Set Up RaiserSync

What you need before you start, how to connect Raiser's Edge NXT and HubSpot, and the first things to do once data starts flowing.

← RaiserSync Documentation

1. What you'll need

HubSpot

  • Marketing Hub or Sales Hub, Professional or Enterprise.
  • A HubSpot user who is a super admin, or has App Marketplace access, to install the app.

Raiser's Edge NXT

The Blackbaud user who connects RaiserSync decides what RaiserSync can read and write, so use the account with the most access you have, ideally your organization's main (root) admin. That account needs:

  • Admin rights in Raiser's Edge NXT, Blackbaud Apps and the Blackbaud Marketplace.
  • Unrestricted access to everything RaiserSync syncs: constituents, gifts, actions, relationships, memberships and attributes (custom fields).
  • A permanent role. Avoid temporary IT, developer or contractor accounts. If you use a dedicated integration user, give it the same rights as your main admin and don't downgrade it later.

If the Blackbaud permissions aren't complete

You may see some records or fields missing, errors such as 403 Forbidden, or a sync that stops after someone's access changes. These problems are easy to miss and hard to trace. To fix them:

  1. Confirm the connecting user has full admin rights in Raiser's Edge NXT.
  2. Reconnect Raiser's Edge in RaiserSync while signed in as that admin.
  3. Let us know at sync@yodelpop.com so we can confirm the sync is healthy again.

2. Install RaiserSync

  1. Install the app in HubSpot. Start from the RaiserSync listing on the HubSpot App Marketplace and approve the connection to your HubSpot account.
  2. Connect Raiser's Edge NXT. In HubSpot, open the RaiserSync tab and connect Raiser's Edge, signing in with the Blackbaud admin account described above. If your Raiser's Edge admin isn't a HubSpot user, they can sit with your HubSpot admin for this step.
  3. Check the connection. The RaiserSync tab shows both connections and whether your sync is healthy.

That's it: there's no import or field mapping to do before data starts flowing. RaiserSync syncs new gifts and changes from here on. It doesn't copy your history at install. See the FAQ for options to bring in past giving.

3. Choose what syncs

In the RaiserSync tab's settings you can:

  • Turn membership, email opt-outs and relationships on or off.
  • Choose which Raiser's Edge relationship types to bring over, or bring them all.
  • Map up to 25 Raiser's Edge attributes to HubSpot properties, either to a property you already have or to one RaiserSync creates. Existing records are filled in overnight.

If you'd rather we set these up for you, email sync@yodelpop.com.

4. After install

Find the RaiserSync properties

In HubSpot, go to Settings › Data Management › Properties and filter by the RaiserSync group. The field reference explains each one.

Build three working lists

  • Created by RaiserSync (contacts, active list): Original Traffic Source is Offline Sources and Original Traffic Source Drill-Down 2 is RaiserSync's app ID. Open any contact RaiserSync created and copy the ID from that property. Repeat for companies if you sync organizations.
  • Updated by RaiserSync (contacts): Through RaiserSync is true, and not a member of Created by RaiserSync. These are contacts you already had that RaiserSync matched and updated.
  • RaiserSync gifts (deals): This is a Donation is true. Add the RaiserSync deal properties as columns.

Exclude Raiser's Edge opt-outs from your emails

Create an active list where RE email opt-out is Yes, and exclude it from your marketing emails if that makes the most sense for your cross-platform consent strategy. It brings together every way Raiser's Edge can say "don't email": the Do Not Email setting, solicit codes, email consent and more.

Decide on marketing contacts

Under Settings › Integrations › Marketing contacts, choose whether contacts created by RaiserSync count as marketing contacts. If you leave this off, have a process for marking the ones you'll email.

Review what already uses these fields

Check your workflows, lists, emails and personalization tokens. New RaiserSync properties may let you replace manual imports or older fields.

Need a hand?

We can help line up your workflows, lists, emails and reporting with the synced data, or bring in historical giving through the API. Email sync@yodelpop.com.