Get Started: Prepare for Integration

Review how you currently update information in the Raiser’s Edge. For example:

• Are you upgrading from a manual process or another integration tool?

• Which information do you want to integrate?

• What does your fundraising team need to know and why?

• How does your school how to handle important events in the lives of students, family members and faculty?

• Do you want all students to be constituents in your Raiser’s Edge database or only when they become alums?

Remember this plugin sends data one way only. This integration will pull information from your Blackbaud Education Management products database to update your Raiser’s Edge database.

Therefore, it’s important for your Blackbaud Education Management product data to be complete and current. You don’t want to replace good data in the Raiser’s Edge with outdated or incomplete information.

Before you integrate, spot check your data.

1. To do this, manually access corresponding records in each database.

2. Then, compare the records and determine which system contains the most correct and current data.

   If the data in the Raiser’s Edge is better than the data in your Blackbaud Education Management products , you’ll need to update your Blackbaud Education Management product data before you install Connect Raiser’s Edge. To do this, perform a Data Import for all of your 'Blackbaud's Education Management' product users. Refer to Data Import. Also review your data entry and maintenance processes to ensure that your Blackbaud Education Management product data is kept more accurate in the future.

Note: If you currently have integration between the Education Edge and the Raiser’s Edge, then the Raiser’s Edge will use enrollment data from the Education Edge instead of the Blackbaud Education Management products .

Refer to Data Integration for details.

Consider creating a list from Core that includes information that you want to spot check for potential data entry errors (prefix, city, gender, etc) before you use the connector.

We recommend you also consider these common challenges.

• We recommend you use Raiser’s Edge 7.93 or higher.

• If you are not hosted, you must use Internet Explorer when you install the plug-in. (Not Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.)

• You must have Supervisor rights to install and access the Connect Raiser’s Edge integration.

In the event a database restore is required, non-hosted customers should secure a Raiser’s Edge database backup prior to processing Connect Raiser's Edge. In addition, a non-hosted The Raiser’s Edge database must be on version 7.93 or higher.

If applicable, Raiser’s Edge data conversions must be completed before you use the plug-in to process information.

Prior to the implementation date with the Consultant, confirm the Connect Raiser's Edge Plug-in has been installed.

You must have Supervisor rights to install and access the Connect Raiser’s Edge integration.

Update Raiser’s Edge Phone Types to match the Blackbaud Education Management site Phone Types:

• Home

• Home 2

• Email

• CC Email

• Home Fax

• Business Fax

• Business/College

• Wireless

• Webpage

• Personal webpage

• Dorm

• Summer

• Winter

Update Raiser’s EdgeAddress Types to match the Blackbaud Education Management site Address Types:

• Home

• Home 2

• Summer

• Winter

Determine which roles will synchronize from the “Blackbaud's Education Management” site (such as, alums, Students, Parents, Grandparents, Employees).

Determine which constituent codes will be used to categorize each role (alums, Student, Parents, Grandparents, Employee, Faculty/Staff)

• For Parent and Grandparent couples, a “Constituent & Constituent” or “Constituent & Non-Constituent” record may be created in The Raiser’s Edge database.

• For Students, a “Constituent” or “Non-Constituent” record may be created in The Raiser’s Edge database.

• For Alum spouses, a “Constituent or Non-Constituent” record may be created in The Raiser’s Edge database

• For Employee spouses, a “Constituent & Constituent” record will be created in The Raiser’s Edge database.

Determine internally, who will be responsible for checking and processing updates. You must have Supervisor rights to install and access the Connect Raiser’s Edge integration.

Discuss an internal process for managing record updates and the process for syncing records on an ongoing basis.