Service pack 35

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In Blackbaud CRM, PayPal and Venmo are now available as Payment Methods for use with these Revenue and Application types:

  • Donation

  • Pledge Payment

  • Recurring Gift Payment

  • Event Registrations

  • Membership Dues

  • Grant Award

  • Matching Gift Claim

  • Auction Purchase

  • Donor Challenge Claim

  • Other

These new payment methods are available in one-off Payment Forms, Enhanced Revenue, Membership Dues, and Revenue Update batch types.

To ease reconciliation, review the associated Reference Date and Reference Number fields.

PayPal and Venmo aren't available as payment method types for Treasury Office Deposits or Miscellaneous Payments.

Before PayPal and Venmo can be used as a payment method on transactions, a user with General Ledger access must define the necessary transaction mappings for the new payment methods.

Note: PayPal and Venmo transactions are processed via their Vendor portals. They aren't automatically processes within Blackbaud CRM.

Select PayPal as a Payment Method. View the Reference Date and Reference Number.

Select Venmo as a Payment Method. View the Reference Date and Reference Number.

Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) can now recognize Global Privacy Control from a user's internet browser configuration and application site.

Use this information to comply with US privacy laws.

Use the new option for the CRM Solicit Code to indicate that a constituent has their GPC preference set to true.

  1. Go to Sites & Settings.

  2. Select Parent Site.

  3. Select Settings.

  4. Select General Settings.

  5. Find the new section called General Privacy Control Solicit Code Mapping.

  6. Select which Solicit Code in Blackbaud CRM should correspond to having GPC Enabled.

Select which Solicit Code in BB CRM should be used to indicate a website user has General Privacy Control setting set as True in their internet browser.

You can also search for and select Solicit Code. This is also known as Blackbaud CRM Consent Search.

General Privacy Control Solicit Code Mapping is now in Sites & Settings, Parent Site, Settings Tab, General Settings. It enables you to search for and select the Solicit Code (using Blackbaud CRM Consent Search).

  • If a Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) user is already linked to a constituent in Blackbaud CRM, the GPC Solicit Code is automatically added to their constituent record when they log into BBIS. The Start Date for the GPC Solicit Code is the date they logged in, which enabled the GPC signal to be captured.

  • When a new user registers, the mapped GPC Solicit Code is used in the corresponding Constituent Update Batch that's created. When the batch is committed, is GPC Solicit Code is added to the user's constituent record in Blackbaud CRM.

  • If a user only uses the Website (Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS)) and isn't linked to a constituent record in Blackbaud CRM, then the GPC Solicit Code is added to the user's constituent record in Blackbaud CRM after they make a transaction via the appropriate transactional batch type.

  • If an Anonymous (not logged in) user makes a transaction that leads to the creation of or matches to a constituent record, then the mapped GPC Solicit Code is added to the user's constituent record in Blackbaud CRM via the appropriate transactional batch type.

The User grid in Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) now indicates when GPC is Enabled. You can also Filter based on the values in this new field. Select the checkbox above the grid for GPC Enabled to only show "Yes" results."

Column called GPC Enabled appears at the far right of the Users grid. Above the grid, near the far right, select the checkbox to filter the grid results to only show users who have GPC enabled.

  • For Website users, the GPC Enabled field indicates No until that user logs into Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) from a browser which has GPC Enabled. After they login, the GPC is captured and the value is updated to Yes (true).

  • For CRM linked users, the GPC Enabled field remain blank as this data is stored in Blackbaud CRM.

Note: A back end indicator records the GPC signal state and prevents the GPC Solicit Code from being added again onto a constituent who already has it recorded, where the Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) user is logged in and is already linked with a CRM Constituent.

Tip: For more information, visit Blackbaud's Privacy Resource Center.

We've made a number of enhancements to improve the usability of the Shell Design page.

On the Functional Areas tab, you can now:

  • Search,

    Search the Functional Area tab.

  • select + Columns to choose which columns to show,

    Select which Columns of data to show in the Funcitonal Area tab.

  • Filter based on column data using the option in the column header.

    Filter by column in the Fuctional Area tab.

On the Tasks tab, you can now:

  • Search,

    Search the Tasks tab.

  • select + Columns to choose which columns to show,

  • Filter based on column data using the option in the column header.

    Filter by column in the Tasks tab.

On the Pages tab, you can now:

  • Search,

    Search the Pages tab.

  • select + Columns to choose which columns to show,

  • Filter based on column data using the option in the column header.

    Filter by column in the Pages tab.

On the User-defined Data Lists tab, you can now:

  • Search,

    Search the User-Defined Data Lists tab.

