Burgan Advancement Consulting
Burgan Advancement Consulting specializes in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT® consulting and advancement strategy. I help schools and small-to-mid-sized nonprofits overcome common fundraising challenges, such as donor engagement and database management, by aligning strategy with day-to-day operations. From optimizing databases to streamlining processes, my goal is to ensure your team works efficiently and effectively. With a blend of big-picture vision and practical solutions, I partner with you to build sustainable growth and lasting donor relationships.
A holistic approach to fundraising that aligns every part of advancement so development teams of any size work smarter, not harder.
Harness donor databases to unlock insights and drive decisions that lead to measurable, lasting fundraising results.
Mission-driven fundraising that keeps people at the center—because authentic relationships build stronger, more sustainable support.
Strategy
A holistic approach to fundraising that aligns every part of advancement so development teams of any size work smarter, not harder.
data
Using donor databases to unlock insights and drive decisions that lead to measurable, lasting fundraising results.
heart
Mission-driven fundraising that keeps people at the center—because authentic relationships build stronger, more sustainable support.
Services
Burgan Advancement Consulting partners with schools and small-to-mid-sized nonprofits to strengthen every aspect of advancement work through tailored solutions. I specialize in optimizing Raiser’s Edge NXT databases and streamlining advancement operations. I provide practical, customized solutions that help your team save time, reduce stress, and raise more support.In-person consulting services are available within a 60-mile radius of Somerville, New Jersey. For the most part, staff training and consulting services can be conducted remotely. On-site temporary and fractional staffing coverage requests are assessed on an individual basis.
Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT Consulting
With 14 years of experience and multiple Blackbaud certifications, I help organizations get the most out of Raiser’s Edge NXT. From audits and cleanups to training and integrations, I’ll ensure your system supports—not hinders—your fundraising goals, giving you confidence in your technology investments.
Burgan Advancement Consulting is an official member of the Blackbaud Partner Network.
Database assessments, audits, and cleanups
Custom dashboards created with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® Insight Designer
Systems preparation for integrations of Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT® and Blackbaud Education Management Solutions®
Customized staff training on Raiser’s Edge NXT
Temporary and long-term database management services
Gift entry, acknowledgment, and reconciliation audits
Creation of Policy and procedure manuals
Workflow mapping and documentation
About Burgan Advancement Consulting
Mallory Burgan, CFRE, bCRE-Pro
With over 15 years of experience in advancement and development, I have partnered with organizations to grow donor pipelines, reimagine annual campaigns, and optimize data systems, resulting in increased fundraising success and stronger donor relationships. I understand the challenges that nonprofits face when balancing ambitious goals with limited resources, and I bring a practical, solutions-oriented approach to every project.I have previously held professional fundraising roles in advancement services, annual giving, grant writing, and community outreach at the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and Friends Select School. When I’m not working, you’ll find me in the garden or curled up with a cat (or two), making progress on my Goodreads challenge.
Ansel Adams, Office Manager
Ansel has been part of Burgan Advancement Consulting since its inception and plays an integral role in greeting visitors and promoting a healthy work environment. When he is not working, he enjoys gazing out the window at the garden, and soliciting belly rubs from any willing party.
Raiser's Edge NXT Consulting Services
Database Assessments, Audits, and Cleanups
How does a Raiser's Edge NXT audit improve data integrity?
A Raiser's Edge NXT audit identifies data silos, duplicate records, and inconsistent table structures to restore a single source of truth. This process ensures your advancement team can rely on accurate reporting and streamlined outreach for more effective fundraising, building trust in your data integrity.
The Audit and Cleanup Process:
System Discovery: A comprehensive scan of your current environment to identify orphaned data and disconnected silos.
Stakeholder Discovery: Conducting staff interviews and workflow shadowing to understand how your team interacts with the database, focusing on the manual workarounds and pain points that automated audits might miss.
Coding Audit: Reviewing your Table Entries, Attributes/Special Codes, and Custom Fields to identify and eliminate redundant or conflicting categories.
Strategic Remediation: Executing bulk cleanups and merging records while preserving historical giving data.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Establishing new data entry protocols to maintain clean and trustworthy records moving forward.
