API Capabilities for Custom Integration and Automation in Raiser's Edge

Why? Current Limitations and Needs:
- The Blackbaud API (Sky API) does not expose all fields needed for advanced reporting and automation, such as certain custom fields (e.g., ESG on gifts) and the export module. This limits the ability to fully automate data flows and reporting between RE and external systems like Power BI, data warehouses, and marketing platforms.
- Some critical modules (e.g., export) are only available in the legacy database view, not in WebView or via API, making it impossible to automate exports or integrate with tools like Power Automate for scheduled data pulls.
- There are gaps in the API for exporting data, and the timeline for closing these gaps is unclear. For example, the ability to export specific fields or run exports programmatically is not yet available and is only scheduled for a future release.
- The current API endpoints do not allow for all types of queries or exports, which means some data must be manually exported and then processed, rather than being available for real-time or scheduled automation.
- The API does not support all automation scenarios, such as triggering notifications or custom workflows based on data changes, or integrating with external notification/email systems directly from the database.

Desired Enhancements:
- Expand the Sky API to provide full read/write access to all data fields and modules in RE, including custom fields, batch exports, and all gift attributes.
- Enable programmatic access to the export module, so exports can be scheduled, triggered, and downloaded via API, supporting integration with Power Automate, Power BI, and other automation tools.
- Allow for more flexible, parameterized queries and exports via API, including the ability to filter, group, and aggregate data as needed for reporting and integration.
- Support for webhooks or event-driven API endpoints, so external systems can be notified of changes in RE (e.g., new gifts, updated donor records) and trigger automated workflows.
- Provide better documentation and support for integrating RE with data warehouses, including best practices for schema management, incremental data loads, and automation of summary tables and custom reporting fields.
- Allow for secure, role-based API access so that different teams (e.g., data, fundraising, IT) can build and maintain their own integrations and automations without compromising data security.

Sample Use Cases
- Automating the flow of data from RE to a data warehouse, with the ability to filter, summarize, and transform data as needed for analytics and reporting.

- Integrating RE with Power BI and other BI tools for real-time dashboards, without manual exports or data manipulation.
- Automating notifications and reporting (e.g., sending summary reports or anomaly alerts) directly from the database using API-driven workflows.
- Enabling custom pre-processing and translation of data fields (e.g., channel, campaign, appeal) before import/export, to support complex business rules and data governance.