Blackbaud API: ON and SKY – Finalsite Enrollment

Finalsite Enrollment integrates with both Blackbaud ON Suite (OnRecord, OnBoard, Core) and Blackbaud SKY (currently in closed beta) to push student, parent, and sibling data into Blackbaud via a custom export. Initial setup runs through the Finalsite Enrollment Client Services Team, after which the export can be pushed on demand using a Push To Blackbaud button.

💡Quick Answers

Is Blackbaud SKY available now? SKY is in closed beta. If you're interested, connect with your client success manager. Do not start setup on your end before contacting Support.
How do I get the integration set up? The Finalsite Enrollment Client Services Team handles the initial configuration. Standard SLA is 6-8 weeks from final requirements.
How does data actually get pushed? Run the configured export, then click Push To Blackbaud at the top of the integration screen. You can view and download the data before or after pushing. Any errors that occur on push appear at the top of the integration screen.
How does the integration know whether to create or update a user? By the UserID column. Rows without a UserID create new users in Blackbaud. Rows with a UserID update the matching existing user. New users have their Blackbaud ID auto-recorded to the blackbaud_api_id field in Finalsite Enrollment.
What roles can student contacts have in Blackbaud? Candidate, Incoming Student, or Student. The role mapping is configured during initial export setup based on your school's needs.
How are parents and siblings handled? Parents push over with the Parent role and link to their students automatically. Siblings pushed together in the same export link to each other with the Sibling role.

What is the setup process like?

Note regarding Blackbaud Sky setup: Please connect with our team before initiating any setup for Blackbaud Sky in Finalsite Enrollment on your end.

The initial setup and configuration of this integration will be done by the Finalsite Enrollment Client Services Team. The standard custom data export service level agreement from receipt of final requirements is 6-8 weeks. Once the initial data export is configured, it can be pushed over to Blackbaud by running the export as you would for any custom data export.

How does the integration work?

The integration pushes data from Finalsite Enrollment to Blackbaud, using a custom export template.

When the export is run, a button will appear at the top of the integration screen that says, 'Push To Blackbaud'. The user can also view and download the data that is being pushed, prior to or after pushing the data.

Once that button is clicked, the integration will push data to Blackbaud. Once the push is complete, the errors, if any, will be listed at the top of the integration screen. The data will then appear in Blackbaud.

About Users

The API can both create and update existing users in Blackbaud.

The API uses the UserID column to decide whether to perform an update or a create. Users who do not have a UserId in that column will be created. Users who do have that ID will be updated.

When users are initially pushed to Blackbaud and created, the Finalsite Enrollment system automatically records their ID in the field called ‘blackbaud_api_id’. Existing users in Blackbaud must have their IDs imported into that field for the system to correctly update them.

Users in Blackbaud can have various roles set by the integration. Student contacts within Finalsite Enrollment can have the role of a Candidate, Incoming Student or a Student. These roles are configured as part of the initial export setup process, based on the school's needs.

About Parents and Students

Parents will automatically be assigned the role of Parent as part of the export process and linked to their students in Blackbaud.
Siblings who are pushed together in a single export will automatically be linked to each other in Blackbaud with the role of Sibling.

Additional Resources