{"id":5376,"date":"2017-09-08T06:05:46","date_gmt":"2017-09-08T13:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teamheller.com\/?p=5376"},"modified":"2025-09-25T12:32:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T12:32:20","slug":"new-reality-integrating-the-raisers-edge-salesforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teamheller.com\/resources\/blog\/new-reality-integrating-the-raisers-edge-salesforce","title":{"rendered":"A New Reality: Integrating The Raiser\u2019s Edge and Salesforce"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the years, we\u2019ve seen a lot of technological innovation that really changed the way nonprofits approached their work.\u00a0 Raiser\u2019s Edge 7 brought unprecedented sophistication to (and established new standards for) fundraising data management when it first came out. Peer-to-peer fundraising was changed forever by Convio. Salesforce\u2019s entry into the sector pushed everyone to think of openness and expansion in whole new ways.<\/p>\n

Today, there\u2019s another shift we\u2019re noticing that we\u2019re particularly excited about, one that brings the best of these prior evolutions together: Solution vendors across the sector are embracing the idea of integrating systems in unprecedented ways, which means that nonprofits can more effectively utilize the combination of tools that best suits their needs. And we think that\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Recently, Blackbaud hosted a webinar series<\/a> focused on the ways that organizations using The Raiser\u2019s Edge might benefit from using Salesforce and integrating data between the two systems. This has been posed before as a concept, an idea, or a beautiful dream that never quite looked the same in real life as it does in the imagination. The difficulties of integration definitely drove interest in a single do-all solution for a long time. But that didn\u2019t really pan out so well either \u2013 no solution has been able to meet all needs.<\/p>\n

Real Integration Is Actually Possible<\/h2>\n

In some ways, we\u2019re back in the best-of-breed part of the cycle again. But this time it\u2019s different. Instead of going in a flat circle from single-system to best-of-breed and back again, I like to think we\u2019re going up in a spiral, and the view is better from up here. I think that using The Raiser\u2019s Edge and Salesforce in concert is an excellent option for getting closer than ever to realizing the coveted \u201c360 view\u201d of constituent relationships. We\u2019re now in a space where the technology to effectively integrate data is a truly attainable option.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re committed to The Raiser\u2019s Edge as your fundraising system, but your program work relies on robust call center and volunteer management, you might use Salesforce for those efforts and capture key data in both systems. If you need to track outcomes of constituent services or conduct case management more efficiently, Salesforce might be an excellent solution. Inevitably, there will be people interested in your programs who also make donations and those people might be in your Raiser\u2019s Edge system. \u00a0The shifts in today\u2019s technology mean that you can utilize both systems and be more effective across the board.<\/p>\n

Which brings us that point in the story right before all your dreams come true when it\u2019s important to ask yourself: \u201cWait, do I actually want <\/em>all my dreams to come true? What will I do if that happens?\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes!!! That is the key question that has always been off in the distance:<\/p>\n

What would I actually <\/em>do if I was able to easily share data between my systems?<\/strong><\/p>\n

And that is where the work comes in. But trust us, the work of figuring out how<\/em> you want to use your data is so much more fun than cleaning up duplicates or manually entering data in multiple systems.<\/p>\n

Questions To Ask<\/h2>\n

And that is where the work comes in. But trust us, the work of figuring out how<\/em> you want to use your data is so much more fun than cleaning up duplicates or manually entering data in multiple systems.<\/p>\n