Christopher Keeney
VP, Development
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Raiser’s Edge NXT Keeps Our Donations and Donor Communications Organized

What do you like best about the product?

Raiser's Edge NXT is our fundraising database to keep track of donations, donor communications and more.

What do you dislike about the product?

Their shift from database to web view is not going as easily as it could be.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

It helps us to manage all fundraising operations for our organization.

Kristen Bedard
Database Manager

We moved to Raiser's Edge NXT because we wanted an all-in-one solution for our CRM, volunteer management, email communications, and donations. That's what led us to choose Blackbaud.

State University of New York Brockport

Having everything under one umbrella has been a game changer. What used to take days of manual work now flows automatically between systems, saving time and cutting down on errors.

John Sapienza
Director, Finance and Advancement Services
Kate Sembor
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Intuitive, User-Friendly, and Visually Appealing Experience

What do you like best about the product?

It is very intuitive and user friendly, with visually appealing screens. The performance is usually good. All of the information you need is in the knowledgebase and it is easy to train new staff. It is the best CRM for philanthropy so the price is worth whilo.e

What do you dislike about the product?

Not all of the items are the same as in database view, and not all of the same functionalities are available in NXT that I am used to having access in database view. Sometimes NXT will not load as it is online. And, at times it is hard to get ahold of someone in person for questions on my account.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

Prospect insights is helping to evaluate our prospect pools, and be more strategic in planning our gift conversations. We are also looking into how NXT can integrate with a grateful patient program. Workflows help to automate many of the items we would spend more time on, and as a manager, I can easily see what my team is up to.

Magdalena Arteaga
Digital Marketing Manager

We’ve been using the donor cover option in Luminate Online, and it’s making a real impact. Thanks to donors choosing to cover processing fees, we’re on track to save between $10,000 and $20,000 this fiscal year—funds that can go directly toward the Priests of the Sacred Heart missions. Right now, that’s translating to about $2,000 to $3,000 in savings each month as more donors check the box.

Aileen Parker
Chief Development Officer

Salesforce has those products that sit on top of the CRM, but Raiser's Edge NXT doesn't need that—everything you need is already included.

Kelly Lavelle
Philanthropy Officer/Grateful Patient Program

Chat for Blackbaud AI in Raiser's Edge NXT has been really helpful, especially when I’m picking up portfolios that have been transitioned to me and I have to reintroduce myself. I keep the donor record open and use the AI chat to pull in talking points, which makes those conversations feel more natural and relevant. And if I get a question I’m not sure how to answer, I can quickly type it into the chat and it gives me something to work with right away.

Allison Parker
Director, Development and Communications

We tried moving to Network for Good a couple years ago, but it was oversold. We quickly switched back because Blackbaud is much better and more in line with what we need.

Jordan Gershon
Manager, Corporate Giving & CSR

The one thing we were really missing with our prior vendor that we're now getting from Blackbaud is customer service—understanding our programs, helping us better use the software, and making recommendations so we can leverage the system more effectively. That's been game changing for us.

Forest Park Forever

We created a specific tornado recovery fund, and we saw both new and long-time supporters stepping up with gifts of every size. If the giving experience is simple and clear, donors feel good about their gift and are more likely to keep supporting us. Raiser’s Edge NXT helps us do just that.

Ashley Budde
Stacie Barrow
Director, Development

In Bloomerang, running reports the way we wanted just wasn't possible—I had to do a lot of things manually. In Raiser's Edge NXT, I can run detailed reports by categories like grandparents or alumni, whereas in Bloomerang I had to manually go through Excel. Their reports are very stagnant and you can't do queries.

Samantha Siliceo

We were on DonorPerfect before, so moving to Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT has been quite an upgrade. Our reporting abilities and tracking have been much improved, which we really love.

Cortney Moore
Donor Relations Manager

The Agent for Good experience continues to broaden my understanding of how our team operates. It challenges assumptions, motivates us, and inspires curiosity that ripples into other areas opening the door for connection, collaboration, and visionary conversations.

Elisheva Mayerhoff
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Streamlined Donor Management, Needs Event Feature Expansion

What do you like best about the product?

I like that Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT is pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it. It's great for pulling donor reports and updating info when there are changes. It's also helpful for tracking all of our giving throughout the fiscal year and knowing who our donors are and their relationship to our organization. The initial setup was fairly easy too.

What do you dislike about the product?

I wish the event software was more expansive and would work for our annual gala dinner, but it doesn't offer a mobile auction option.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

I use Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT to process donations and maintain an up-to-date database of our constituents. It helps us track giving throughout the fiscal year and understand donor relationships.

Lesley Mutschke
Manager, Fund Development and Donor Relations

The reason I chose Blackbaud is because I'm a solo fundraiser and I wanted all the automation it offered. We looked at Bloomerang, etapestry, and other tools, but they didn't have a lot of what NXT had. I needed a system that could do things for me like automated emails, had a third party fundraising system that is connected, and other automated options.

Mark Turner
Senior Director, Advancement Services

We use the Blackbaud AI chatbot for certain records. You can say, 'Hey, give me a quick financial summary of this person's record before I step into a meeting,' and it will provide you with that information.

Nacho Gonzalez
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Streamlined Scholarship Management with Clear, Transparent Tracking

What do you like best about the product?

Blackbaud Award Management has improved how our team handles scholarship applications and award tracking. The system keeps student information, eligibility requirements, and funding details connected, making it easier to manage multiple programs at the same time.The platform also supports transparency by clearly showing application status and review progress, which helps staff stay aligned throughout each award cycle.

