5 Best Tips for Creating Effective Queries in Raiser’s Edge NXT

Raiser’s Edge NXT is a powerful tool for nonprofit organizations to manage donor relationships, track engagement, and streamline fundraising efforts. One of its most valuable features is the ability to create queries to extract meaningful data. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these five tips will help you create more effective and efficient queries in Raiser’s Edge NXT.

1. Define Your Goal Before Starting

Before creating a query, take a moment to clearly define what you’re trying to accomplish. Are you pulling a list of donors for a campaign? Analyzing donor retention rates? Generating a report for board members? Understanding the purpose will help you choose the right query type (e.g., static, dynamic, or ad hoc) and focus on the specific fields and filters you need.

Pro Tip: Write down your end goal or share it with your team to ensure alignment before building the query.

2. Use Filters and Criteria Wisely

Filters are the backbone of any effective query. Be specific with your criteria to avoid pulling unnecessary data and ensure your results are accurate. For instance, if you’re looking for donors who gave in the last year, use the "Gift Date" filter instead of searching manually.

Best Practices for Filters:

• Use ranges (e.g., gift dates, amounts) for flexibility.

• Combine filters (e.g., “Constituent Code is Individual” AND “Gift Amount is greater than $500”) for precision.

• Avoid overloading your query with too many filters; keep it simple and focused.

  
  

3. Leverage Query Output Settings

Raiser’s Edge NXT allows you to customize your query output to display only the information you need. Use the “Output” tab to select specific fields that are relevant to your analysis or report. This reduces clutter and ensures your results are easy to interpret.

Examples of Output Fields:

• Donor name and contact information.

• Total giving history or year-to-date donations.

• Membership status or campaign involvement.

  
  

4. Test and Validate Your Query

Once you’ve built your query, don’t forget to test it. Run the query and review the results to ensure they align with your goals. Look for any anomalies or missing data, and refine your filters or output as needed.

Steps for Validation:

• Cross-check results with known data to verify accuracy.

• Share the query results with a colleague for a second opinion.

• Save a draft of your query before making significant changes.

  
  

5. Save and Organize Your Queries

As you create more queries, it’s important to save and organize them properly. Use clear, descriptive names so you and your team can quickly identify the purpose of each query. Consider setting up folders or naming conventions based on campaigns, fiscal years, or query types.

Example Naming Convention:

• “FY25 Major Donors - Gifts Over $1K”

• “Volunteer Engagement - Last 6 Months”

• “Lapsed Donors - 2024”

  
  

By following these tips, you’ll be able to create more efficient queries in Raiser’s Edge NXT, saving time and improving the quality of your data analysis. With the right queries, you’ll gain deeper insights into your donor base and drive greater impact for your nonprofit’s mission.

What are your favorite tips for working with Raiser’s Edge NXT? Share them in the comments!