Blackbaud CRM Strategy Consulting

This article introduces Concourse’s Blackbaud CRM Strategy Consulting services, and proposes conversation-starter questions that can help leadership and fundraising teams align on strategic use of BBCRM. It assumes you have an implementation of BBCRM, whether self-hosted on-premise or with a hyperscaler.

If you’re considering a strategic review of your BBCRM implementation, skim this article, read our case studies, or skip right to a free consultation. We’d love to chat, and will be honest and transparent about where we can best bring value.

Questions to start the conversation

Start strategy discussions with high-level organizational objectives and goals, rather than taking a software-first approach.

Here are some initial questions to ask:

• Which prospecting and fundraising goals are most critical to our organization’s success?
• What kinds of reports and insights do we need to guide leadership decisions and support daily users in BBCRM?

Once you have a clear view from above, you can ask more specific platform questions:

• Where are our biggest roadblocks or inefficiencies in using the system?
• What capabilities or processes do we wish we had but haven’t implemented yet?
• How can we better equip and empower our team through targeted training?

Blackbaud CRM offers fundraising data pulled into its centralized platform to create a single source of truth, offering a holistic view of constituents. Many of the best-known and largest nonprofits use Blackbaud for its powerful and flexible solutions. With a tool so robust and customizable, however, it’s often difficult to fully understand its capabilities and develop a high-level strategy. At Concourse, we believe BBCRM is a powerful asset when implemented strategically in service of your organization’s top goals.

When you engage with Concourse, you work directly with our team, with specialized expertise both in BBCRM and a deep understanding of nonprofit operations and fundraising. We understand nonprofit budget constraints, and each engagement is custom to your needs and designed for the biggest impact. Below, I summarize what you can expect from Concourse’s BBCRM Strategy Consulting:

C-level strategic consulting to align BBCRM implementations with evolving organizational priorities, ensuring the CRM investment drives maximum impact toward current business goals and future growth initiatives.

Primary Service Components: Initial Engagement

Executive Strategic Review

• Leadership Alignment Sessions: Direct engagement with your CEO, COO, VP of Advancement, and board members, via existing executive reviews or facilitated dedicated strategy sessions
• Organizational Goal Assessment: Analysis of current 3-5 year strategic plans and fundraising objectives
• CRM-Strategy Gap Analysis: Identification of disconnects between system capabilities and organizational priorities

BBCRM Utilization Audit

• Current State Analysis: Comprehensive review of how BBCRM is currently configured and used across departments
• Feature Utilization Assessment: Identification of underutilized modules and capabilities within existing investments
• Process Efficiency Review: Analysis of workflows, data entry practices, and reporting structures
• ROI Evaluation: Assessment of return on current BBCRM investment against organizational outcomes

Strategic Roadmap Development

• Future State Vision: Collaborative development of ideal BBCRM configuration aligned to strategic goals
• Program Launch Planning: CRM configuration strategies for new initiatives, campaigns, or service lines
• Multi-Year Implementation Planning: Phased approach to system optimization and expansion
• Resource Allocation Guidance: Recommendations for staff, training, and technology investments

Beyond the initial engagement, Concourse offers an ongoing partnership and support, based on your organization’s needs. These can include the following:

• Quarterly Strategic Advisor Retainer: Light-touch, high-impact executive engagement model
• Strategic Project Oversight: Guidance on major CRM initiatives and implementations
• Executive Coaching: One-on-one development for advancement leadership on CRM strategy

Why spend resources on BBCRM Consulting?

In our experience with organizations across cause-based, healthcare and educational nonprofits, the simple answer is that it makes a measurable difference. Beyond the straightforward positive ROI, we’ve consistently seen strategy consulting provide a path for organizations to thrive, as shown by improved morale and a more positive executive outlook as roadblocks are removed and strategy and implementation align. Below are some specific outcomes we’ve seen:

Strategic Business Alignment

• Maximize CRM Investment: Ensure expensive BBCRM system drives organizational priorities
• Executive Confidence: Leadership gains clarity on technology strategy and future direction
• Board Communication: Clear articulation of CRM strategy and ROI to nonprofit governance bodies

Organizational Transformation

• Change Leadership/Change Management: Navigate complex organizational shifts with CRM at the center
• Program Launch Success: Ensure new initiatives are properly supported by CRM infrastructure
• Future-Proofing: Build CRM strategies that scale with nonprofit organizational growth

How to get started

The first steps are to book a 30-min consultation, and start a conversation with your team using the above questions a starting point.

Still have questions? Reach out in an email!

Related: Have you read our comprehensive Ultimate Guide to BBCRM for Nonprofits?

Questions

What should I consider when developing a strategy for BBCRM?

First and foremost, consider your biggest goals. Your BBCRM implementation should serve the high-level goals. The first question should be what you want to accomplish, before you start to address any questions about how to do things.

When should I engage Concourse for strategic BBCRM consulting?

There’s no time like the present! There are certain points at which a high-level review is a natural fit, such as a new CEO or VP, in preparation for a major capital campaign, when undergoing a merger or organizational restructuring, or when evaluating whether to stay on BBCRM. A strategy session can also shed light on poor fundraising metrics, executive dissatisfaction with CRM performance, or staff resistance to BBCRM adoption and utilization.

What if we need help with Blackbaud CRM SDK?

Strategy consulting can help uncover and clarify your organization’s specific needs around custom BBCRM development. Visit our BBCRM Services page to learn more about Concourse’s other offerings supporting your Blackbaud software implementation, including SDK outsourcing for customized development with quick turnaround.

Do you offer Blackbaud Enterprise Fundraising CRM training?

Yes! Concourse specializes in custom training. We don’t do pre-packaged training or support because every nonprofit organization has its own unique BBCRM implementation, organizational goals and challenges. Our focus on customized training means you only pay for what you and your team need to do your job.