create. 

Ben Regier

I'm very intrigued by this! We don't use the Planned Communications page much right now, but it has me thinking about whether there are other lists in RE where it would be helpful for me to be able to add rows from other sources.

Lindsey Rix

@Ben Regier Now that we have this capability, if you think of a list add-in or other add-in type where you want this capability, please submit it as an idea!