Before you can pull constituent data or configure your sync, Almabase needs a secure connection to your Raiser's Edge NXT environment. This is a one-time setup that authorizes Almabase to request data on your behalf through Blackbaud's platform.
This guide walks you through each step:
Connecting the required apps in the RE NXT Marketplace,
Verifying that the right user account has the correct permissions, and
Completing the authorization in Almabase.
If your institution uses Blackbaud Merchant Services (BBMS) for payment processing, there is an additional step to invite an Almabase system user — clearly marked so you can skip it if BBMS does not apply to you.
How It Works
Before You Start
You will need two things ready before beginning:
A Blackbaud user account that has the required permissions in RE NXT (detailed in Part 2 below).
An Almabase admin account using the same email address as the Blackbaud user above.
💡 Best Practice: Use a generic institutional email account (e.g., development@yourinstitution.edu) rather than a personal account. This keeps the connection stable when staff members change roles. If you do not have a generic account ready, any user with the correct permissions works fine — you can switch to an institutional account later.
Part 1: Connect Apps on the RE NXT Marketplace
You need to connect two apps from the RE NXT Marketplace: Almabase and SKY API Console.
From the RE NXT homepage, click the menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner and select Marketplace from the dropdown.
In the Marketplace search bar, type Almabase and press Enter. Click on the Almabase result.
Click Connect to link Almabase to your RE NXT environment. Once connected, you will see a green Connected badge on the listing.
Repeat the same steps to search for and connect SKY API Console.
Part 2: Verify User Permissions
The user account you plan to use for the connection must have Solutions Admin access for RE NXT. If your institution uses BBMS, the same user also needs Solutions Admin access for Merchant Services and Payments API.
Permission | Required For |
Solutions Admin — RE NXT | Raiser's Edge NXT Integration with Almabase |
Solutions Admin — Merchant Services | BBMS Integration with Almabase |
Solutions Admin — Payments API | BBMS Integration with Almabase |
To check or update permissions:
From the RE NXT homepage, click the Security icon (🔒) at the bottom of the left sidebar.
On the Security page, click User Management.
Search for the user you want to review. Click on Manage roles. and
Assign Solution Admin access under RE NXT, Merchant Services, and Payments API.
Part 3: Invite the Almabase Admin User (BBMS Users Only)
⚠️ Skip this section if your institution does not use Blackbaud Merchant Services (BBMS) for payment processing.
If you use BBMS, you need to assign Solutions Admin access for Merchant Services and the Payments API to one of your own accounts as mentioned in Part 2.
Additionally, you need to invite an Almabase system user so that Almabase can access your merchant account for payment processing.
From the Security page (see Part 2), go to User Management.
Click + Add user.
Enter the following details:
Name: Almabase Admin
Email: renxt@almabase.com
Assign the following permissions:
Solutions Admin for Merchant Services
Solutions Admin for Payments API
Click Send Invite.
📝 Note: The Almabase team will accept this invitation on their end. You do not need to do anything further after sending the invite.
Part 4: Connect RE NXT in Almabase
Once the Marketplace apps are connected and permissions are verified, you can complete the connection from within Almabase.
Log in to Almabase using the same email address as the Blackbaud user you set up in Part 2.
From the Admin Dashboard, navigate to Settings → Database. Click Connect Raiser's Edge NXT.
You will be redirected to the Blackbaud Application Authorization screen. Make sure the correct organization and environment are selected (check the top-right corner), then click Authorize.
You will be redirected back to Almabase. Where the Connect button used to be, you should now see a dropdown showing the connected user. Select the user from the dropdown.
Click Test connection to verify everything is working. You should see a confirmation message: "You have successfully connected database."
✅ Done! Your RE NXT account is now connected to Almabase. You can proceed to configure your field mapping and sync settings.
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.