What do you dislike about the product?

Some tools are not immediately intuitive, especially for users who are new to the platform. It takes time to learn where certain features are located and how to use them efficiently. Reporting meets most operational needs but could benefit from more advanced customization options.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

Previously, scholarship administration depended on manual tracking and separate systems. Blackbaud Award Management has consolidated these workflows into one platform, improving data accuracy and reducing administrative workload.This has shortened review timelines, improved communication among staff, and provided students with a more consistent application experience.

Samantha Milton
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clear, Centralized Scholarship Management That Keeps Teams Aligned

What do you like best about the product?

Blackbaud Award Management provides a clear and organized approach to handling scholarship applications and awards. The platform keeps student profiles, funding requirements, and reviewer inputs aligned, which helps our team manage multiple programs without losing track of important details.The centralized system also improves collaboration by allowing staff members to work from the same data set throughout the review and selection process.

What do you dislike about the product?

Some areas of the platform require practice before they become easy to use. New users may need guidance to understand advanced features, and certain workflows could be simplified. Reporting tools are dependable but could offer more visual and customization options.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

The platform has replaced fragmented processes and manual record-keeping with a unified digital system. This has reduced administrative workload and improved data consistency across award cycles.As a result, reviews are completed more efficiently, oversight has improved, and students benefit from a more organized application experience.

Bill Webb
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Centralized Scholarship Management with Real-Time Tracking and Clearer Workflows

What do you like best about the product?

Blackbaud Award Management has made it easier for our team to organize and manage scholarship activities in one centralized environment. The platform connects student applications, award conditions, and funding information, which helps reduce manual follow-ups and improves overall workflow clarity.The ability to monitor application status and award progress in real time supports better coordination and ensures deadlines are met more consistently.

What do you dislike about the product?

There is a learning curve, particularly for users who are new to scholarship management systems. Some tools are not immediately visible, and certain processes require additional steps. Reporting features are reliable but would benefit from more advanced customization options.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

spreadsheets and email-based communication. Blackbaud Award Management has unified these workflows into a single platform, reducing errors and improving record accuracy.This has led to faster evaluations, improved fund oversight, and a smoother experience for both staff and applicants.

Michelle Johnn
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

NXT’s Intuitive, Easy-to-Navigate Accounting Experience

What do you like best about the product?

NXT is very intuitive; it practically takes you where you need to be and it's incredibly easy to find what you need. The system makes sense; if you understand accounting, you can understand NXT.

What do you dislike about the product?

Completely dislike two things. (maybe three) First is the Approve/Validate/Post process for journal entries. After you do the entry, it's two more clicks to get the entry to post. Next is the option to 'allow journal entries without updating the cash account' which is strange (if I update cash, update the register at the same time); but I don't understand the concept of reconciling 'register' to 'cash account'. Likely just me....

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

The Raiser's Edge to Financial Edge connection is beyond helpful! Much stronger internal control, the check is entered once and flows thru both systems. Before Blackbaud, we were entering the check twice; once in Donor Perfect, and once in QuickBooks. Now the check comes thru Development, and automatically updates Financial Edge.

Andrej Murnik
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Organized, Reliable Scholarship Management That Keeps Everything in One Place

What do you like best about the product?

Blackbaud Award Management has helped our organization manage scholarship programs in a more organized and reliable way. The platform brings together student applications, award guidelines, and funding details, making it easier to follow each step of the process from start to finish.Having all relevant information in one place improves collaboration among team members and reduces the risk of missing important details during reviews.

What do you dislike about the product?

Some parts of the system require time to learn, especially for users who are not familiar with similar platforms. Certain tools are not immediately obvious, and additional guidance or built-in tips would improve the user experience. Reporting works well for standard tasks but could be more customizable.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

Before using this platform, scholarship administration depended on manual tracking and separate systems. Blackbaud Award Management has unified these processes, resulting in better data management and fewer administrative challenges.This has improved turnaround time for awards, increased transparency, and provided students with a more consistent application process.

Steven Miller
EVP, Finance

The number one attribute that Raiser's Edge NXT has over everybody else is the incredible customer service. I love that every two weeks or so, we have this meeting with our Advisory+ consultant where she gives us updates and helps us through challenges. The value of that support is tremendous.

Andrew Wynings

At a lot of places I've been, they use Salesforce because they get it for free, but I tell them they're getting what they pay for—something that doesn't actually do what we want. Raiser's Edge NXT does what we need.

Jordi Parera Pi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Centralizes Scholarship Management with Powerful Student-to-Award Matching

What do you like best about the product?

Blackbaud Award Management excels at centralizing complex scholarship and award processes into a single, well-structured platform. Managing applications, eligibility criteria, donor intent, and award decisions all in one place significantly reduces manual work and eliminates the need for spreadsheets or disconnected systems.One of the strongest features is the student-to-award matching functionality. It allows staff to confidently identify eligible recipients based on defined criteria, ensuring awards align with donor intent while maintaining consistency and fairness.

What do you dislike about the product?

While the system is robust, there is a noticeable learning curve, especially for new users. Many powerful features are not immediately intuitive and require training or hands-on experience to fully leverage.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

Blackbaud Award Management replaces fragmented scholarship workflows with a single, centralized system that supports the full lifecycle from application through award and reporting. This has reduced administrative burden, minimized errors, and significantly shortened review timelines.