  • select + Columns to choose which columns to show,

  • Filter based on column data using the option in the column header.

    Filter by column in the User-Defined Data Lists tab.

On the User-defined Smart Queries tab, you can now:

  • Search,

  • select + Columns to choose which columns to show,

  • Filter based on column data using the option in the column header.

    Filter by column in the User-Defined Smart Queries tab.

On the Ad-hoc Query Reports tab, you can now Filter based on Name and Description.

Filter by Name and Description in the Ad-Hoc Query Reports tab.

In Fundraiser Performance Management (FPM), the School/Unit Code field can have values with a maximum of 20 characters. This causes SiteIDs from Blackbaud CRM to be truncated when they exceed this limit.

Now, from the Configurations page inFPM, you can configure Site Translations to map long SiteIDs to shorter School/Unit Codes.

When you run the Contact Report Import, the import now checks for School/Unit Codes which are mapped to SiteIDs. If there isn't a mapping, then import checks for School/Unit Code Descriptions that match Site Short Name.

This update reduces exceptions and errors with the Contact Report Import.

To learn more, visit:

Before you begin, complete these prerequisites and review these known limitations:

  • Be on Service Pack 35 or later.

  • Obtain a URL to your Blackbaud CRM installation that is accessible from the internet.

    • Redirects, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Custom SSO (Single Sign On) solutions are not currently supported.

    • For on Premise customers, Blackbaud can't configure or manage your local environment or provide support beyond the scope of the software provided by Blackbaud and defined in our software license or service agreements. Customer environment configurations vary in countless ways and some of them can't be technically accommodated by SKY API. Thus, your particular on premise environment configuration may be incompatible with SKY API.

  • SKY API requests don't come from a set IP range. SKY API doesn't support using an allow list (white list) for IP addresses.

  • Confirm you can make a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) request to Blackbaud CRM.

    • Review the Code Table Example from the Infinity Development Guide.

    • Alternatively, use Postman or a similar tool to create web requests to specific endpoints.

After you complete the prerequisites, you're ready to enable SKY API for your on-premise environment. To do so:

  1. Create a case with Blackbaud Support.

    • Include direct links to each Blackbaud CRM environment which you want to enable SKY API.

      Use this format: https://yoururl.com/applicationroot/webui/webshellpage.aspx?databasename=dbname

    • For each URL, specify the type of environment (production, staging, test, etc.).

  2. Sign up for a Blackbaud ID account.

  3. Create a SKY Developer account.

  4. Enable SKY API in your Blackbaud CRM.

  5. Link your Blackbaud ID user to your Blackbaud CRM application user.

  6. After your support case is complete, you'll receive a response that includes scripts specific to each.

See Enable Sky API for On-Premise Environments

The following updates are available with Service Pack 35 Hot Fix 1.

  • With this release of Blackbaud Internet Solutions, PayPal and Venmo are now payment options in all areas that support Blackbaud Checkout.

  • To increase security for elevated user accounts, we now enforce the unified login experience for all internal Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) users. This means users who manage all or part of your organization's site are now required to log in via Blackbaud CRM.

    Internal users of Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) who aren't yet also Blackbaud CRM users must be:

    • added as Blackbaud CRM users,

    • mapped to their Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS)users,

    • assigned a security role that grants them access to the Web functional area,

    • and have the appropriate Web tasks assigned to them via Blackbaud CRM.

    If you don't assign the Site Administration Task to the user, they'll be unable to access Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS).

    Users who attempt to log in to Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) via their website page or Login.aspx with existing credentials will be denied. Log in via Blackbaud CRM instead.

    The standalone "Supervisor" account for Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) can only be used when mapped to an existing Blackbaud CRM user.

    Note: This change only affects clients hosted by Blackbaud. The log in experience for external supporter users remains unchanged; they'll log in the same way as they previously did

The State of California recently enacted legislation, California Assembly Bill 488 (CA AB 488), which regulates online charitable fundraising in the state. Beginning January 1, 2024, Blackbaud will be prohibited from assisting organizations not in “good standing” in California with making charitable solicitations to and receiving funds from California residents.

Due to California Assembly Bill 488 (CA AB 488), Blackbaud made the following changes:

Note: Any U.S. registered charitable organization that operates or solicits donations in California is subject to this law.

Tip: Blackbaud CRM, Blackbaud Internet Solutions, and Blackbaud Net Community will categorize all transactions as a donation.

See Best practices for California-based donation processing due to Assembly Bill 488.

Tip: Read the online tutorial.

