Before you can sync gifts to Raiser's Edge NXT, you need to group them into a gift list or a gift segment. Both serve the same purpose — grouping gifts so they can be validated and pushed to RE NXT — but they behave differently, and choosing the right one depends on how your team works.
This article explains what each type is, when to use it, how to create it, and the key behaviors to be aware of.
Gift List vs. Gift Segment
A gift list is a static snapshot. When you create one, it captures exactly the gifts that match your filters at that moment. New gifts that come in later are not added — what you see is what you get.
A gift segment is dynamic. It auto-updates as new gifts come in that match the filters. You create it once, and it keeps pulling in matching gifts over time.
Here's a simple way to think about it: if you're syncing a known, fixed set of gifts, use a list. If you're syncing on an ongoing basis and want new gifts to show up automatically, use a segment.
When to use a gift list
You want to sync a specific batch of gifts and move on — for example, all gifts from a Giving Day campaign after the campaign has ended.
You're doing a one-off sync of gifts from a particular date range.
You want full control over exactly which gifts are included.
When to use a gift segment
You sync gifts for a particular giving page on a regular basis. Instead of creating a new list every time new gifts arrive, a segment with a filter on that giving page keeps pulling them in.
You push gifts to RE NXT on a recurring schedule (weekly, monthly). A segment with a date filter lets new gifts within that window appear automatically.
You're running a long-running campaign and want gifts to accumulate in one list as they come in.
How to Create a Gift List
Go to the Gift Dashboard.
Use Add Filter to narrow down the gifts you want. Common filters include:
By giving page — to group gifts from a specific campaign
By date range — to group gifts from a specific time period
By sync status — set "Is synced with external database" to No to see only gifts that haven't been synced yet
Once the filtered gifts appear in the table, click the gear icon (⚙️) and select Create a gift list.
Give the list a clear, descriptive name (e.g., "Giving Day 2026 – Batch 1" or "October One-Time Gifts").
The list now contains the exact gifts that matched your filters. It won't change — even if new gifts come in that would match the same filters.
How to Create a Gift Segment
The steps are the same as creating a gift list, with one important difference:
Go to the Gift Dashboard.
Apply your filters (giving page, date range, sync status, etc.).
Important: Make sure the date range on the table covers the full period you expect to receive gifts. If you're running a campaign through December, set the end date to the end of December. The segment will only auto-add gifts that fall within this date range.
Click the gear icon (⚙️) and select Create a gift segment.
Name the segment (e.g., "Annual Fund 2026 – Ongoing" or "Weekly Stripe Gifts").
From this point on, any new gift that matches the filters and falls within the date range is added to the segment automatically.
Viewing and Managing Your Lists and Segments
All your gift lists and segments appear under the Gift Lists tab in the Gift Dashboard. Open any list or segment to see the gifts it contains, their sync status, and any errors.
From here, you can:
Validate the list/segment to check that all gifts are ready to sync
Sync the validated gifts to RE NXT
View errors for any gifts that failed validation or sync
The workflow after this point — validating, configuring gift fields, and syncing — is the same whether you're working with a list or a segment. See Syncing One-Time Gifts to RE NXT for the full step-by-step.
Key Behaviors
No duplicates, ever. The system tracks each gift's sync status globally. If a gift appears in more than one list or segment, syncing it from one updates its status everywhere. You'll never accidentally push the same gift twice.
Lists don't map 1:1 to batches. A gift list in Almabase is just a way to group gifts for sync — it doesn't correspond to a single batch in RE NXT. Gifts within one list can end up in different batches (across multiple sync runs), and gifts from different lists can be added to the same batch.
Re-running a sync is safe. If some gifts fail during a sync, fix the errors and sync the same list or segment again. Only the previously failed gifts are retried — gifts that already synced successfully are skipped.
Segments respect the date range. A segment only auto-adds gifts that fall within the date range you set when creating it. If new gifts aren't appearing in your segment, check that the date range extends far enough into the future.
FAQs
Q: Do I have to create a new list every time I want to sync gifts?
No. If you want to avoid creating a new list each time, use a gift segment instead. A segment auto-adds gifts that match its filters, so you can return to the same segment, validate, and sync whenever you're ready.
Q: I created a segment but new gifts aren't showing up. What's wrong?
The most common cause is the date range. When you create a segment, it captures the date range that was selected on the Gift Dashboard table. If that range doesn't cover the dates of your new gifts, they won't be included. Open the segment and check the date range — if it needs to extend further, you may need to create a new segment with a wider range.
Q: Can I rename or edit a list or segment after creating it?
You can rename a list or segment from the Gift Lists tab. However, you cannot change the filters on an existing list or segment — if you need different filters, create a new one.
Q: What happens if I delete a list or segment?
Deleting a list or segment removes the grouping, but it does not affect the gifts themselves or their sync status. Gifts that were already synced remain synced. Gifts that haven't been synced are still in the Gift Dashboard and can be added to a new list or segment.
Q: Can I add a specific gift to an existing list manually?
No. Lists and segments are created from filters — you can't manually add or remove individual gifts. If a gift doesn't appear in your list, adjust the filters or create a new list that includes it.
Q: Should I create separate lists for one-time and recurring gifts?
It's not required, but it's a common practice. Some teams prefer to keep them separate for easier tracking and review, especially since recurring gifts may have a different sync cycle (see Syncing Recurring Gifts to RE NXT). The sync process handles both types the same way regardless of how you group them.