Blackbaud has been highlighting our new SKY API capabilities inside Blackbaud Grantmaking since we introduced they had been stay in beta throughout our Might Product Replace Briefing. There are some thrilling potentialities that APIs can deliver 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 take some time to discover ways to use the APIs will be profound.
What’s an API and the way does it work?
The Blackbaud SKY API, or Utility Programming Interface, is mainly a algorithm that outlines how one piece of software program can entry information or performance supplied by a separate piece of software program. This entry permits completely different programs to speak with each other and share performance and information.
Whether or not you understand it or not, you employ APIs day by day. Do you verify the climate forecast in your cellphone? That app makes use of an API that connects to and shares information 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 fee info between these programs and the seller.
Blackbaud’s trendy SKY API capabilities offer you that energy to attach and share information with different programs in the identical approach. You need to use that connection to view and use information from any system that has API capabilities, which most trendy programs do. As we proceed to broaden the fields and information obtainable to share inside Blackbaud Grantmaking, we’ve lately hit a significant milestone. Our SKY APIs in Blackbaud Grantmaking now have endpoint parity with the legacy API software that was beforehand obtainable. Which means something you can do with the previous system now you can do with the SKY API, and this may solely proceed to develop as we add extra endpoints. Every endpoint represents extra information fields that the API can acquire and share, in order these develop inside Blackbaud Grantmaking, you’ll have extra info obtainable to share with exterior programs.
What are you able to do at present, and what are we trying to ship sooner or later?
At present, Blackbaud Grantmaking’s SKY API capabilities are centered round monetary information, like grant quantities and remaining stability. You’ll be able to already share that info together with your monetary system whereas additionally pulling information like fee date or fee sort into your grant administration system. Now that every one the Blackbaud Grantmaking API finish factors are modernized, it supplies extra alternatives for connections to different programs.
To offer extra worth for our grantmaking prospects, we’re working internally and with third-party builders to offer ready-built integrations for specific instruments. Chances are you’ll already be conversant in our plug-and-play Raiser’s Edge NXT integration with Blackbaud Grantmaking, obtainable within the Blackbaud Market. That is constructed on our legacy APIs, however our imaginative and prescient is to have comparable and extra expansive connectors obtainable sooner or later that will help you get probably the most out of your grantmaking software program. The last word aim is to offer you the instruments and skills to develop and lengthen your system so you are able to do your work, your approach.
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 could be a little bit of a studying curve to start working with any API. Blackbaud is right here that will help you discover your footing and begin the journey. The primary place to start out is our SKY API web page, which has a ton of sources obtainable 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 extra sources on the API web page that stroll you thru the fundamentals and vital issues to know.
When you’ve familiarized your self with the software, the following step is dipping your toes within the water. Begin considering by means of what processes you can enhance or make extra environment friendly by growing your individual connections. Blackbaud has boards that will help you with this as you start constructing out your APIs. Probably the most helpful could also be our Blackbaud SKY Developer Group. Lots of our prospects throughout all our API enabled merchandise use the Group web page to submit questions and solutions and share their successes and classes discovered.
Excited by utilizing PowerAutomate to construct your individual 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 staff will help you with bugs or different suspected points with the SKY Developer instruments. Nonetheless, it’s vital 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 attempting to develop or construct an integration for you outright. Let your Buyer Service Supervisor or Account Government know in case you’d be all in favour of us working with you on this.
So, what’s subsequent?
Go forth and conquer! Learn the documentation obtainable and brainstorm what integrations and connections can be most useful to your group and processes. Be sure you look by means of the Group for inspiration and to see what others are doing and what they’ve discovered alongside the best way. You can too use the Thought Financial institution inside Group to counsel pre-built integrations—after which encourage different prospects to vote for it.
Lastly, create your developer account and craft a easy connection that may provide help to see or share information that you just’ve all the time wished you can. When you get the hold of it, you’ll be grateful you began, and your solely query for Blackbaud will probably be “when can I get extra endpoints?” to make much more issues doable.
Need to hear extra about what’s subsequent for SKY APIs and the innovation coming to Blackbaud Grantmaking? Be 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 provide help to drive extra influence.
