How to Configure Raiser's Edge to Generate Letters

One of the greatest things about Raiser's Edge is that it works with Microsoft Word to seamlessly create the letters you need. Just try it once and you'll be hooked. The functions of Raiser's Edge make fundraising management as easy as it can get.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Raiser's Edge
• Microsoft Word

1. Open Raiser's Edge. Click "Configuration" on the toolbar. Select "Letters" to open the area you need. Click "New Letter," and choose the type of letter you need from "Gift," "Action" or "Membership."
2. Find letter descriptions on the right side of the Raiser's Edge instruction table. You will use this when you add new letters to access later.
3. Take advantage of the Blackbaud/Word Merge Export to do bulk mailings. Click the binocular icon to go into the merge export screen. Choose "Add New" or save your merges here if you believe you may need them later.
4. Use the "Output" tab to select merge fields. Click the plus sign by the fields in order to move a particular Raiser's Edge field into the output box. Either double-click it or Choose "Select." Use the "Insert RE7 Field" command to get what you need, such as "Name," "Address," "City," "State" and "Zip."
5. Choose "Edit Merge Document" and see a blank merge document appear in Microsoft Word. Insert any other variable information fields needed, such as when you pull in the "Salutation" data. Click the "Insert RE7 Field" command again and place a colon directly after it.
6. Compose the letter in its entirety, and then save with the name you have chosen. Close the screen and you will return to the "New Letter" screen.
7. Reopen the Raiser's Edge "Letters" tab and you will see the letter you just saved in the newly formed list.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use wildcards such as "?" and "*" when searching for letter types.

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