Best Practices for Importing Historical Data from Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT

Feathr's integration with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT is forward looking only. This means that only mapped data that is created or changed after the integration is connected will be automatically synced from Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT to Feathr.

To get the most value out of syncing data between both platforms, Feathr strongly recommends a one-time manual import of Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT data into Feathr. Learn more about manual imports here.

This article provides recommendations on best practices for bringing your data over from Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT.

What to do before you export your list from Raiser's Edge NXT:

Focus on data hygiene in Raiser's Edge NXT, to ensure that you're bringing clean and organized contact data into Feathr. This can look like:

• Consolidating duplicates in Raiser's Edge NXT.
• Making sure your constituents have the appropriate primary email selected.
• Confirming you have the necessary solicit codes on constituents.
• Determining how you will handle unsubscribed constituents in Feathr.
  • How to Integrate your Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT Account with Feathr: Subscription Preferences
  • How to Import an Email Opt-Out List
• Deciding which Raiser's Edge NXT fields you need in Feathr.
  • How to Map Your Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT Integration

Most important considerations:

• System Record ID
  • Ensure that you're pulling the System Record ID for your constituents, to map to the External ID field in Feathr. This is a required field, and we recommend double checking that you are indeed using the correct ID.
  • The External ID field in Feathr is how our system identifies unique records. In order to avoid creating duplicates, please do not import anything but the System Record ID to this field.
  • Do not map the Constituent ID to the External ID field in Feathr. This will create duplicates. Please create a custom field in Feathr for your Constituent ID to be mapped to.
• Subscription preferences
  • The 'Requests no email' checkbox in Raiser's Edge NXT does not sync into Feathr. We recommend exporting a list of unsubscribed constituents to import in Feathr as an Opt-Out List.
  • Solicit Codes can be synced into Feathr. Ensure that you have the proper Solicit Codes set up in Raiser's Edge NXT if you plan on using them in Feathr.

Tips for formatting your list:

• Solicit codes for each constituent should be listed in one column, separated by a comma. 
• Additional email addresses should be listed in once column, separated by a comma.