Raiser's Edge for Dummies?
July 9, 2007 11:06 AM Subscribe
Is there a resource on the web that will help me to quickly become at least basically familiar with Raiser's Edge software?
Searching Amazon & local bookstores has yielded no such thing as "Raiser's Edge for Dummies" and I need to be at least basically conversant in Raiser's Edge by tomorrow morning. I've combed their website and and watched the "interactive demo" several times. Are there other online resources you can suggest that will help me to have at least a basic working familiarity with this software quickly?
(I'm already very proficient with using relational databases.)
Searching Amazon & local bookstores has yielded no such thing as "Raiser's Edge for Dummies" and I need to be at least basically conversant in Raiser's Edge by tomorrow morning. I've combed their website and and watched the "interactive demo" several times. Are there other online resources you can suggest that will help me to have at least a basic working familiarity with this software quickly?
(I'm already very proficient with using relational databases.)
Response by poster: Parmanparman: I've been browsing their forums quite heavily, but it seems like most users are asking specific questions. I need more of an overview: this is a screenshot, these are the five most basic functions & how you do them, that sort of thing. Kind of an RE 101 tutorial. If there is a specific thread on that forum that you can point me too I'd appreciate it.
posted by anastasiav at 11:43 AM on July 9, 2007
posted by anastasiav at 11:43 AM on July 9, 2007
My girlfriend encountered this same situation when applying for development jobs with non-profits. After days of fruitless searching, my advice to her was fake it till you make it.
She went into that interview and said she had RE experience and her prospective employers said "ok" and moved right on despite their insistence on only interviewing folks with "Raiser's Edge experience."
The program is simply an over glorified database for non-profits. NAME ADDRESS1 ADDRESS2 NOTES etc... If you have experience with Access, Excel, or any other database or contact management software, you'll be fine.
The REd Cross and some of the larger nonprofits often have volunteers do data entry on RE. If you can't find a copy to practice on, my advice would be to just tell them that you have volunteer experience and will be able to pick it up again quickly if given an instruction manual or help file (which you will).
A lot of the development staff at nonprofits are ignorant about databases and believe that Raiser's Edge is the pinnacle of technology, which I assure you it is not. I told my girlfriend to just cross her fingers and lie about it. She did and she got the job and she figured out the ins and outs of the software within a few days.
Good luck.
posted by willie11 at 11:43 AM on July 9, 2007 [2 favorites]
She went into that interview and said she had RE experience and her prospective employers said "ok" and moved right on despite their insistence on only interviewing folks with "Raiser's Edge experience."
The program is simply an over glorified database for non-profits. NAME ADDRESS1 ADDRESS2 NOTES etc... If you have experience with Access, Excel, or any other database or contact management software, you'll be fine.
The REd Cross and some of the larger nonprofits often have volunteers do data entry on RE. If you can't find a copy to practice on, my advice would be to just tell them that you have volunteer experience and will be able to pick it up again quickly if given an instruction manual or help file (which you will).
A lot of the development staff at nonprofits are ignorant about databases and believe that Raiser's Edge is the pinnacle of technology, which I assure you it is not. I told my girlfriend to just cross her fingers and lie about it. She did and she got the job and she figured out the ins and outs of the software within a few days.
Good luck.
posted by willie11 at 11:43 AM on July 9, 2007 [2 favorites]
"A lot of the development staff at nonprofits are ignorant about databases and believe that Raiser's Edge is the pinnacle of technology, which I assure you it is not."
I am "development staff" at a nonprofit and I assure you that you are correct on both counts...
1. people do believe RE is great
2. it is not
posted by stuboo at 1:22 PM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
I am "development staff" at a nonprofit and I assure you that you are correct on both counts...
1. people do believe RE is great
2. it is not
posted by stuboo at 1:22 PM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
Too late for you now, but most libraries will have the user manuals. I suggest you check it out and just read it. I learned both Results Plus and Raisers Edge this way and it was surprisingly useful, at least in giving me an overview of capabilities. You might also be able to find it if there's a Donors Forum-type organization in your town. (In fact, such a place might know of a web-based source.)
At any rate, the Blackbaud site has an on-line demonstration (right hand column).
posted by nax at 4:42 PM on July 9, 2007
At any rate, the Blackbaud site has an on-line demonstration (right hand column).
posted by nax at 4:42 PM on July 9, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by parmanparman at 11:18 AM on July 9, 2007