Online Forms

Krissy Dunn

Hi! Is there a Blackbaud University course that shows the best way to make online forms in Raiser's Edge? When we use the Events Module at our organization, we don't love the way the forms look externally, especially when we are creating a sign-up form to join specific email listservs. A course which teaches an alternative way to build an online form would be really helpful. Thanks in advance for pointing us in the right direction!

Elizabeth Johnson

Hi @Krissy Dunn, tell me more - it sounds like you are already thinking outside of the box! Are you using Online Express (OLX) or the web view event registration forms? Have you done anything with Power Automate yet?

Yes, I believe there are classes that can help! Looking forward to hearing back from you so I can better answer your great question!

Krissy Dunn

@Elizabeth Johnson We just transitioned to Raiser's Edge from eTapestry at the end of 2024 and were told by the person helping us with our implementation to use the webview event registration forms. Since then, I discovered Online Express but haven't been able to access it yet. I have a call with support to troubleshoot. I've never heard of Power Automate but will reach out to our IT company about whether or not it is included in our Microsoft subscription.

Elizabeth Johnson

@Krissy Dunn Thanks for getting back to me so I can better serve you!

I would consider sticking with the web view forms as who is to say how long OLX (there is not sunset date) will be with us as Blackbaud moves to the Total Web Solution. If I was going to invest in training that would be where I would want to invest my time to make it work. That and Power Automate. It took me a little while (three months) for our IT department to get me access to the premium Power Automate as we are a Google shop and not Microsoft. It was so worth the wait. It costs approximately $10 a month - BB recommends two licenses. TechSoup is a resource that they often share - you should share that with your IT department. It works well with Microsoft Forms if you have that but it will work with other forms as well and might serve your needs.

Check out bbdevday! I just did the free registration today (first week of June is Reunion prep so free works for the amount of time I can put into it.)

There are tons of videos on YouTube that will allow you to start seeing the potential. Get inspired and take the BBU class! There are eLearning ones to get started with.

• Microsoft Power Platform Overview
• Microsoft Power Platform Templates

If you want to share some of your forms with me sometime I'd be happy to look in a few days. You can DM me the links.

Elizabeth Johnson

@Krissy Dunn I just signed up for this free webinar tomorrow on Event Management with two rock star BBU instructors @Kimberly Piecuch and @Marie Broek thought I'd pass this great free with the trainer events on as it is so pertinent to what you are working on.