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Connecting Raiser's Edge NXT and BBMS to Almabase

Step-by-step guide to connecting your RE NXT account to Almabase, including Marketplace apps, user permissions, and BBMS setup.

Written by Sarita Markande

Almabase connects to Raiser's Edge NXT to sync constituent data, and to Blackbaud Merchant Services (BBMS) to collect payments. This guide shows you how to get each Blackbaud account ready, then connect it to Almabase.

Overview

Account

What it's for in Almabase

Raiser's Edge NXT

Syncing constituent data between RE NXT and Almabase

Blackbaud Merchant Services

Collecting payments on your Almabase site

The BBMS integration is only relevant if your institution uses Blackbaud Merchant Services.

Who should do this: your database administrator, or anyone with admin-level access to your Blackbaud environment.

💡 Tip: Use a generic institutional email (for example, advancement@yourschool.edu) for the Blackbaud user that connects to Almabase. If a personal account is deactivated when someone changes roles, the connection breaks and has to be set up again.

Connecting with Raiser's Edge NXT

Step 1: Get your Blackbaud account ready

Give the connecting user the right role

  1. From the RE NXT homepage, click the Security icon (🔒) at the bottom of the left sidebar, then click User Management.

  2. Find the user who will connect to Almabase and click Manage roles.

  3. Assign Solutions Admin for Raiser's Edge NXT, then save.

Connect the apps in the RE NXT Marketplace

  1. From the RE NXT homepage, click the menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner and select Marketplace.

  2. Search for Almabase and click Connect.

  3. Search for SKY API Console and click Connect.

  4. Check that both apps show a green Connected badge.

Don't see Marketplace? It requires admin-level access. Ask your Blackbaud administrator, or go directly to app.blackbaud.com/marketplace.

Step 2: Connect the account to Almabase

You'll need an Almabase admin account for this step.

  1. Log in to Almabase with the same email as the Blackbaud user from Step 1.

  2. From the Admin Dashboard, go to Settings → Database and click Connect Raiser's Edge NXT.

  3. On the Blackbaud authorization screen, confirm your organization and environment (top-right corner), then click Authorize.

  4. Back in Almabase, select the connected user from the dropdown and click Test connection. You should see: "You have successfully connected database."

Integration with Blackbaud Merchant Services (BBMS)

⚠️ Skip this section if your institution doesn't use BBMS.

Step 1: Get your Blackbaud account ready

Add the BBMS roles to the connecting user

  1. In Blackbaud, go to Security > User Management.

  2. Find the same user you set up for Raiser's Edge NXT and click Manage roles.

  3. Assign Solutions Admin for Merchant Services and Solutions Admin for Payments API, then save.

Invite the Almabase admin user

  1. In User Management, click + Add user.

  2. Enter these details:

  3. Assign Solutions Admin for Merchant Services and Solutions Admin for Payments API.

  4. Send the invite. Almabase will accept it on its end.

📝 Note: You need these BBMS roles on your own account to send this invite.

Step 2: Connect the account to Almabase

Once you've sent the invite, reach out to your Implementation Specialist or Almabase Support (through the chat on your site). They'll connect BBMS and set it up as the payment gateway on your Almabase site.

FAQs

Can I use my personal Blackbaud account for the connection?

Yes, any account with the correct permissions will work. However, we recommend using a generic institutional email (e.g., development@yourinstitution.edu) so that the connection is not tied to a specific person. If someone leaves the institution and their personal account is deactivated, the connection would break.

What happens if the user account I connected with leaves the institution?

If that user's Blackbaud account is deactivated, the connection between Almabase and RE NXT will stop working. You would need to re-authorize the connection using a different user account with the required permissions. This is why we recommend using a generic institutional account.

I do not use BBMS. Can I skip the Merchant Services and Payments API permissions?

Yes. The Merchant Services and Payments API permissions are only needed if your institution uses Blackbaud Merchant Services for payment processing through Almabase. If you do not use BBMS, you only need Solutions Admin for RE NXT.

I do not see the Marketplace option in my RE NXT menu. What should I do?

The Marketplace option is available to users with admin-level access to your Blackbaud environment. If you do not see it, check with your institution's Blackbaud administrator to ensure your account has the right access level. You can also try navigating directly to app.blackbaud.com/marketplace.

The Test Connection button is showing an error. What should I check?

First, verify that the Blackbaud user account you used has Solutions Admin access for RE NXT. Then confirm that both the Almabase and SKY API Console apps are showing as Connected in the RE NXT Marketplace. If both check out and you are still seeing an error, reach out to Almabase support through the Intercom chat — we can help troubleshoot.

Can I connect a sandbox or test environment instead of production?

No. As of today, Almabase can connect to only one environment of your Blackbaud account. So we recommend connecting to the production one.

I already connected RE NXT. Do I need to do anything else before syncing data?

Once the connection is confirmed, reach out to your Implementation Specialist. They will share a Data Setup Document and guide you through configuring which fields and options to bring into Almabase. You can also refer to the Setting up Integration with Raiser's Edge NXT article for the full setup walkthrough.

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