Blackbaud has been highlighting our new SKY API capabilities inside Blackbaud Grantmaking since we introduced they have been stay in beta throughout our Might Product Replace Briefing. There are some thrilling potentialities that APIs can convey to your Grantmaking software, however it may be a bit formidable to get began. When you’re over the preliminary hurdles, the rewards for these organizations that make an effort to learn to use the APIs might be profound.
What’s an API and the way does it work?
The Blackbaud SKY API, or Software Programming Interface, is mainly a algorithm that outlines how one piece of software program can entry knowledge or performance offered by a separate piece of software program. This entry permits completely different programs to speak with each other and share performance and knowledge.
Whether or not you understand it or not, you utilize APIs every single day. Do you verify the climate forecast in your cellphone? That app makes use of an API that connects to and shares knowledge from a climate service. Do you ever use Fb or Google to log right into a third-party web site? That’s an API that authenticates you and provides you entry. Do you buy something utilizing PayPal or Google Pay? That connection is created by an API that shares cost data between these programs and the seller.
Blackbaud’s fashionable SKY API capabilities provide you with that energy to attach and share knowledge with different programs in the identical method. You need to use that connection to view and use knowledge from any system that has API capabilities, which most fashionable programs do. As we proceed to broaden the fields and knowledge accessible to share inside Blackbaud Grantmaking, we’ve just lately hit a serious milestone. Our SKY APIs in Blackbaud Grantmaking now have endpoint parity with the legacy API software that was beforehand accessible. Which means something you might do with the previous system now you can do with the SKY API, and it will solely proceed to develop as we add extra endpoints. Every endpoint represents further knowledge fields that the API can accumulate and share, in order these develop inside Blackbaud Grantmaking, you’ll have extra data accessible to share with exterior programs.
What are you able to do at present, and what are we trying to ship sooner or later?
Right this moment, Blackbaud Grantmaking’s SKY API capabilities are centered round monetary knowledge, like grant quantities and remaining steadiness. You’ll be able to already share that data along with your monetary system whereas additionally pulling knowledge like cost date or cost kind into your grant administration system. Now that each one the Blackbaud Grantmaking API finish factors are modernized, it gives further alternatives for connections to different programs.
To offer extra worth for our grantmaking clients, we’re working internally and with third-party builders to offer ready-built integrations for explicit instruments. Chances are you’ll already be acquainted with our plug-and-play Raiser’s Edge NXT integration with Blackbaud Grantmaking, accessible within the Blackbaud Market. That is constructed on our legacy APIs, however our imaginative and prescient is to have comparable and extra expansive connectors accessible sooner or later that can assist you get probably the most out of your grantmaking software program. The last word objective is to give you the instruments and skills to develop and lengthen your system so you are able to do your work, your method.
You don’t want to attend for Blackbaud, or third events, nevertheless. You’ll be able to truly get began utilizing the APIs at present. Right here’s how.
The place do I get began?
There generally is a little bit of a studying curve to start working with any API. Blackbaud is right here that can assist you discover your footing and begin the journey. The primary place to begin is our SKY API web page, which has a ton of sources accessible to you. All of it begins, nevertheless, with you making a SKY Developer account—right here is the sign-up web page. Don’t be scared off by the time period “developer.” There are a selection of low-code and no-code choices. Upon getting your account arrange, you’ll discover further sources on the API web page that stroll you thru the fundamentals and essential issues to know.
When you’ve familiarized your self with the software, the subsequent step is dipping your toes within the water. Begin pondering by means of what processes you might enhance or make extra environment friendly by creating your personal connections. Blackbaud has boards that can assist you with this as you start constructing out your APIs. Essentially the most helpful could also be our Blackbaud SKY Developer Group. A lot of our clients throughout all our API enabled merchandise use the Group web page to put up questions and solutions and share their successes and classes discovered.
Focused on utilizing PowerAutomate to construct your personal low-code resolution? Blackbaud Grantmaking helps the Blackbaud SKY Add-ins Licensed Energy Connecter.
We are able to after all additionally help you immediately by means of Blackbaud Assist. Our Assist group will help you with bugs or different suspected points with the SKY Developer instruments. Nevertheless, it’s essential to notice that Assist doesn’t troubleshoot code, present coaching, or provide code samples. On the similar time, our Skilled Providers group can immediately assist seek the advice of on an integration you’re making an attempt to develop or construct an integration for you outright. Let your Buyer Service Supervisor or Account Government know when you’d be keen on us working with you on this.
So, what’s subsequent?
Go forth and conquer! Learn the documentation accessible and brainstorm what integrations and connections could be most useful to your group and processes. You’ll want to look by means of the Group for inspiration and to see what others are doing and what they’ve discovered alongside the way in which. You may as well use the Thought Financial institution inside Group to recommend pre-built integrations—after which encourage different clients to vote for it.
Lastly, create your developer account and craft a easy connection that may assist you see or share knowledge that you simply’ve all the time wished you might. When you get the dangle of it, you’ll be grateful you began, and your solely query for Blackbaud shall be “when can I get extra endpoints?” to make much more issues attainable.
Need to hear extra about what’s subsequent for SKY APIs and the innovation coming to Blackbaud Grantmaking? Be a part of us for our subsequent Product Replace Briefing to see how we’re creating even tighter connections to save lots of you time and assist you drive extra influence.
