How Do Lists Work in Raiser’s Edge NXT? A Guide to Constituents, Gifts, Actions, and Opportunities

If you work in Raiser’s Edge NXT, you probably rely on queries to pull lists of donors, gifts, and activities.

But sometimes you just need data quickly.

That is where Lists in Raiser’s Edge NXT Web View come in.

Lists provide a faster and simpler way to filter records, review activity, and take action without building a complex query. They are especially useful when you want quick insights, need to share records with colleagues, or export a group of records for analysis.

In this guide, we will walk through the four types of lists available in RE NXT and how to use them.

What Are Lists in Raiser’s Edge NXT?

Lists in Raiser’s Edge NXT allow users to filter and view groups of records based on specific criteria. They function as lightweight reporting tools that help teams quickly find the information they need.

Instead of creating a detailed query in Database View, you can apply filters in Web View and generate a list instantly.

Lists can help your organization:

Identify groups of donors
Review gifts or fundraising activity
Manage portfolios and actions
Export records for reporting or analysis
Share filtered records with colleagues

Lists are available directly within RE NXT and are categorized based on the type of data you want to view.

In our Blackbaud Ninjas tutorial video, we explain how lists are often the fastest place to start when you want to pull information without complex criteria.

What Types of Lists Exist in Raiser’s Edge NXT?

Raiser’s Edge NXT includes four types of lists:

1. Constituent Lists

Pull information at the constituent level.

Use these when you want to view or filter donors, board members, volunteers, or other constituent records.

Example use cases:

Board members who gave last year
Constituents with a specific constituent code
Donors who attended a specific event
Individuals assigned to a fundraiser portfolio

2. Gift Lists

Pull information at the gift level.

Gift lists focus on donation records rather than donors themselves.

Example use cases:

Gifts received during a specific campaign
Gifts within a certain batch
IRA gifts or ACH donations
Gifts that have not yet been acknowledged

3. Action Lists

Pull information at the action level.

Action lists are especially helpful for portfolio management and tracking fundraising activity.

Example use cases:

Phone calls completed last month
Actions assigned to a specific fundraiser
Upcoming meetings with major donors
Stewardship actions that need to be completed

4. Opportunity Lists

Pull information at the opportunity level.

Opportunity lists help development teams track potential gifts and moves management activity.

Example use cases:

Identification opportunities
Open major gift opportunities
Opportunities assigned to a fundraiser
Opportunities within a certain stage of cultivation

How Do You Create a List in Raiser’s Edge NXT?

Creating a list in RE NXT is straightforward.

Start by navigating to the section that matches the type of list you want to build. For example:

Constituent lists are located in the Constituents section
Gift lists are located in the Gifts section
Action and opportunity lists appear within Portfolio

Once there, you can create a new list using filters.

Typically, the process looks like this:

Select Build a new list
Choose Show all records or start with filters
Apply filter criteria
Save the list if you want to reuse it later

Lists give you flexibility in how you build your criteria. You can start broad and filter down, build criteria step by step, or even begin with a static query and further refine it within Lists. All approaches lead to the same result.

For example, you could filter all constituents who gave last calendar year, start by filtering gifts from last calendar year and then view the associated constituents, or begin with a saved static query and apply additional filters directly in Lists.

How Do Filters Work in RENXT Lists?

Filters allow you to refine the records displayed in a list.

Common filters include:

Constituent codes
Gift dates
Action owners
Gift types
Fundraisers
Batch numbers
Acknowledgement status

Lists use AND logic, meaning every record must meet all filter criteria applied. For example:

Board Member AND gave last calendar year

Only records meeting both conditions will appear in the list.

Do Lists Include Inactive or Deceased Records?

By default, constituent lists suppress inactive and deceased records.

If you want to include them, you must add filters for those categories.

This helps prevent accidental inclusion of inactive constituents while still giving organizations the option to review those records when needed.

Can You Add or Exclude Records in a List?

Yes.

Constituent lists include an Add / Exclude feature, which allows you to manually include or remove specific records.

This is helpful when you need to adjust a list slightly without changing the underlying filters. For example:

Add a donor who should be included
Exclude a constituent who technically meets criteria but should not appear in the list

RE NXT also keeps track of records that were manually added or excluded so users can see what changes were made.

Can Lists Be Shared or Exported?

Yes. Lists are designed to support collaboration.

Share list links via email
Export lists to Excel or CSV
Save lists for future use
Control permissions for who can view or manage a list

Organizations can also manage list permissions through Fundraising Security settings.

Can Lists Be Created from Event Participants?

Yes.

If you want a list of people who participated in an event, you can create one directly from the event record.

Navigate to Events
Open the event record
Select Work with participants
Choose Create constituent list

This generates a static list based on event participants.

If additional participants are added later, you will need to regenerate the list.

Are Lists the Same as Queries in Raiser’s Edge?

Not exactly.

Lists are simpler and designed for quick filtering.

Queries are still better when you need:

Complex segmentation
Mailing data like salutations and addresses
Advanced criteria combinations

For example, exporting a constituent list does include address fields, but it does not currently include addressees or salutations. Because of this, exports or dedicated mailing tools are often better suited for mailings, at least until this feature is released.

Think of lists as the quick view tool, while queries remain the advanced segmentation tool.

When Should You Use Lists in Raiser’s Edge NXT?

Lists are ideal when you need to:

Quickly review records
Share data with team members
Export records for analysis
Filter activity within RENXT
Build simple segments without queries

They are particularly helpful for frontline fundraisers, development directors, and database administrators who want quick insights without navigating complex reporting tools.

Final Thoughts

Lists in Raiser’s Edge NXT are one of the simplest ways to filter and review data in Web View.

By understanding the four types of lists and how filters work, fundraising teams can quickly identify donors, track activity, and collaborate with colleagues.

If you are new to RENXT Web View, mastering lists is one of the fastest ways to become more efficient in the platform.