Find out if a name is male or female


One of my favorite 3rd-party tools to find out if a name is male or female is Gender API.

The free Gender API plan allows for up to 100 lookups per month. Great for those one-off searches! You can also upload an Excel/CSV file and have gender appended.

Here is an example of the quick lookup:

Additional searches are available at a relatively reasonable price. Monthly plans are also available.

Let me know what you think!





Enhanced search

What is enhanced search?

From the knowledgebase: "The Use Enhanced Search checkbox enables searches to be “fuzzy,” allowing for exact results as well as similar results. For example, if you enter “Neal” in the First name criteria field, first names with exact and similar spellings will appear in the results, such as “Neal,” “Neil,” and “Noel.”

Why should you use it?

Enhanced search is helpful in finding records with misspellings, thus minimizing the creation of duplicate records in your system.



Dislike the way enhanced search displays results?

1. Click Options
2. Check the box 'Show classic search view when using enhanced search'


3. Results will now display in a single line


Automatically soft credit a spouse for all gifts

1. Open the spouse record in database view


2. Under 'Constituent' select 'Soft Credit for Spouse's Gifts'. All gifts from the spouse record will automatically be soft credited.



*Ensure that future gifts will be automatically soft credited by opening up the spouse relationship and checking 'Automatically soft credit this individual for gifts' under the 'General 2' tab. 


(Thank you to Shannon Berry Anderson for the recommendation!)

Create a SmartThing's SmartPAGES NXT homepage tile

Easily create a tile in NXT (available to all NXT users) using SmartThing's SmartPAGES.

SmartPAGES offers a free version, but you can upgrade to the paid version for the following additional features:

  • Multiple tiles
  • Multiple pages
  • Multiple editors
  • Embed reports
  • Embed video
Example tile with custom image and links to external resources:


1. Navigate to 'Marketplace', search for 'SmartPAGES', and click the blue 'Connect' button


2. Go to your Raiser's Edge NXT home screen and follow SmartPAGES instructions located here: https://desk.zoho.com/portal/smartthingltd/en/kb/articles/smartpages-set-up-instructions

Easy peasy!  The possibilities are limitless to what you can achieve.  Some suggestions on use cases can include:

  • Link to request forms
  • Link to procedure manuals or knowledgebase articles
  • Link to staff directory
But no doubt whatever you choose, your organization will think you're a database genius!


Create a query from any excel list using import

Note: This can be used for any amount of ID numbers.  The 500 limit of the copy/paste method does not apply.

1. Save your excel list as a .csv



2. Under 'Admin' -> 'Import' create a new Constituent import

3. On the 'General' tab select "Update existing records'

4. Under 'What file do you wish to import?' link to your .csv file

Tip: you will have to change the file type to Text Files to see your .csv file




5. Under 'How do you want the system to identify existing constituents?' select 'Use the Constituent ID'




6. On the 'Fields' tab link the ID column in your excel file to the Raiser's Edge 'Constituent ID'



7. On the 'Summary' tab click the check box to 'Create an output query of the records updated'


8. Click 'Update Now' and name your query.


Austen Brown's Favorite Quick Tips & Shortcuts

Default the 'Open a Constituent' search field to 'Constituent ID'


With the 'Open a Constituent' search box open click the 'Options' button in the bottom right


Select 'Constituent ID' and click 'OK' to save



Default to a tab other than 'Bio 1' when opening a record

Go to 'Tools' and select 'User Options'



Click on the 'Records' tab select 'Individuals' and change the 'Default tab'


Do the same for organizations by selecting 'Organizations' on the right


While you're in here, you might also want to adjust your Phones/Emails to default to 'Email Addresses' instead of 'Phone Numbers'


Austen's Favorite Database View Keyboard Shortcuts

https://community.blackbaud.com/blogs/76/4983

Raiser's Edge Database View Shortcut Guide

https://webfiles-sc1.blackbaud.com/files/support/guides/re7ent/re7shortcuts.pdf?

Create and apply default sets

1. Create or open an existing constituent

2. Select 'Load Defaults From' under 'Constituent'

3. Create a new default set by selecting 'New'


4. Add default fields - suggestions include Title 1, Gender, Constituent Code, Addressee/Salutation





5. Click 'Save and Close'

6. To apply your default set 'Select Load Defaults From' under 'Constituent' and select your saved default set. Make sure that 'Load default values now' is checked and press 'OK'















*Bonus tip from Elaine Fromwiller Payne: use the Shift-F2 keyboard shortcut to apply your defaults

Create a query from a small list of constituent ID's in Excel

 1. Copy up to 500 constituent ID #'s

2. Open a new constituent query

3. Add constituent ID (under Constituent Information) to the criteria and select the operator "one of"

4. Scroll down to the very bottom and click on the last white box in Values

5. Control-V or Command-V to paste the ID's


Note: You can continue this process with batches of 500 using the the "Or" operator



 

Convert a manual recurring gift to automated (NXT)

 1. Open the constituent in NXT



2. Open the recurring gift in Giving history by clicking on the amount




3. Click Convert to automated recurring gift - recurring gift will process automatically in NXT every month










*There is also a new NXT feature under Control Panel - Settings - Gift Management which finds the recurring gifts in your system that can be automated