MS Do Not Call List

Raney Rogers
Raney Rogers
Fifth Anniversary Facilitator 1
in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT®: General Discussions

Hi all, I am trying to find a way to mark records in our database as being on the MS Do Not Call list. It was provided to us as a text file with over a million (no exaggeration) phone numbers. We were thinking to use a solicit code to mark the records, but first, we need to identify the records based on the phone numbers. Because RE only allows you to paste 500 numbers at a time into a query (One of...), getting all these records marked in RE would take over eight hours of nonstop carpal tunnel-inducing clicking. Also, I am the only one that would be working on this. Any suggestions?

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  • Miki Martin
    Miki Martin Community All-Star
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    Would you be able to convert the file received to Excel or CSV? Then you can export the necessary information from your DB: the Constituent ID and/or Import ID, and phone numbers. You could then do a VLOOKUP between the dump and your information to identify what records would be affected. From there you could use the Constituent ID or Import ID to mark those records with the needed solicit code.

  • JoAnn Strommen
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    I would look at the specs on who the list applies to first. Many do not call lists do not apply to charitable organizations. If you don't fit that criteria, there are also exceptions for those you 'have done business with recently."

    Just something to think about before you mark masses of constituents for no contact.

  • Dariel Dixon
    Dariel Dixon Community All-Star
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    I would do like @Miki Martin stated. The VLOOKUP will allow you to find the phone numbers of the constituents in your database. After creating a query of the Cons IDs impacted, you could do a global change/add (can you globally add a solicit code?) to put the code on the records.

    This may take a lot of time. Even with using SMARTPaste, you may be looking at several thousand records potentially. Is this going to be an recurring process for you @Raney Rogers? This could easily become an unmanageable process if you are not careful.

    What @JoAnn Strommen says is also very true. It really goes without saying that most DNC lists primarily are for commercial businesses, and that non-profit organizations are generally excluded. I would have hoped that you considered that before embarking on such a taxing exercise.

  • Raney Rogers
    Raney Rogers
    Fifth Anniversary Facilitator 1

    Unfortunately, there is a clause in the legislature that specifically added charitable orgs just recently.

  • Raney Rogers
    Raney Rogers
    Fifth Anniversary Facilitator 1

    Excel can only manage a few hundred thousand rows on one sheet and xlookup/vlookup often crashes Excel when dealing with lists of this size. I had to use a file splitter just to get the data into multiple excel sheets.

  • Raney Rogers
    Raney Rogers
    Fifth Anniversary Facilitator 1

    I am now using SmartPaste and I believe it will solve my problem, though, it will take a while.

  • Dariel Dixon
    Dariel Dixon Community All-Star
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    That's terribly unfortunate. I imagine that this will become a difficult process for all NPOs in Mississippi.

    I imagine that the list is terribly large and would choke Excel. Even splitting the files makes the process much more time consuming. I don't know if this is really even a one person process, as I would imagine most charitable organizations don't have the staff to manage this list. I think it's definitely worth letting your colleagues know that you may be busy for a while.

  • JoAnn Strommen
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    Raney Rogers‍ Is that for orgs located in MS? Any org calling constituents in MS? Or federal for all states?


    Looked to see where you are located but no info on your profile.
  • Faith Murray
    Faith Murray Community All-Star
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    I am curious – does this Do Not Call requirement regulate ALL phone calls, or just bulk/machinated calls? I had not heard about this before for nonprofits, at least as far as phone numbers already existing in your database – those you have “previous business” with. I would imagine any good phone append service should do this filtering for you, before sending new phone number appends your way.

  • JoAnn Strommen
    JoAnn Strommen Community All-Star
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    Update for our MS calls...

    I contacted the company that we work with for our phone-a-thon. He said that the legislation took place in 2019 and since then they have removed all MS records from the calling pool.


    I'm always asking too many questions but didn't go into it with him if the law just relates to residents of MS or applies to all #s with MS area codes.


    How's the search going Raney Rogers‍ ? Was wondering if it would be easier to export your MS or all db phone #s (and constituent ID) to Excel and do a search for duplicates against the provided list. ?? Just thinking.

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