Short answer: Yes, it absolutely can. Let me share how I discovered Power Automate and why it’s become an essential tool for the organizations I work with.
My journey with Power Automate started in early 2021 during a Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT Geek Out webinar. The session introduced me to a tool that was both powerful and accessible—perfect for someone like me who wanted to implement automation without diving deep into coding. Inspired, I signed up for the 101 Accelerator Course and got to work brainstorming ways it could address some of our team’s ongoing challenges.
For two months, I dedicated five hours a week to learning, experimenting, and collaborating. By the end, I’d created three workflows, each based on the gift notification flow available in the template showcase but customized to fit my organization’s specific needs. I also started building another flow entirely from scratch, an exciting step into more advanced functionality.
The impact was immediate.
Two of the flows I created replaced manual processes, saving my colleagues about two hours a week. The third flow streamlined communications by notifying fundraisers about upcoming asks—a task I was able to automate instead of adding to my own to-do list. Encouraged by these successes, I turned my attention to creating automations that could make our data cleaner and make gift entry more efficient.
Later that year, I joined Prenger Solutions Group as a Database Consultant. Now, I have the privilege of helping nonprofits unlock the full potential of Power Automate. Whether it’s building custom workflows, improving data quality, or finding new ways to engage donors, I’ve seen firsthand how automation can make a major difference.
What Is Power Automate?
Power Automate is a low-code/no-code solution that can handle all those repetitive tasks that make you groan. Here’s what it can do:
- Send gift notifications to the right staff in real time.
- Clean up your data so it’s always accurate and actionable.
- Simplify acknowledgment letters, tribute letters, and more.
If you have tasks you’re constantly doing (or avoiding because they’re too time-consuming), trust me—Power Automate can take care of them for you.
Why Power Automate Beats Raiser’s Edge NXT Workflows
Raiser’s Edge NXT Workflows is a helpful starter tool, but it’s limited to only adding actions or sending emails. Power Automate, on the other hand, is like a Swiss Army knife—it can handle everything from data updates to custom notifications with precision and ease.
AutomateGenius: Our Secret Weapon
At PSG, we’ve developed AutomateGenius to help nonprofits streamline their processes. Here are just a few ways we can help:
- Notification Flows
Tired of missed opportunities? We’ve built workflows to ensure your team is always in the know. Check out our Upcoming Opportunity Notification template for a sneak peek.
- Data Clean-Up Flows
Let’s be honest, cleaning up data manually is a drag. For example, we helped Nationwide Children’s Hospital increase their review of deceased records to over 2,000 records a month—up from just 700—with automation that does the heavy lifting.
- Acknowledgment Letters
Here’s a game-changer: what used to take hours now takes just 15–30 minutes. These workflows handle everything from attaching acknowledgment letters to gift records to automatically emailing donors. It’s like having an assistant who never calls in sick.
Resources to Get You Started
Blackbaud University (BBU)
Blackbaud offers great training materials to help you get started with Power Automate. Whether you’re a beginner or ready to dive deeper, their BBU training documentation has you covered.
Template Showcase
Want inspiration? Blackbaud’s Template Showcase is packed with examples that can jump-start your automation journey. I recommend starting with notification templates like the Constituent Duplicate Finder to see what’s possible.
From PSG
- Using Automation Tools to Personalize Donor Communications
Learn how to create automated workflows that deliver personalized donor communications at scale, helping you build stronger relationships with your supporters.
- Streamline Gift Processing and Reporting
Discover how to save time and reduce errors by automating gift processing and reporting, enabling your team to focus on strategic initiatives.
- Cleaning Your Donor Database
This guide walks you through best practices and automation techniques for keeping your donor data accurate, actionable, and consistent.
From the Blackbaud Community
- Power Automate – Where Do I Start?
New to Power Automate? This community post breaks down the basics and offers practical tips for getting started, including tools and templates you can try today.
- System Record ID is My New Best Friend
Learn how to leverage the System Record ID to simplify data updates and create more efficient workflows in Power Automate.
- 4 Ways to Spruce up Your Notification Tables
Elevate your notification workflows with these simple yet powerful tweaks to make your processes more dynamic and user-friendly.
- #bbdevdays Presentations
A treasure trove of advanced tips and tricks, these sessions from Blackbaud Developers’ Conference dive deep into building and optimizing Power Automate workflows.
Power Automate isn’t just an option—it’s THE solution. If you’re ready to save time, enhance engagement, and focus on the work that truly matters, let’s talk. Contact PSG today and discover how AutomateGenius can help your organization achieve its goals.
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