This article explains how to set up and use Emma's Blackbaud CRM integration.

Ⓘ Available to Lite, Teams, and Corporate accounts.

Our Blackbaud CRM integration syncs contacts from a Blackbaud CRM ad hoc query into a designated Emma group on a nightly schedule — no manual exports.

What this integrations does:

• Imports contacts from a Blackbaud CRM ad hoc query into Emma nightly
• Maps Blackbaud fields to Emma fields you select during setup

What this integration does not do:

• Sync contacts from Emma back to Blackbaud
• Automatically create or modify your Blackbaud query

✎	Note
	Connecting Blackbaud to Emma uses OAuth. This requires a Blackbaud ID (BBID) linked to a CRM user with permission to run ad hoc queries. If you don't have a BBID linked to your CRM user, contact your Blackbaud CRM administrator first.

 

	In This Article
	Setting Up the Blackbaud CRM Integration Creating an "Ad Hoc Query" in Blackbaud Frequently Asked Questions

Setting Up the Blackbaud CRM Integration

✎

Note

Before connecting Blackbaud CRM to Emma, confirm your environment meets the requirements below. Requirements differ depending on whether your Blackbaud CRM is hosted by Blackbaud or self-hosted (your own data center, your own cloud, or a third-party host like Concourse). These network and certificate items are Blackbaud SKY API requirements, not Emma-specific ones; your IT team works with Blackbaud Support directly to complete them.

 

If Your Blackbaud CRM Is Hosted by Blackbaud

• Your environment is on Service Pack 35 or later
  • SKY API access is enabled automatically at SP35+
  • Otherwise, you will need to contact Blackbaud Support to grant SKY API access.
• The person completing the "Connect with Blackbaud" step in Emma has a Blackbaud ID (BBID) linked to a CRM user with permission to run ad hoc queries.
• You have a saved ad hoc query (Constituent record type) that includes these required fields:
  • Email address
    • Filter Email Addresses to Primary = Yes
    • Exclude other addresses using Do Not Email = True
    • A constituent can have multiple email records, so these filters ensure each constituent returns one row
  • Lookup ID

 

If Your Blackbaud CRM Is Self-Hosted

• All of the above, plus these items — confirm with your IT team (or your hosting provider's technical contact, if third-party hosted):
  • Service Pack 35 or later—required for SKY API on self-hosted environments.
  • Your CRM environment is reachable via a public URL over the internet.
    • Per Blackbaud, VPNs, redirects, and custom SSO are not currently supported for this connection.
  • Your CRM server uses an SSL certificate from a public Certificate Authority (e.g., DigiCert, Let's Encrypt)
    • Self-signed certificates will fail validation.
  • Your IT team can allow inbound traf
  • 
    fic from Blackbaud's published SKY API IP ranges (see Blackbaud KB 204434).
  • Your IT team has confirmed a successful SOAP request to your CRM instance (Blackbaud's recommended pre-check).
  • You know which environments (production, staging, test) need SKY API enabled, and have each URL ready
    • SKY API is enabled per environment via a Blackbaud support case.

1. Navigate to your Audience tab.
2. Click on the Connect section in the panel on the left.

3. Click on the Connect Blackbaud button.

   

4. Sign in with your Blackbaud ID (BBID) and authorize Emma. If you don't have a BBID linked to your CRM user, contact your Blackbaud CRM administrator first.
    
   1. You'll be returned to Emma once authorized.
   2. If the connection fails, click Try Again and confirm you're signed into the correct Blackbaud account.
5. Click on the Done button.
6. Enter the desired Blackbaud Ad Hoc Query ID
   
   1. To find the Query ID, see CREATING an "Ad Hoc Query" in Blackbaud below
7. Verify the Ad Hoc Query ID
   1. If validation fails, confirm the Query ID is correct and that your Blackbaud account can run the query. On self-hosted environments, a failure may point to a network/SSL issue rather than the query
8. Connect your Group in Emma, and map Emma Fields on the following screen
   1. The Email field will be preselected and locked
   2. Map the Lookup ID field to BB Lookup ID
   3. Unmapped fields won't be imported. You can update mappings later
   4. Choose any other fields to map; these fields must exist in Emma beforehand
   5. Choose your connected Emma Group; this must exist in Emma beforehand
9. Choose Connect Blackbaud to finish

Return to the Connect page to see details for syncing or to view and edit your setup.

Ⓘ	Info
	The sync will run nightly.

Creating an "Ad Hoc Query" in Blackbaud

Emma uses a Blackbaud ad hoc query to determine which contacts sync and which fields are included. Create this query before continuing in Emma.

For detailed guidance on building ad hoc queries, see Blackbaud's Data List Query getting started guide.

 

1. In Blackbaud CRM, go to Analysis > Information Library.
2. Click Add, then select Constituent as the record type.
3. Under Filters, add any criteria to limit which contacts are included.
   1. Required: filter Email Addresses to Primary = Yes
      1. Since a constituent can have multiple email records, this ensures each constituent returns one row.
   2. Exclude: "Do Not Email"
4. Under Output, add the fields to sync to Emma.
   1. Required: Email address, Lookup ID.
5. Click Preview results to confirm the query returns what you expect.
6. Save the query with a descriptive name.
   1. Example: "Primary Blackbaud Query for Emma"
7. Find your Query ID in the browser address bar (the recordId value in the URL)
   1. You can also find this ID by viewing the Query and choosing "Get OData Link"

 

⚠	Warning
	Don't reorder or restructure your query's output columns after setup. Emma maps fields by position, and changes will break the sync.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Blackbaud CRM Integration

When does the integration sync?

When first setup, your first sync begins bringing in contacts matching your query.

Emma will sync nightly after that.

 

 

 

How do I edit my sync settings?

Go to Audience Connect > Blackbaud CRM > Edit to update field mappings, change your group, view sync history, or disconnect.

 

Can I change my Blackbaud query after setup?

Not the output structure.

Emma maps fields by their position in the query's output, so reordering or restructuring columns will break the sync. Your query must also keep the Primary = Yes filter on Email Addresses, and removing it can cause duplicate or conflicting contact records. Contact Emma Support before changing your query.

 

How do opt-outs sync?

At the query level in Blackbaud (e.g., filtering out "Do Not Email"). Emma doesn't manage opt-outs for this integration.

 

What happens if my connection fails during setup?

Confirm you're signed into the correct Blackbaud account, then click Try again.

 

What if contacts don't appear after syncing, or I see fewer contacts than expected?

Confirm your query returns results directly in Blackbaud.

Review your query filters: contacts may be excluded by "Do Not Email" or other criteria.

 

What if the integration shows an error message?

Contact Emma Support with your Query ID and the time the error occurred.

 

How do I disconnect the integration?

Go to Audience Connect > Blackbaud CRM > Edit > Disconnect.

This stops future syncs; contacts already in your Emma group aren't deleted.