Canada: Who’s using RENXT with Microsoft Power Platform? Peer chat on flows & lessons learned

Chris Channon
Chris Channon
in SKY Developer General Discussions

Hi everyone,

I’m part of a small Canadian nonprofit (Effect Hope), and we’re exploring how Microsoft Power Platform tools, especially Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power BI, can extend Raiser’s Edge NXT in practical, sustainable ways.

We’re particularly interested in how organizations are using the Power Platform to support things like:

  • automated donor journeys (welcome series, monthly donor care)
  • reducing manual reporting through Power BI
  • cross‑team workflows that connect RENXT with other platforms
  • adding lightweight Power Apps without replacing RENXT as the system of record

If your organization has moved in this direction, or is experimenting with any of the above, I’d truly appreciate learning from your experiences. Even a short reply or a pointer would be a real gift.

If you’re open to a quick conversation, please reach out.Thank you for any insights you’re willing to share.

Warmly,

Chris Channon - cchannon@effecthope.org

Effect Hope

Best Answer

  • Alex Wong
    Alex Wong Community All-Star
    Tenth Anniversary Kudos 5 Facilitator 4 bbcon 2025 Attendee Badge
    Answer ✓

    Hi Chris,

    This is an area I’ve been working in. I’ve helped my organization and other clients extend RE NXT using the Power Platform in a number of practical ways, for example:

    • Power Automate – building ETL-style automations that sync RE NXT data into a data warehouse, as well as flows that enforce data governance (e.g., automated data cleanup based on org policies)
    • Power BI – executive fundraising dashboards for leadership, along with more actionable reports like pledge collection tracking and opportunity pipeline management
    • Power Apps – lightweight custom web apps that support organization-specific fundraising operations without replacing RE NXT as the system of record

    All of these can be surfaced directly within the RE NXT environment using SKY Add-ins, so users can stay within a familiar interface while benefiting from extended functionality.

    Happy to share more details on what’s worked well in practice, feel free to reach out to me directly at alex.wong@ffxconsulting.co.

    Best,
    Alex

Answers

  • Crystal Bruce
    Crystal Bruce admin
    Tenth Anniversary Kudos 5 Commented in Discussion First Reply

    Hi @Chris Channon I moved this over to the SKY Developer forum for better, more informed responses. Thanks!

  • Erik Leaver
    Erik Leaver Blackbaud Employee
    Tenth Anniversary Kudos 5 First Reply Name Dropper

    @Chris Channon we have monthly Power Automate & Power BI user groups where we have lots of rich discussions about how orgs are using these tools.

    We also have an upcoming Power Platform training in Toronto.

    Other helpful resources are our documentation (lots of tutorials for specific flows & outcomes), our Power Platform Template library (templates solving problems with the Power Platform that you can import & adapt), the SKY Developer YouTube channel (lots of how-to's) and registration just opened for bbdevdays, our annual developer's conference which always has lots of Power Platform content.

  • Austen Brown
    Austen Brown Community All-Star
    Tenth Anniversary Kudos 5 PowerUp Challenge: Product Update Briefing Feedback Task 3 bbcon 2025 Attendee Badge
    edited March 19

    Hi Chris - My firm builds custom automations for clients in Power Automate, and have had no issue working in these tools for clients located in Canada. Highly recommend reading through the resources Erik provided - especially registering for the associated user groups and the upcoming bbdevdays virtual conference.

    If you get in the weeds and decide building isn't for you, check out AutomateGenius - we'd be more than happy to partner with you on a project like this.

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