Custom Dashboards with Insight Designer
How do custom Insight Designer dashboards improve board reporting?
Custom dashboards move beyond static reports by providing real-time visualizations of the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that matter to leadership. I design intuitive, dynamic displays within Raiser's Edge NXT to help your team monitor donor pipelines, campaign progress, and year-over-year growth at a glance, empowering your decision-making.
Key Deliverables for Dashboard Projects:
KPI Discovery: Identifying the core metrics (e.g., retention rates, major gift officer activity, or gift bands) that drive your strategic goals.
Insight Creation: Building custom Insights using measures and attributes that standard NXT reports often overlook.
Board-Ready Visuals: Organizing data into drag-and-drop layouts that are easy for non-technical leadership to interpret.
Automated Distribution: Setting up scheduled reporting so stakeholders receive updates without manual effort from your staff.
Financial Edge NXT® Integration Prep
What is required to link Raiser's Edge NXT with Financial Edge NXT?
Successful integration requires aligning your Chart of Accounts and mapping data between fundraising and finance. I specialize in the preparation needed on the Raiser's Edge NXT side to ensure a seamless flow of information, reducing manual reconciliation and cross-departmental friction, and fostering confidence in your systems.
The Integration Readiness Roadmap:
Chart of Accounts (CoA) Alignment: Reviewing your GL distributions to ensure they match your finance office's structure.
Project & Fund Mapping: Defining how NXT Funds, Campaigns, and Appeals translate into FE NXT Projects and Grants.
Blackbaud ID (BBID) Audit: Ensuring all cross-departmental users have the correct permissions and security groups.
Data Validation: Testing the "Post to GL" process to identify issues and fix errors before they reach your general ledger.
Education Management Solutions® Integration Prep
How do Raiser's Edge NXT and Blackbaud Education Management work together?
Integrating these systems links parent, student, and alumni data through the Common Records Engine (CORE). I manage the data preparation required to ensure that information flows accurately from enrollment through to long-term advancement and stewardship.
The CORE Integration Roadmap:
Persona Mapping: Defining how Student, Parent, and Alumni constituencies are identified and updated across both platforms.
Relationship Linkage: Ensuring that Head of Household and familial relationships in the Education Management side translate correctly to Constituent relationships in Raiser's Edge NXT.
Biographical Sync: Establishing protocols for address, email, and phone number updates to prevent data fragmentation.
Alumni Transition Planning: Automating the process of moving graduating students into the Alumni Constituent status within your database.
Constituent Record Completion: Identifying the remaining information that needs to be added to newly created records imported from CORE and documenting a process to import additional fields.
Customized Staff Training
Why is tailored Raiser's Edge NXT training better than generic courses?
Tailored training focuses on your organization's unique business rules and specific workflows rather than generic features. Whether transitioning staff to the Web View or onboarding new hires, I empower your team to use the software with precision and confidence.
Training Session Highlights:
Workflow-Specific Tutorials: Training tailored to your gift entry or prospect management cycles.
Web View Adoption: Helping veteran Database View users master the modern NXT interface.
Custom Reference Guides: Providing clear and easy-to-reference documents with your organization's unique data entry standards.
Database Management and Gift Audits
How do gift entry and reconciliation audits protect nonprofit data?
These audits analyze the gift-processing lifecycle to identify bottlenecks and ensure 100% accuracy between development and finance. I focus on tightening the window between when the gift is received and when the donor is thanked, while establishing clear reconciliation protocols.
Audit Focus Areas:
Acknowledgement Speed: Reducing the turnaround time for tax receipts and personal thank-you notes.
Reconciliation Trails: Creating a clear "paper trail" from your payment gateway to your bank statement.
Database Oversight: Providing continuity during staff transitions to ensure your development operations never miss a beat.
Policies, Procedures, and Workflow Mapping
Why does a Raiser's Edge NXT procedure manual protect institutional memory?
A comprehensive manual outlines exactly how your database should be used, protecting your data from "decay" when staff leave. I visualize and document your internal processes to identify redundancies and streamline staff effort.
