Intelligent Tags Overview

Intelligent tags help fundraisers identify which constituents need attention and why by surfacing relevant context across donor activity, engagement, and relationships. Tags appear throughout Raiser’s Edge NXT to support prioritization and informed outreach. Intelligent tags apply only to constituent records and don't appear on relationship records.

Intelligent tags include two types: standard tags and custom tags. Custom tags are a Premium feature. Admins manage both types in Settings, Intelligent tags, using the Standard tags and Custom tags tabs. Making a tag inactive hides it everywhere but does not remove any underlying data.

Types of Intelligent Tags

Standard tags are built-in insights that Raiser's Edge NXT applies automatically when a constituent meets defined criteria, such as giving recently, lapsing in their giving, or registering for an upcoming event. Criteria are defined and maintained by Blackbaud and cannot be customized. Standard tags require no configuration beyond choosing which ones to show in your environment. For detailed descriptions of each tag, see Standard Tag Definitions.

Custom tags let your organization define its own insights using a constituent query or list. After an admin creates a custom tag and selects a data source, the system evaluates that source every night and applies the tag to matching constituents. Custom tags require a Premium subscription and appear in the same places as standard tags.

Where Intelligent Tags Appear

Intelligent tags display in key areas where fundraisers review constituent activity:

  • Constituent records, in the Tags section

  • Constituent lists, including filters, the Tags column, and exports

  • Work Center, including Needs attention and portfolio views

  • Blackbaud AI experiences that use tag visibility to shape recommendations

When multiple tags appear together, they display in a consistent order: priority custom tags first, followed by standard tags, then the remaining custom tags. Tags within each group appear in alphabetical order.

If a tag becomes inactive, it is hidden everywhere. Lists that already reference the tag continue to function until you remove the filter.

Act on a Tag

Select a tag to open a popover with guidance on why it applies and what to do next. From the popover, select Add action to create a follow-up that’s pre-filled with the tag’s context. For standard tags, relevant details from the constituent’s record, such as pledge or gift information, are added to the action’s note, so they’re ready when you reach out. For a complete walkthrough, see Use Intelligent Tags to Move from Signal to Follow-Up.

How Intelligent Tags Are Updated

Intelligent Tags stay current through different update cycles, depending on what changed:

  • Nightly data refresh: Tag results update overnight to reflect changes in your underlying data, such as new gifts, records, or transactions.

  • Configuration updates: Changes you make to the tag’s criteria or settings update in about 15 minutes, so you can quickly see the impact of your edits.

  • Guidance text updates: Changes you make to tag guidance are typically reflected throughout the application within 30 minutes. This includes guidance shown in tag popovers and other experiences that use tag recommendations.

This means you can confidently adjust tag definitions and validate your changes quickly, while knowing the data itself stays aligned with your latest records after the nightly refresh.

How Intelligent Tags Support Fundraising

Intelligent tags surface timely signals to help you focus your fundraising efforts. You can:

  • Identify donors who may need timely outreach

  • Track relationship health and engagement

  • Recognize recent contributions and milestones

  • Understand giving potential and upcoming opportunities

These signals help you prioritize your work and uncover opportunities, but they don’t replace your expertise. Use intelligent tags as guidance to review, not instructions to follow. When a tag appears, review the constituent record, consider the context, and decide the right next step based on your strategy.