This would help pull data from Raiser's Edge queries into well designed, user friendly, lay-person friendly formats that can inform and uncover trends that are more cumbersome to find and even pull in just excel or at just the query level. I am currently investigating for my organization options for data visualization software that we could use at the staff level, but also to use for our board to help emphasize trends and prepare for their questions. In addition, Tableau boasts being easy to use and very mobile which means quick analysis is possible while preparing for events or meetings and business trips with quick turnaround.

In just one hour of a online webinar they have, they track multiple trends in attractive graphs quickly and show very easy manipulation of data. However, it is that easy because they connect to databases that share the dynamic information, which could be done with RE through the query module.

In addition, if Luminate Online/Net Community was connected as a database in Tableau's repertoire that would allow for all the Blackbaud users with this setup to monitor all their social media live hour by hour on a tableau dashboard, which becomes an extremely powerful tool for especially non-profits trying to utilize email lists and digital social outreach.

I strongly encourage this be taken seriously because there is a huge potential for improving data use. Furthermore, it could streamline organizational communication using different styles and approaches to the information and its presentation to varying audiences, including that of peer staff, donors, and board members. I am confident assuming a linkage of these two programs would be sought after by a lot of data oriented or donor oriented teams/organizations using blackbaud looking to connect the dots.