What's Included in the Documentation:
Business Rule Definition: Clearly defined standards for Records and Tables in Raiser's Edge NXT
Visual Workflow Maps: Flowcharts that illustrate how data moves through the entire donor lifecycle, from identification to stewardship.
SOP Documentation: Step-by-step instructions for recurring tasks like monthly reconciliation or mailing list pulls.
Free Downloads
Resources
Get The Good Data, Delivered Right To Your Inbox
If you're one of the many Raiser's Edge NXT users trying to keep up with Blackbaud's rapid product updates while also, you know, doing your actual job...this is for you.Each month, I publish a blog post diving into the details of database management best practices and Raiser's Edge NXT updates, paired with a newsletter that distills the most important takeaways for people who need the information without the rabbit hole.
Blackbaud Product Resources
InsideTrack to the Unified View Events
Join the Product Management Team for monthly updates on Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT. These sessions are designed to keep you informed and empowered, so you’re ready for the transition to the unified view.
Blackbaud Product Discovery Program
By participating in the Blackbaud product discovery program, you will have the opportunity to share your insights directly with the teams developing Blackbaud products, ensuring that your feedback contributes to meaningful improvements tailored to the needs of people like you.
Mallory Burgan, CFRE, bCRE-Pro
With over 15 years of experience in advancement and development, I have partnered with organizations to grow donor pipelines, reimagine annual campaigns, and optimize data systems. I understand the challenges that nonprofits face when balancing ambitious goals with limited resources, and I bring a practical, solutions-oriented approach to every project.I believe when nonprofits have the right tools and strategies in place, they can expand their reach and deepen their impact.
Technical Expertise and Systems Architecture
The Blackbaud K–12 Ecosystem
Blackbaud Education Management Solutions® (Core)
Expert in "One Record" architecture, managing foundational data flow between Admissions, Academics, and AdvancementBlackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT®
Full-lifecycle database administration, including gift processing, constituent management, and advanced query/reportingBlackbaud Financial Edge NXT® Strategic oversight of the General Ledger (GL) to Sub-Ledger relationship, ensuring seamless reconciliation between Development and the Business Office
Advanced Reporting & Data Visualization
Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® Insight Designer
Architecting custom, real-time dashboards for leadership and Board-level reportingBlackbaud ResearchPoint® Integrating wealth screening data for proactive prospect management and moves management strategy
Professional Certifications
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
Blackbaud Certified® Expert
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT® Professional Certification
Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT® Fundamentals Certification
ResearchPoint™ Fundamentals Certification
Organizational Best Practices Fundraising Certification
Fundraising Experience
Director of Advancement Services | Friends Select School
Led day-to-day operations for development, alumni relations, and database management for a premier K-12 institution.
Systems Integration: Orchestrated the full synchronization of Blackbaud products (Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT®, Blackbaud Education Management Solutions®, Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT®) to create a unified data ecosystem.Database Overhaul: Reconstructed campaign and appeal structures within Raiser’s Edge NXT to simplify gift recording and financial reconciliation.Strategic Oversight: Developed multi-channel message mapping (email, social, direct mail) and managed the annual departmental master calendar via project management platforms.Prospect Management: Optimized major gifts pipeline, utilizing DonorSearch and ResearchPoint to identify and strategize moves management for new prospects.
Associate Director of Development | Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Managed a team of five and served as the primary liaison between Development and Finance/Operations.
Revenue Growth: Increased net gala revenue by 74% and direct mail revenue by 73% over a six-year tenure.Program Innovation: Founded the Young Friends Board, resulting in a 574% revenue increase for the program.Compliance & Workflow: Partnered with the CFO and Audit Committee to overhaul gift processing protocols, ensuring 100% adherence to compliance standards.Systems Integration: Oversaw systems integration of Raiser’s Edge NXT and Financial Edge NXT.
Director of Community Engagement and Grants | Lancaster Symphony Orchestra
Grant Success: Secured contributions from corporate, foundation, and federal sources.Program Design: Envisioned and launched the "Sound Discovery" community engagement programs to expand organizational reach.
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