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Altru User Guides User guides are grouped by category. To search a guide for a specific word or phrase, press CTRL+F to open the Find screen, enter the word, and click Find. We recommend you download user guides larger than 300K: right-click the link to the guide and select Save Target As. To purchase printed copies, email manualrequest@blackbaud.com.
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Getting Started
- New Features Guide for Altru Q4 2011 (PDF 2.0M) November 9, 2011
 View new features guides for previous versions
For information about Patch 31 for Altru Q2 2011, see Patch Features and Enhancements. This document is cumulative, and contains information for all 2011 Altru patches.
- New Features Video for Altru Q4 2011 (VIDEO, Duration 5 min.) November 1, 2011
This video provides a quick look at some of the key new features and enhancements available in the Q4 2011 release of Altru. For more information about all new features, see the New Features Guide.
View new features videos for previous versions
- General Features Guide (PDF 1.18M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains tools and features that appear throughout the program. You use these tools to navigate within the program and to set preferences for how to access and view data. You can also use features such as Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds and KPI dashboards in multiple areas of the program.
- Getting Started with the Altru Database Guide (PDF 476KB) June 30, 2011
For new Altru users beginning in the Q3 2011 release, the Altru database will include a number of preconfigured settings and processes such as preconfigured acknowledgement letters, ticket and merchandise discounts, and queries. This guide explains how to edit each preconfigured setting. It is recommended that you review each preconfigured setting before use, and edit it to meet your organization's needs.
Setup and Administration
- Administration Guide (PDF 3.86M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains system-wide set up and configuration options, such as GL account setup, fiscal years, and the organization calendar. It also includes information about configuration data, attribute categories, smart fields, email alerts, and functionality within the application related to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP).
- Batch and Import Guide (PDF 2.82M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to create batch designs to determine the fields to include in a batch and how to create batches to add and update multiple records in your database. You learn how to configure numbering schemes to assign each batch with a unique identifier and design workflows to ensure the appropriate staff members view or approve each batch. You also learn to how import data from an outside application into a batch and how to generate a process to commit multiple batches to the database at one time.
- Queue Guide (PDF 316K) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to set up and run queues when you have large amounts of data to export, print, commit, import, or send as email.
- Security Guide (PDF 647KM) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to set up and manage user security. It provides detailed procedures for adding users and assiging them to system roles, as well as reseting passwords and unlocking accounts. To establish user security and limit access to only job-specific functions within the program, you add users to the system and assign them to specific system roles. To manage security you must be logged into the system as a System Role Administrator.
System
- Constituents Guide (PDF 5.39M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to add individual and organization constituents and constituent groups and households to your database. You learn how to manage constituent data such as personal, organization, education, relationship, and contact information, as well as constituencies, documentation, and financial information. You also learn how to make a constituent inactive or deceased, link a constituent to a user, view a constituent's giving and wealth information, track interactions and correspondence, and manage duplicate constituents.
- Constituent Duplicates and Merge Tasks Guide (PDF 1.56M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to find and merge duplicate constituents in your database. You learn how to run full and incremental search processes, view a duplicate constituent report, merge individual constituents, and configure and run a merge process for many duplicate constituents. You also learn about the logic and behavior of merge tasks for the merge process.
- Communications Guide (PDF 6.83M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to manage appeals, including appeal mailings and appeal reports. It also explains how to process correspondence, acknowledgements, planned gift acknowledgements, receipts, and pledge reminders. In addition, this guide explains configuration options for communication tasks.
- Fundraising Guide (PDF 1.03M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to manage your fundraising efforts. You can set up your fundraising purposes and campaigns. You learn how to establish goals for your efforts, how to establish designations for revenue records, and how to report on the progress and effectiveness of your fundraising efforts.
- Memberships Guide (PDF 2.57M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to manage memberships, including membership programs and levels and how to print membership cards.
- Volunteers Guide (PDF 2.18M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to add volunteers and jobs to your database. You can learn how to set up traits, screening plans, and specific volunteer types. The guide explains how to manage volunteer availability, job occurrences, and timesheets. You can learn how to match qualified volunteers with the jobs for which they are qualified, and you can learn how to report on volunteer and job schedules.
- Revenue Guide (PDF 3.72M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to add pledges, recurring gifts, matching gift claims, grant awards, and payments toward donations or commitments such as pledge installments, event registration fees, or membership dues to your database. You can learn how to apply payments to specific commitments, apply recognition credit to constituents for donations, and manage solicitors, benefits, and designations for various transaction types. This guide also explains how to process direct debit and credit card transactions, and how to report on the revenue your organization receives. In addition, learn to post revenue to the general ledger and integrate with MatchFinder Online to identify potential matching gift claims.
