Level-Up Your Blackbaud Investment into Better Fundraising Results
Your donor database should be a strategic asset that empowers your fundraising team to work smarter, make better decisions, and raise more money.
Next Level Database Services helps nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions maximize the value of their Blackbaud® technology. With more than 25 years of experience in advancement services, we combine deep technical expertise with real-world fundraising knowledge to optimize your database, improve data quality, streamline processes, and deliver reporting that drives action.
Whether you’re implementing new functionality, transitioning to Unified View, onboarding new staff, or simply trying to get more from Raiser’s Edge NXT®, we’re here to help your team reach the next level.
Let’s unlock the full potential of your Blackbaud investment.
What We Do
Contract Assessment & Negotiation
Are you paying for tools you don't use, or missing capabilities you need? Take the guesswork out of your next Blackbaud renewal. We'll review your current contract, identify underutilized products and services, and provide expert guidance to help you negotiate the right products, services, and pricing.
Raiser's Edge NXT Optimization
Get more from the tools you already own. We'll evaluate your current configuration, identify opportunities for improvement, recommend best practices, and help your team fully leverage Raiser's Edge NXT's capabilities.
Blackbaud Product Adoption
Many organizations invest in Blackbaud solutions but never fully utilize them. We help increase adoption across your organization through practical guidance, workflow design, and customized training so your staff can confidently use the tools available to them.
Unified View Transition Support
Moving from Database View to Unified View is a significant change. We'll help your organization plan, prepare, and successfully transition while minimizing disruption and ensuring staff confidence throughout the process.
Database Health & Data Hygiene
Healthy data is the foundation of successful fundraising. We'll assess your database, identify inconsistencies, duplicate records, coding issues, and outdated practices, then develop a roadmap to improve data quality and long-term governance.
Reporting & Dashboard Development
Turn your data into meaningful insights. From executive dashboards to fundraiser portfolios and campaign reporting, we build reports that help leadership and development staff make informed decisions with confidence.
Business Process Review
Technology alone doesn't solve problems. We evaluate your fundraising and advancement operations, identify inefficiencies, document best practices, and design workflows that improve productivity and reduce administrative burden.
Staff Training & Onboarding
Whether you're welcoming a new database administrator, onboarding gift officers, or training an entire advancement team, we provide customized instruction tailored to your organization's processes and goals.
How We Work
Database projects succeed when people are part of the process. That's why every engagement follows a collaborative, practical approach.
Discover
We begin by understanding your organization's goals, challenges, current processes, and technology landscape.
Evaluate
Next, we assess your database configuration, workflows, reporting, and opportunities for improvement.
Optimize
We implement practical solutions that improve efficiency, increase user adoption, and strengthen data quality.
Empower
Finally, we ensure your team has the training, documentation, and confidence needed to sustain long-term success.
Our goal isn't to create dependence on consultants like us. It's to leave your organization stronger than we found it.
What Client Success Looks Like
- Greater confidence in their fundraising data
- Cleaner, healthier databases
- Streamlined advancement operations
- Better adoption of Blackbaud products and features
- More effective prospect management
- Faster gift processing and reporting
- Improved executive dashboards and reporting
- Better onboarding for new staff
- Increased efficiency across development teams
Who We Serve
Every nonprofit has unique challenges, but they all rely on accurate data, efficient processes, and actionable insights to build stronger donor relationships. Next Level Database Services partners with organizations of all sizes, including:
Independent Schools (K–12)
Support admissions, advancement, alumni relations, annual giving, and capital campaigns while maximizing the value of Blackbaud Education Management and Raiser's Edge NXT.
Colleges & Universities
Improve advancement operations, prospect management, stewardship, and reporting to help development teams raise more with confidence.
Charitable Nonprofits
From community organizations to healthcare systems and national nonprofits, we help development teams streamline operations and strengthen fundraising programs.
Faith-Based Organizations
Improve donor management, reporting, and stewardship while creating efficient processes that allow staff to focus on ministry and mission.
Are You Ready to Take Your Blackbaud Investment to the Next Level?
Whether you need a database assessment, staff training, reporting improvements, or strategic guidance, Next Level Database Services can help you build a stronger foundation for fundraising success.
Let’s start the conversation.
Schedule a complimentary consultation and discover how your advancement technology can work harder for your mission.
About Next Level Database Services
At Next Level Database Services, we believe technology should make fundraising easier—not more complicated.
Our mission is to help nonprofit organizations, independent schools, and higher education institutions maximize the value of their advancement technology through thoughtful consulting, practical solutions, and personalized support.
Every organization is different. That’s why we don’t offer one-size-fits-all recommendations. We partner closely with our clients to understand their goals, strengthen their processes, improve data quality, and build systems that support long-term fundraising success.
Whether you need a trusted advisor for a specific project or ongoing strategic guidance, Next Level Database Services becomes an extension of your advancement team.
Consulting from One of the Blackbaud Community’s Most Trusted Experts.
Carlene Johnson is a Raiser’s Edge power user, Community All-Star, and frequent bbcon presenter who has spent more than 30 years helping nonprofits transform data into fundraising success.
Beginning with Raiser’s Edge in the DOS era and continuing through today’s cloud-based RE NXT platform, Carlene has built a reputation for combining deep technical expertise with a practical understanding of fundraising operations. She specializes in product adoption, database optimization, staff training, advancement operations, reporting, and helping organizations maximize their Blackbaud investment.
Carlene holds Blackbaud Professional Certifications in Raiser’s Edge and Raiser’s Edge NXT and has extensive experience across the Blackbaud ecosystem, including Financial Edge, K–12 Education Management Solutions, Blackbaud Merchant Services, Online Express, Target Analytics, ResearchPoint, and numerous third-party integrations.
Clients value Carlene not only for her technical knowledge but for her ability to explain complex concepts in plain language, build strong relationships, and empower organizations to become more confident and self-sufficient.
When she’s not consulting, you’ll likely find her presenting at bbcon, sharing knowledge with fellow Blackbaud users, attending adult summer camps, or exploring new technologies like Microsoft Power Platform.
Why Choose Next Level Database Services?
Experience You Can Trust
With more than 25 years of Advancement Services experience, Carlene has worked on virtually every aspect of fundraising operations, from gift processing and prospect management to reporting, stewardship, and executive dashboards.
Certified Blackbaud Expertise
As a Blackbaud Professional Certified consultant in both Raiser's Edge and Raiser's Edge NXT, Carlene understands not only how the software works, but how organizations can use it to achieve their fundraising goals.
Practical Solutions
Recommendations should be realistic. Every engagement focuses on solutions your staff can actually implement and maintain long after the project is complete.
A Fundraiser's Perspective
Technology is only valuable when it supports fundraising. Carlene translates technical database concepts into language that development officers, gift officers, leadership teams, and database administrators all understand.
Personalized Consulting
When you work with Next Level Database Services, you're working directly with the founder and a select cadre of senior consultants. You'll receive responsive service, individualized attention, and a partner who is invested in your organization's success.