PSG sat down with the Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT product team for a no-nonsense Q&A about Unified View. Hundreds of power users, DBAs, and fundraisers showed up with questions about what’s changing, what’s staying, and what still needs work.
The conversation was candid and practical. Blackbaud’s team walked through their roadmap, clarified what users can expect during the transition, and addressed concerns we hear every day from our clients. If you manage data, build queries, run exports, handle acknowledgements, or live inside RENXT, this breakdown will give you a clearer understanding of where things are heading and why the move to Unified View matters.
Common Questions About Unified View and What Blackbaud Had to Say
Why is Blackbaud moving to Unified View?
Database View is more than 25 years old, which is ancient in software terms. Blackbaud explained that the shift to Unified View is needed so the product can support modern integrations, stronger security, faster development, and better accessibility. Technology keeps moving, so the platform has to evolve with it. Unified View is the foundation for everything they plan to build in the future.
Is there a list of features that are not coming over from Database View?
There is no final list of features that will never make it to Unified View. Blackbaud uses usage data and customer feedback to determine priorities. Some older features may not return if they cause data problems or if only a small percentage of customers use them. Users were encouraged to keep adding ideas to the Idea Bank and to speak with Customer Success Managers, because those channels influence development decisions.
“We use usage data to determine what we need, but we will continue to evaluate based on customer feedback whether we need to pull things in or out. It is never not never, it’s just not now.”
Trit Mulligan, Director, Project Management | Blackbaud
Why does it take so long to rebuild features in Web View?
Web View and Database View run on two different systems. When Blackbaud builds something new in Web View, that feature also needs to communicate correctly with the older database system underneath Database View. That extra compatibility work slows things down. Once everything lives fully in Web View, development will move faster.
“Everything in Web View has to communicate with Database View. Once we get to a point where we are fully in a Web View world, we’re going to be able to move way faster.”
Anthony Gallo, Principal Product Manager | Blackbaud
What is up with the pulsing green dot, and will performance get better?
The pulsing green dot appears while Web View loads data. The team monitors performance constantly and pushes fixes behind the scenes whenever they see load times spike. They also acknowledged that the constituent page carries too many tiles, which causes lag. A redesign with a simpler tab layout is coming. Blackbaud listed performance, stability, and security as top priorities moving forward.
Will users be able to customize fields the same way they do in Database View?
Field renaming is not coming to Web View. Renaming fields in Database View creates long-term data issues, so Web View is intentionally more structured. Blackbaud wants to strengthen custom fields as the proper place for specialized information. Because of this shift, customized field renames from Database View will not carry over to Unified View.
How will export and query work in Unified View, and what happens to existing export files?
Export and query will work together as a single workflow in Unified View. Instead of building a query, then rebuilding the same data structure in export, you will work in one place that handles grouping, filtering, and output. You will still be able to save layouts and reuse them. Existing Database View exports will not migrate immediately, but migration is planned for a future phase.
What is the plan for acknowledgements, tribute letters, Quick Letters, and other Mail tools?
Gift-related communications such as acknowledgements and pledge reminders are planned for the first half of next year. Quick Letters and some of the more complex Mail features may be reimagined rather than rebuilt exactly as they are today. The team wants to streamline processes and avoid duplicating old patterns that no longer serve users well.
“Our primary goal is to make sure you can get the same results. We will not stop until you can.”
David Springer, Senior Product Manager | Blackbaud
Will NXT email get features that Online Express has, like tracking opens and clicks?
Not in the near future. Email is not a core focus for Blackbaud, which is why they partnered with Constant Contact. Online Express will continue to work until Database View retires in 2027. Organizations that need advanced email analytics may want to explore partner tools.
Will users be able to send email to more than one address on a constituent record?
This is not currently planned. Some quality of life improvements are coming, such as supporting addressee and salutation fields, but multi-address sending is not on the short-term roadmap.
What is happening with solicit codes, consent, and communication preferences?
Blackbaud is still working on how all three systems will fit together. Donation forms already rely on communication preferences. Web View introduces consent. Database View users still depend on solicit codes. The product team is in active discovery mode to build a clear path forward. More information will come after internal planning sessions.
Does Unified View replace all event management features, including seating and table assignments?
Web View already includes a strong foundation for event functionality. However, seating is not planned right now. A third-party partner offers a seating solution, and Blackbaud is focusing next year on Unified View instead of expanding the event module. Additional event enhancements could come later.
Some users feel Blackbaud is focusing too much on AI. How did the team respond?
Blackbaud explained that they must balance innovation and core development. They cannot stop building new tools that support future fundraising, but they also know users need essential features to function today. They noted that AI can eventually improve areas like advanced search and data cleanup, but core improvements like gifts, imports, exports, and performance remain a top priority.
“There’s no other way to get there except taking the lumps. You want to say yes to everybody, but priorities matter.”
Nic Prenger, CEO | Prenger Solutions Group
The November Q&A gave experienced RENXT users something we rarely get during major platform shifts: direct answers. The transition to Unified View is a serious technical lift, and Blackbaud was honest about what is coming first, what will take more time, and what they’re still evaluating.
For those of us who support large databases, build automation, or manage thousands of donor interactions each year, these insights help us plan ahead and adjust workflows with confidence.
The best way forward is to stay engaged. Keep submitting ideas. Join Early Adopter Programs. Continue testing new features as they roll out. Blackbaud is listening, and user feedback is shaping many of the decisions being made right now.
PSG will continue hosting sessions like this and creating resources that help orgs make the most of RENXT!
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