Carlene Johnson is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Next Level Database Services, a growing boutique firm that helps nonprofits, schools, and universities build sustainable, well‑governed fundraising data ecosystems. With 30 years of experience—including the DOS days of Raiser’s Edge—she specializes in product adoption, onboarding, Unified View transitions, and data hygiene. She also excels at navigating the third‑party tools and Blackbaud Partner solutions that round out a modern fundraising tech stack.
Carlene is known for making complex technical and operational concepts not only understandable, but genuinely fun. A longtime Community All‑Star and repeat bbcon presenter, she blends deep technical expertise with a passion for clean data, empowered users, and advocating for the real‑world needs of the fundraising community. She is especially committed to sharing thoughtful, actionable feedback that helps Blackbaud continue strengthening its products.
When she’s not consulting, you’ll find her at “summer camp for grownups” or connecting with fellow Super Users to troubleshoot, share ideas, and keep the community thriving.