RE Training

Karen Stuhlfeier · August 2017

How would someone go about getting RE training if they don't already work for an organization that uses RE? t seems like there are a lot of jobs available that all require some experience and it would be good if there was a way to get training before you have a job?

Alicia Barevich · August 2017

We were just talking about that the other day! I got my foot in the door as a volunteer. Admittedly, I probably had more rights than a volunteer should, but I also came in with a lot of transferrable skills, and pre-signed confidentiality agreement and whatnot.

I am a huge advocate of internships, even if they only include read-only and restricted view access.

I'm curious though if there's really any other route...BB training besides Learn [through an organization] is of course absurly expensive.

BB must be aware that an RE skillset is very marketable, and could help them grow their products..I wonder if BB has ever considered a more open route to training....I'm thinking a school for RE minions

Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE · August 2017

Volunteering is a good way to learn RE and help an organization at the same time. It probably wouldn't be formal training but it would get someone some experience and familiarity with RE.

Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE · August 2017

It also helps if you have experience with other fundraising databases or databases in general. Obviously it depends on how strict the organization is when it comes to having Raiser's Edge experience. Most of what I have seen is that RE is listed as preferred instead of required. I think it also depends on what the organization is trying to find when hiring for a new RE position. Are they mostly just looking to fill the position with someone that will chug along and do the work or are they truly looking for someone that will bring their RE game to another level.

Karen Stuhlfeier · August 2017

Volunteering is great - but people need jobs and there are a lot of jobs that require RE knowledge. Taking the fundamentals classes for a total of about $1,800 might be a good investment for someone who has a college education and good office skills.

Karen Stuhlfeier · August 2017

A lot of times they want experience - but they aren't paying what experienced RE professionals generally make. I just think that if someone was able to take some basic training they would have a better chance of getting a job. People pay for all sorts of training, but they can't get RE training unless they work for an organization that has it.

Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE · August 2017

Yes people need jobs but if you either don't have a job or have a job and want a job with RE instead then volunteering is certainly an option until that new job happens. Either way $1,800 is a big investment, and even worse if you take the training and wind up getting a job that doesn't use RE.

roger berg · August 2017

I'll second (third?) the volunteer aspect - I have had student volunteers here at the college where I work and have encouraged them to list their RE skills on their resume. Of course, our student workers are basically data entry folks (with restricted access to some info in the records) but they fairly quickly learn their way around the program and I've had several over the years that I felt were more "fluent" than some of the staff in our department!

John Heizer · August 2017

Karen Stuhlfeier:

How would someone go about getting RE training if they don't already work for an organization that uses RE? t seems like there are a lot of jobs available that all require some experience and it would be good if there was a way to get training before you have a job?

We get a lot of interns looking for RE experience and I'm happy to get them on board and train them. We've also had a few volunteers who were interested in expanding their skill set to include RE.

John Heizer · August 2017

Karen Stuhlfeier:

A lot of times they want experience - but they aren't paying what experienced RE professionals generally make. I just think that if someone was able to take some basic training they would have a better chance of getting a job. People pay for all sorts of training, but they can't get RE training unless they work for an organization that has it.

You can't buy RE training unless you work for an organziation that has RE??

Karen Stuhlfeier · August 2017

That is what I've heard - but I could be wrong? Maybe someone at Blackbaud can answer this?

I've used many volunteers over the years and i've never trained them to understand much about RE - I've just given them specific taskes to complete and very limited rights. There are a lot of job opeings in my area that call for some RE experience. I just think that it might be useful for prospective employees to be able to take some training themselves if they want to and it might help them get a job.

Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE · August 2017

At the risk of having the last word (again) I'll chime in and mention that I have confirmed with Blackbaud that this is correct. You can only register for Blackbaud University classes if you are a current customer. Although they phrased it more like only current customers have access to Training Central. Not sure if there is a difference between the two, but that's how it was worded.

Jen Claudy · August 2017

As far as I know (although it's been well over a year since I asked someone at BB about it), you can create an account on Blackbaud.com and watch any of the free online videos, or purchase training a la carte. But training subscriptions can only be purchased by an organization. There is an option for an organization to purchase a training subscription for a single individual, but that subscription is attached to both the individual and the organization, so if the individual leaves the organization, the subscription can no longer be used by either side.

Not the greatest options in the world. I agree, it would be great if an individual could purchase a subscription without being tied to an organization.

John Heizer · August 2017

There are a number of videos on YouTube (some by Blackbaud, some by others) that provide instruction on RE: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=raiser%27s+edge

Jennifer Tubman · August 2017

Karen Stuhlfeier:

How would someone go about getting RE training if they don't already work for an organization that uses RE? t seems like there are a lot of jobs available that all require some experience and it would be good if there was a way to get training before you have a job?

Hi Karen,

Thanks for bringing this topic to the group! I help create Raiser's Edge training and will look into this for you. Once I clarify the options, I will reply back to this thread next week!

Thanks,

Jennifer

Faith Murray · August 2017

I'm interested in the outcome of this thread for a different level altogether. I'm already fluent in RE, but would really like to expand my skills in other industry databases, for my own personal gratification and to be able to converse with the many organizations in our region who don't use RE. My husband, who subbed for someone on maternity leave, would also like to be able to brush up his RE skills. It would be nice to be able to log into a personal RE training account and at least watch the online videos, pay for a la carte classes, and become certified without working for an organization. It's fine and well to volunteer when you are a college intern, but as a working parent, it's not always an available option.

Christine Cooke 2 · August 2017

Karen Stuhlfeier:

How would someone go about getting RE training if they don't already work for an organization that uses RE? t seems like there are a lot of jobs available that all require some experience and it would be good if there was a way to get training before you have a job?

There are some decent tutorials on YouTube under the name Raiser's Edge for Rookies that I ran across awhile back.

Deborah Drucker 2 · August 2017

Well, Blackbaud isn't going to like this answer, but when I had this problem a decade ago I found someone that was willing to tutor me in Raiser's Edge for pay. An internship was not a possibility as I had to work. (At the time, RE had a sample database available, so training didn't involve getting into the organization's actual data.)

When I got a job, the organization used a different database, however, being able to put down on my resume that I knew Raiser's Edge showed the hiring manager that I knew a fundraising database, and she was impressed that I had gone out of my way (and paid for) learning it on my own.

A recommendation I would make now is to look at the YouTube videos, and also to check out Bill Connor's book on Raiser's Edge. Also search around on Google on "Raiser's Edge" and "training." There are some people out there that do training outside of Blackbaud. I don't know whether this is kosher or not.

You can also learn a lot if you are willing to just slog through the User Guides. I've learned a great deal by doing this.

My guess is that the person that tutored me broke Blackbaud's rules. I do think it is unfortunate that Blackbaud presents such a barrier to learning their software. I don't really understand what they gain by it.

Heather MacKenzie · August 2017

As a side note to this, I'd be interested in something like this for other software as well. I'm interested in Financial Edge, for example, but my org doesn't own it, so we will never do a Learn subscription for it.

RE Training

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