- Web Forms Guide (PDF 1.83M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to create basic web forms to complement your organization’s existing website. You can use these web forms to solicit donations, sell tickets, and accept other payments from website users.
- Blackbaud Mobile (PDF 178K) August 11, 2011
With your mobile device, you can extend the reach of your Blackbaud applications built on the Infinity Platform. For example, you can check KPIs for up-to-the-minute numbers or view prospect information and file contact reports from the road. This document shows you how.
- Data Tune-Up Guide (PDF 1.30M) October 31, 2011
This guide contains information about the Data Tune-Up and the Data Enrichment Services available with Altru.
- Mapping Guide (PDF 260K) October 31, 2011
This guide explains Altru’s Mapping functionality, powered by Microsoft Bing Maps, which allows you to locate constituents on an interactive map.
- Events Guide (PDF 4.80M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to set up and manage events. You can learn how to set up event and lodging locations, coordinators, registration types, options, and packages. The guide explains how to configure event seating, run seating reports, manage event speakers, and configure team fundraising events. It also includes information about how to register constituents for events, and how to manage the invitations you send your constituents.
Analysis
- Reports and KPIs Guide (PDF 6.96M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains report functionality, including the report explorer and the report model generator, as well as the numerous reports available. This guide also includes information about how to create key performance indicators (KPIs), KPI dashboard, and web dashboards.
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Query and Export Guide (PDF 1.95M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how you can group records based on criteria you define with our powerful query tool. You can specify the filters to use, how you want the records sorted or grouped, as well as what fields you want included in the output. You can use queries throughout the program to help you manage and analyze your data. You can also export records to use in another program, such as a spreadsheet, for further analysis.
Tickets and Sales
- Tickets Guide (PDF 3.60M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to configure the system for ticketing, build programs, and schedule program events. The processes for setting up pricing, taxes, fees, discounts, delivery methods, and printing are also covered. Additionally, steps for configuring the daily sale screen are provided. To help guide you through the initial configuration process, this guide also contains a configuration checklist.
- Sales Guide (PDF 6.94M) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to sell tickets, memberships, and event registrations through advance sales and daily sales. Additionally, steps for setting up and processing group sales reservations are covered. To help you complete common daily tasks, this guide also includes procedures for counting initial cash, reconciling sales, creating sales deposits, reprinting tickets and memberships, and processing refunds.
- Merchandise Guide (PDF 936K) October 31, 2011
This guide explains how to configure the merchandise items you sell. You learn to add merchandise departments and vendors, define your inventory, and print labels to use as price tags. This guide also includes information about merchandise discounts, taxes, and reports.
Treasury
- Treasury Guide (PDF 1.85M) October 31, 2011
This guide contains information about Treasury and Treasury Reports. It provides instructions to add and edit banks, bank accounts, adjustment categories and adjustments, miscellaneous payments, and deposits.
Quick Reference Guides (QRGs)
- Advance Sales (PDF 303K) August 23, 2011
This QRG provides an overview of the advance sales workflow, which includes selecting a patron, creating the order, and accepting payment. For more detailed information, see the Sales Guide.
- Start and End Day (PDF 240K) December 7, 2010
This QRG provides an overview of the typical start and end day processes for a ticket seller, which include counting initial cash, reconciling sales, and submitting the reconcilation for approval. For more detailed information, see the Sales Guide.
New Features
- Altru 2.91 New Features Guide (PDF 2.60M) August 15, 2011
- Altru 2.91 New Features Video (VIDEO Duration 6 min.) August 15, 2011
- Altru 2.9 New Features Guide (PDF 859K) February 2, 2011
- Altru 2.9 New Features Video (VIDEO Duration 6 min.) February 2, 2011
- Altru 2.8 New Features Guide (PDF 995K) December 13, 2010
- Altru 2.8 New Features Video (VIDEO Duration 5 min.) December 3, 2010
- Altru 2.7 New Features Guide (PDF 1.56M) August 4, 2010
- Altru 2.7 New Features Video (VIDEO Duration 5 min.) August 6, 2010
- Altru 2.6 New Features Guide (PDF 1.62M) April 29, 2010
- Altru 2.6 New Features Video (VIDEO Duration 5 min.) April 29, 2010
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