Nonprofit organizations rely on data to drive fundraising efforts, engage donors, and support critical programs. Raiser’s Edge™ is designed to meet many of these needs, offering over 100 built-in report templates and helpful dashboards to streamline nonprofit operations.
But what happens when those standard reports and built-in dashboards don’t quite cut it? That’s where Raiser’s Edge™ custom reports and dashboards come into play.
This article will guide you through the benefits and how to get started creating custom reports and dashboards in Raiser’s Edge™ and explain how Donor Database Experts can help optimize your experience.
Why Custom Reports in Raiser’s Edge™ Are Critical for Nonprofits
Raiser’s Edge™ provides a robust suite of standard reports that cater to many fundraising and donor management scenarios. However, nonprofits often face unique challenges, and their reporting needs can extend beyond what templated reports offer.
Custom reports meet these demands by enabling nonprofits to:
- Save Time: Automate complex reports instead of manually pulling data from multiple sources.
- Increase Accuracy: Eliminate the risk of errors inherent in manual data compilations.
- Gain Deeper Insight: Customize metrics, graphs, and formats to create reports tailored specifically to your strategic goals.
- Strengthen Stakeholder Communication: Provide leadership, boards, and volunteers with meaningful and actionable data.
For example, if your board requires quarterly impact reports segmented by donor tiers, creating a custom report can save hours compared to handling such reports in spreadsheets.
Without custom reporting, many organizations fall into the time-consuming trap of managing datasets outside of Raiser’s Edge™, which can strain already limited resources.
How to Get Started with Raiser’s Edge™ Custom Reporting
Creating custom reports may sound daunting, especially for nonprofits without an in-house IT expert. Here’s a straightforward guide to getting started:
Step 1: Define Your Reporting Goals
Before building a custom report, outline what data you want to see and why. Ask questions like:
- What key metrics does your team or board need regularly?
- What visual aids (e.g., graphs, charts) will effectively present this data?
- Are there specific donor groups or campaigns you need to monitor?
Step 2: Assess Limitations of Standard Reports
Review existing Raiser’s Edge™ templates to identify gaps that a custom report can fill. For example, a standard report might lack certain filtering options or visual customization capabilities.
Step 3: Partner with an Expert
If the process feels overwhelming or your organization lacks available time, working with an experienced partner like Donor Database Experts can streamline the project. From defining report requirements to deploying the final report, professional support ensures accuracy and efficiency.
Step 4: Test and Refine Reports
After creating a custom report, test it with real data and gather feedback from your stakeholders. Adjust filters, data visualization styles, and layouts to improve functionality and ease of interpretation.
Step 5: Train Staff and Use Reports Regularly
Ensure your team knows how to run and interpret custom reports. Regular use will maximize the return on investment in custom reporting tools.
How Donor Database Experts Can Help
While the idea of creating custom reports may seem complex, you don’t have to go it alone. At Donor Database Experts, we specialize in creating and optimizing Raiser’s Edge™ custom reports to meet the unique needs of nonprofits.
Here’s How We Can Support You:
- Optimized Raiser’s Edge™ NXT Dashboards: We customize Raiser’s Edge™ dashboards, giving your team user-friendly access to essential custom reports.
- Integration with BI Tools: Prefer working with Qlik, Tableau, or another business intelligence tool? We can integrate Raiser’s Edge™ data for seamless reporting across platforms.
- Elimination of External Spreadsheets: Say goodbye to scattered data in external spreadsheets. Streamline reporting and manage your data directly within Raiser’s Edge™.
- Efficiency and Accuracy: We take on the technical heavy lifting, ensuring that your reports are accurate, visually engaging, and tailored to your organization’s strategy.
By partnering with experts, your nonprofit saves time, reduces stress, and gains access to polished and actionable data critical to achieving your mission.
Convert Data into Impactful Decisions
Custom reporting isn’t just a convenience—it’s a strategic necessity for nonprofits looking to maximize their donor relationships and streamline operations. Tools that integrate seamlessly with Raiser’s Edge™ empower organizations to transform raw data into clear, actionable insights.
If your nonprofit needs custom reporting, Donor Database Experts is here to help. We’ll work with you to design custom reports that elevate your strategic decision-making and enhance your organization’s impact. Contact us today—or better yet, schedule a consultation—to explore how we can meet your reporting needs.
With Donor Database Experts, your data will work harder, ensuring that every decision you make contributes to advancing your mission.
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