Blackbaud CRM Cloud Portal is a self-service feature offered for Azure customers and is available through SKY and an authorized organization administrator Blackbaud ID (BBID) account.

Note: Blackbaud CRM does not need to use BBID, as long as the organization has an environment administrator with BBID enabled on Blackbaud.com.

This feature provides client control over key tasks including uploading customizations, deploying service packs, and refreshing environments. These tasks can be run on demand or scheduled to be run later. Users can view task history and upcoming jobs.

This is not Service Pack dependent and is available to all Azure-hosted customers regardless of Service Pack level.

It is continuously delivered functionality and will evolve over time.

Available activities at launch:

  • Refresh Database

  • Upgrade Version

  • Deploy CRM Customization

  • Deploy BBIS Customization

  • Deploy BBDW Customization

  • Blackbaud CRM Cloud Portal Page

The CRM Cloud Portal page indicates environment details: Site, Product, Version, and Service Tier. Available actions are displayed along with the history of previously/scheduled run activities.

Columns on the Activities list are:

  • Name: The activity being undertaken.

  • Submitter: Will display as BBID username where the action has been submitted by an Organization Admin and will display as Blackbaud where we have undertaken an action.

  • Status: Pending, Running, Completed, or Failed

  • Submitted At: The date and time an activity was created.

  • Completed At: The date and time an activity was completed.

  • Scheduled For: The date and time an activity was scheduled.

Activities List for Cloud Portal with columns for Name, Submitter, Status, Submitted At, Completed At, and Scheduled For.

Where an activity has been scheduled for a future date/time, the first column will show a Cancel button on the associated row enabling the schedule to be deleted and prevent the activity from running.

Activities

  • Refresh database - This allows non-producon environments to be refreshed. The Source tenant menu will show Production databases that are available for the refresh.

    This activity can be run immediately or scheduled for a future date/time.

    A notification will show on-screen indicating whether the activity request is successful or has failed.

    Note: You can only refresh one environment at a time. If you attempt to run or schedule concurrent refreshes you'll receive an error message.

    If you specify a point-in-time refresh, no new backups will be taken in BBCRM, unless the timestamp is less than two hours in the past. If the timestamp is less than two hours in the past or no timestamp is provided, then a log backup is forced.

    Refresh database button

    Refresh tenant screen. Select Source Tenant and Start Time.

  • Upgrade - This allows for non-producon environments to be upgraded. The Target version menu will show Service Pack versions available.

    This activity can be run immediately or scheduled for a future date/time.

    A notification will show on-screen indicating whether the activity request is successful or has failed.

    Note: You can only upgrade one environment at a time. If you attempt to run or schedule concurrent upgrades you'll receive an error message.

    Upgrade button

    Upgrade tenant screen. Select Target version and Start Time.

  • Deploy customization - This menu permits selection of the Products used by your Organization, to which a customization can be deployed.

    Deploy customization button.

    • Blackbaud CRM - This allows for customization deployment to both non-production and production CRM environments. The Customization ZIP file can be uploaded into the standard supported file structure as indicated in the Information box.

      A warning reminder is shown that some actions may trigger an application pool recycle.

      This activity can be run immediately or scheduled for a future date/time.

      A notification will show on-screen indicating whether the activity request is successful or has failed.

      Deploy CRM Customization screen. Attach a file and select Start Time.

    • Blackbaud Internet Solutions - This allows for customization deployment to both non-production and production BBIS environments. The Customization ZIP file can be uploaded into the standard supported file structure as indicated in the Information box.

      A warning reminder is shown that some actions may trigger an application pool recycle.

      This activity can be run immediately or scheduled for a future date/time.

      A notification will show on-screen indicating whether the activity request is successful or has failed.

      Deploy BBIS Customization screen. Attach a file and select Start Time.

    • Blackbaud Data Warehouse - This allows for customization deployment to both non-production and production BBDW environments. The Customization ZIP file can be uploaded into the standard supported file structure as indicated in the Information box.

      This activity can be run immediately or scheduled for a future date/time.

      A notification will show on-screen indicating whether the activity request is successful or has failed.

      Deploy BBDW Customization screen. Attach a file and select Start Time.

  • Notifications - A simple email will automatically be sent to both the activity requester and to the Blackbaud Team when an Activity has been Started, Completed, or Failed.

    Where a failure has been encountered, the email will advise opening a support ticket for tracking. Our team will already be aware and working to address the issue.

    All emails will contain a link to your Blackbaud CRM Portal page for the environment in question.

This update fixes multiple defects and issues. For details, review the patch notes for service pack 35.