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Introducing Online Constituent Forms: Streamline Data Collection for New and Existing Constituents

Mike Simmons

Consituent Forms are now available in Blackbaud Online Giving for all Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® users in all regions. To learn more about how to build and customize your Constituent Forms and use them with Online Data Review, keep reading. And if you’re a Blackbaud Online Express™ or Blackbaud NetCommunity™ user using email signup forms, this is your path forward for Unified View.

What's new

This new Constituent Form is a “choose your own adventure” form that lets organizations collect additional information to be written to new or existing constituent records. Build and improve your constituent database by using it as:

An email signup form that includes name, email address, and consent options.
A profile update form to collect basic biographical updates without requiring a portal login.
A way to collect volunteer or other interests using custom fields.

Customize and Enhance Your Constituent Forms

Experience the flexibility of our new Constituent Form, featuring an intuitive drag-and-drop designer tool. Effortlessly select which fields you want to include and arrange them exactly how you like. Plus, personalize your form by adding custom text, eye-catching images, bold headers, and sleek dividers—making your data collection both easy and engaging.

Efficient Data Management and Verification with Online Data Review

The new Constituent Form seamlessly integrates with Online data review in Raiser's Edge NXT, making it easier than ever to manage and verify incoming data updates. You will have the same options you have today with Donation Forms—you can choose to automatically process match constituents and process updates, or choose to review them before new records are created or existing records are updated. If you choose to review incoming Constituent Form submissions, your team can efficiently review, approve, and incorporate changes to constituent records—ensuring that your database remains accurate and up-to-date. This streamlined process not only saves time but also reduces errors, empowering your organization to maintain high-quality information and build stronger relationships with your supporters.

Expanding Data Collection: Blackbaud’s Commitment to Versatile Constituent Forms

With the addition of this new Constituent Form in Blackbaud Online Giving, Blackbaud is demonstrating its commitment to expand beyond Donation Forms to include other form types. This strategic enhancement reflects our dedication to providing organizations with versatile tools for data collection and management with direct integration into Raiser’s Edge NXT. With forms that can be customized for email signups, profile updates, interest collection, and more, you’re empowered to gather a broader range of information from supporters. This not only streamlines communication and engagement but also ensures that constituent records are more comprehensive and up-to-date.

Get Started Today

This new Constituent Form is now available in Blackbaud Online Giving for all Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® users in all regions. Visit the Help Center to learn how to get started.

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Comments

Dan Snyder

So far, I really love these forms, but I do wish there were a different review option that allows you to set what to do with changes for an auto matched constituent. Ex. If someone submits a form, they are auto matched to an existing constituent, and the only change is the email. It would be great if we could set what happens (ex. Make the new email primary and have the type be email1, then with the email1 that is on the record, change that type to email2). It is already something that can be selected if you ask to review all changes manually, it would be nice to set those rules because currently I would end up with two emails with the type of email1. Here is an idea to vote for if you agree.

Doug Crane-Bolton

I love having the option to use more forms native to NXT. Are there plans to add any more fields in the future? With our current alumni update form, we also include primary business information and spouse name.

Shaelyn Taylor

Could this be used as a form for internal staff to request updates to constituent information or adding new constituents to the database?

Mike Simmons

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/313697#Comment_313697

Hi @Doug Crane-Bolton Yes, we are listening to feedback on this and considering more fields in future releases.

Mike Simmons

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/313738#Comment_313738

Hi @Shaelyn Taylor Yes, those are both good use cases for this form.

Ryan Hamilton

Are there any sort of protections against bot entries on these forms? I don't see any references to CAPTCHA. I'd love to use this for newsletter signups, but I'm reluctant to create a pipeline for fake constituents.

Mike Simmons

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/314224#Comment_314224

Constituent forms use reCAPTCHA today - it's a hidden/invisible reCAPTCHA type, so most of us that seem human (to a machine) won't even see it. If we seem suspect it will put up the usual pick all cars/etc type of selection to prove a user is real.

Miranda Pierce

These look great, but we will not use them until they have at least business information and flexibility about which phone type is updated, because we want to get URLs from our alumni. And the ability to update as many "phone numbers/types" as we would like.

We also have space for people to enter different names - the name they used when they went to college or a new name they are currently using. I don't think that capability exists for these forms yet.

Shreya Sharma

Is there any way to get list of individuals who fill out the form, through a query or a list so it's easier to see the number of people who filled it out?

Mike Simmons

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/315075#Comment_315075

Hi Miranda,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback—we really appreciate it. We're currently reviewing feedback from this initial release and ensuring all suggestions are captured and considered for future enhancements. If you have others, you can drop them in our Idea Bank.

Regarding collecting names, one option available today is to use custom fields to capture that information. Depending on your needs, this may provide a flexible way to gather the details you're looking for.

Thanks again for your input, and please keep the feedback coming—it helps us continue to improve the experience.

Mike Simmons

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/315151#Comment_315151

Yes—on each form's page in Online Giving, you'll find overall statistics, including the total number of views and submissions. This can be a quick way to track engagement and see how many people have completed the form.

JoAnn Strommen

We are going thru a period of 'update my info' with our alum. The form doesn't yet meet our needs. As mentioned we want employment, spouse, more name fields, phone types (preferred), is address seasonal?…

Essentially all the fields we need to have a robust, accurate database of our alumni.

Mike Simmons

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/315158#Comment_315158

Thank you for the feedback. We will take it into consideration. If you haven't already, you can submit this to our Idea Bank.

Kriste Buck

I would love the option to add volunteer types to the form to collect interest in our different church ministries. Also, would love more bio info (DOB, spouse, and allow us to ask for different phone types). Using the form for newcomers to the church for information and an address update.