I agree with the above comments to rename it to Relationship Manager

I totally agree as well! We need this change to happen!

I agree with all the comments.  Even in Advancement, fundraising is only one part of the engagement function and relationship management covers the complete process more effectively.  We also know that most higher education providers are looking for more broad CRM capability and it will benefit Blackbaud for us to be able to engage other relationship managers in the use of Raiser's Edge instead of constantly justifying why we have to be different.

I feel strongly about this, and completely agree with Christine's comment. The language used have made it more challenging to expand usage of RE NXT outside of the Advancement space. 

Not everyone is fundraising or a fundraiser. This title implies that our engagements efforts are purely based on funding solicitation which is absolutely NOT true, especially in a higher education sector. 

For example, in higher education, we have relationships with our constituents who could be Industry partners and this could be based on the provision of internship or Work Integrated Learning opportunities.

Furthermore, not all relationships are fundraising based - e.g. stewardship, or executive lead, industry lead and having the title of Relationship Manager, would make more sense and would cover all the different scenarios.

I do hope this request is carefully reconsidered to show some flexibility to Blackbaud clients who are not all from Charity or NFP sector. 

Thank you,
Sutji

I too feel strongly about this.

The specific language used in RE has been the number one turn off for University's departments outside of the Advancement/Fundraising area followed closely by the complexity of RE7. We have overcome it slightly by creating Solicitor types such as

• Advancement Relationship Manager (these ARE fundraisers)
• AMC RelationshipsManager (not fundraisers)
• Faculty of Health Relationship Manager (nor fundraisers)

With the introduction of NXT we again have another opportunity to broaden the usage of RE at the University as it DOES hold all key stakeholders and is simpler to use. However, the fundraising specific language is quite simply a turn off to many. 

Imagine the increased business with greater user uptake, if Blackbaud was prepared to be a little more flexible in their approach.

Thanks for listening,

Cheers
Chris

I feel strongly about it!

Some of us work very hard to adapt RE to the needs of our business practices.  In our organization, there are very distinct sets of relationship managers.  Our organizers manage relationships with -- and mobilize -- grassroots activists, whom they track in their portfolios.  We have developed a set of action types that tracks the actions of both the organizers and the advocates.  It is a stretch, but we make it work.  One of the biggest hindrances is the hard-wired "Fundraiser" language of NXT.  RE7's "Solicitor" was slightly better, but "Relationship Manager" is what we really need.