Agenda Builder

Being a "database manager" is a different role—with different responsibilities—than being the fundraising team’s chief power user. It’s not just writing queries, creating reports, and making mailing lists.  It’s long been different than that, with responsibilities for security, system configuration, policy and procedure development, documentation, training, user support, external and internal teams’ liaison, and more.

Come hear our presenter, an experienced Raiser’s Edge consultant, discuss what it means to be a “database manager” in 2025 and beyond. This will include both the ways in which things have remained consistent as we’re moving from the technology of Raiser’s Edge 7—and the database view—to the full web view of Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, as well as the ways the role has evolved as we work with significantly more knowledgeable, more engaged, and more technically capable users.

Bring your questions and share insights from your own experience as well!

Join Blackbaud’s Product Management team for an exclusive preview of the future of financial operations with Financial Edge NXT. In this session, we will examine how Payment Assistant, AP Automation, and Spend Management are changing the way nonprofits and social impact organizations handle their finances. You’ll get an insider's view of the newest innovations aimed at optimizing workflows, minimizing manual tasks, and boosting visibility into organizational spending. Discover how these tools collaborate to:

•    Automate invoice processing and approvals with intelligent workflows.
•    Simplify vendor payments while enhancing security and compliance.
•    Utilize AI-driven insights to track spending patterns and optimize budgets.

Whether you're a finance leader, accountant, or system administrator, this session will offer practical strategies and a forward-thinking perspective on how AI is integrated into Financial Edge NXT to help your organization achieve more with fewer resources. Special Guest: Seth Hurd from Berwick Academy will join us to share his experiences with Payment Assistant.

Do you feel equipped to navigate the shifting landscape of financial aid with confidence? This session will be your financial aid GPS, guiding you through this season’s trends from three vantage points—family applications, school protocols, and FA assessment settings. We’ll chart common themes that emerged from family applications and explore how schools are recalibrating their protocols and deadlines. Join us for a full picture of this season to help you forecast and set coordinates for a successful 2026-2027 financial aid season.

As a school operations leader, there are key concepts to consider before implementing new software at your school. How do you set your team up for success? What are the change management and project management considerations to prepare and make the most of your team's valuable time? Join Jacob Glickman, Jessica Parker and Dr. Brett Scaglione to learn how NSU University School took a proactive approach to their software implementation with Blackbaud.

Discover how embracing the latest payment technologies such as AI and automation can transform your organization. This keynote will cover emerging trends like AI, digital currencies, and contactless payments, showing their potential to boost your operations. Equip yourself with strategic insights and practical tips to effectively utilize Blackbaud Integrated Payments for greater impact.

Join Blackbaud and Microsoft—alongside leaders from The Georgia Tech Foundation, Save the Children, and The University of Arizona Foundation—for a dynamic panel discussion on how AI is transforming enterprise fundraising.
Hear real-world insights from organizations driving social impact and product experts shaping the future of Blackbaud CRM and Microsoft Fabric. Learn how deep intelligence across datasets is unlocking predictive insights, streamlining workflows, and accelerating major giving.

We’ll also explore how agentic AI is powering a more agile, virtual workforce—automating tasks, coordinating complex workflows, and enabling fundraisers to focus on what matters most.

This session will be a case study on how Gonzaga College High School was able to increase their Matching Gifts by over 300% from 2023 to 2024 and continues the momentum. By using RE NXT, DoubleTheDonation, dedicated personnel, and organized processes Gonzaga is able to maximize donors' ability to execute Matching Gifts year over year.

Discover how Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT is evolving to empower nonprofit organizations with cutting-edge innovations in artificial intelligence. In this session, hosted by Blackbaud’s Product Management team, we’ll explore how the integration of Agentic AI, Blackbaud AI, and Action Hubs is transforming workflows and redefining efficiency. Learn how these tools can provide actionable insights, improve monthly closings, enhance collections processes, and enable smarter decision-making—all while maintaining transparency and empowering users.
We’ll also dive into the reimagined Information Architecture (IA) and navigation updates designed to simplify access to critical tools and maximize productivity for users across all levels of experience. Whether it’s creating a personalized home page for your role or leveraging AI to identify trends and automate key processes, this session will give you a firsthand look at the future of Financial Edge NXT. Join us to uncover how connected experiences and intelligent systems are reshaping the way nonprofit financial teams operate—and imagine what your organization could accomplish with these powerful advancements.

The arrival of the Total Web Solution for Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT is coming soon, while the end of the Database View lies ahead. How should database managers prepare themselves and their teams for this big transition after all the changes this year and those still coming? This session will recommend which users on your team should be using which Web View functions (present and anticipated), and how to train and support your users in that transition. While the presenter is a huge proponent of the Web View, this won’t be a marketing pitch; it will be an honest presentation about the tools in both views that organizations are using successfully and how he, as a long-term full-time Raiser's Edge consultant having worked with dozens of organizations, has seen happy customers. This session will be specific ,practical, realistic, and honest. Specific areas to be addressed include gift entry, constituent updates, mailings, reporting, direct marketing (mailings and emailing), major gifts, and leadership with training and support guidance for these users. We’ll also discuss how DBMs can realistically stay on top of these and future changes.