Bloomerang CRM Integration

Manage all aspects of your fundraising in Bloomerang CRM, a robust donor management solution that integrates with Bloomerang Volunteer. This comprehensive system manages donor relationships and fundraising efforts, and includes both web and mobile apps. 

In Bloomerang CRM, take advantage of volunteer information synced from Bloomerang Volunteer:

  • Cultivate volunteers as prospective donors
  • Convert donors to volunteers
  • Increase engagement, giving, and retention with communication personalized for volunteers
  • Run reports and view analytics for the Bloomerang CRM-created Volunteer group

To learn about benefits and features, see the Bloomerang website.

In this article:

Connect to Bloomerang CRM

Bloomerang CRM is a paid subscription. To subscribe, email success@bloomerang.com.

After you purchase Bloomerang CRM, generate an API key. For instructions, see Bloomerang Volunteer in the Bloomerang CRM Knowledge Base.

After you generate an API key in Bloomerang CRM, apply it in Bloomerang Volunteer:

  1. Open your organization. If you are in more than one organization, open the organization you want to connect to Bloomerang CRM.
  2. On the organization home page, click Integrations.
  3. On the Bloomerang CRM tile, click Connect
    If the Bloomerang CRM tile does not appear, email success@bloomerang.com.
    Tile to connect Bloomerang Volunteer to Bloomerang CRM with Bloomerang CRM logo with a Connect button available.
  4. In the Bloomerang CRM Authorization section, click Connect.
    The Connect to Bloomerang CRM dialog box opens.
    Bloomerang CRM Volunteer Integration Not Connected
  5. Enter the API key in the text box.
    Connect to Bloomerang CRM using an API key. Enter API Key in the empty text box.
  6. Click Connect.
    Bloomerang CRM and Bloomerang Volunteer connect.
    Bloomerang CRM Authorization shows Connected with a Disconnect button available. Bloomerang CRM API Key is valid and there is a Replace API Key Here button.
    Bloomerang CRM Integration Tile shows Connected and an Edit Settings button.

Use Bloomerang CRM

For information about how to use Bloomerang CRM, see the Bloomerang CRM help center.

Understand the Data Connection

Bloomerang Volunteer connects to Bloomerang CRM. These connected systems exchange volunteer-related information with each other.

For example, when you add and modify volunteers in Bloomerang Volunteer, those changes sync to Bloomerang CRM. In Bloomerang CRM, when you add or modify constituents in the Volunteer group, those changes sync to Bloomerang Volunteer.

You can select which volunteers to include in the sync. When you sync volunteers, Bloomerang CRM adds volunteers as constituents. By default, new volunteers do not automatically sync. You can change this setting.

Sync from Bloomerang Volunteer to Bloomerang CRM

This list explains how volunteer information syncs from Bloomerang Volunteer to Bloomerang CRM.

In Bloomerang Volunteer, You… As a Result, Bloomerang CRM…
Create a volunteer record Creates a new constituent and adds the constituent to the Volunteer group.
Update a volunteer record (name, address, mobile phone number, or date of birth) Updates the constituent record (name, address, mobile phone number, or date of birth).
Delete a volunteer record (or a volunteer deletes their own record) Removes the constituent from the Volunteer group. 
Add hours worked  Adds a read-only interaction to the constituent’s timeline that includes the date, subject, note, volunteer activity and hours, description, purpose (“Volunteer Activity”), and channel (“In Person”).* 
Update hours worked Updates the interaction.
Remove hours worked Removes the interaction.
Change the volunteer's email address Takes no action, but the volunteer no longer syncs to Bloomerang CRM.

* If you add aggregate team hours to a volunteer record in Bloomerang Volunteer, the aggregate hours appear in the interaction.

Sync from Bloomerang CRM to Bloomerang Volunteer

Only constituents who are members of the Bloomerang CRM-created Volunteer group sync to Bloomerang Volunteer. To sync, members of the Volunteer group must be active constituents with a first name, last name, and email address.

Information in these Bloomerang CRM constituent fields syncs to Bloomerang Volunteer:

  • First Name and Last Name
  • Address
  • Email
  • Mobile phone number
  • Birthdate

Bloomerang CRM does not sync volunteer activity or hours to Bloomerang Volunteer.

This list explains how constituent information syncs from Bloomerang CRM to Bloomerang Volunteer.

In Bloomerang CRM, You…

As a Result, Bloomerang Volunteer…

Add a constituent to the Volunteer group

Creates a volunteer record unless it exists already. Sends an account setup email to the volunteer.

Update a constituent who belongs to the Volunteer group

Creates a volunteer record unless it exists already.

Delete a constituent who belongs to the Volunteer group

Keeps the volunteer record, if it exists. Bloomerang CRM no longer syncs information about this constituent to Bloomerang Volunteer.

Remove a constituent from the Volunteer group

Keeps the volunteer record, if it exists. Bloomerang CRM no longer syncs information about this constituent to Bloomerang Volunteer.

Merge constituents (kept account belongs to the Volunteer group)

Updates the volunteer record if the constituent record has updated fields, and those fields are configured to sync to Bloomerang Volunteer.

Merge constituents (kept account does not belong to the Volunteer group)

Takes no action, but Bloomerang CRM no longer syncs information about either constituent to Bloomerang Volunteer.

Convert a constituent from an individual to an organization

Takes no action, but Bloomerang CRM no longer syncs information about the constituent to Bloomerang Volunteer

Change or delete the constituent’s primary email address

Takes no action, but Bloomerang CRM no longer syncs information about the constituent to Bloomerang Volunteer

Volunteers Who Are No Longer Mapped 

In the volunteer list, and in volunteer records, you might see the No Longer Mapped sync status. This status means the volunteer previously synced to Bloomerang CRM, but no longer does.

In the volunteer list:
Two volunteers with sync status no longer mapped

In most cases, you can remap volunteers, which means the volunteers sync to Bloomerang CRM again.

To remap a volunteer:

  1. Open your organization. If you are in more than one organization, open the correct organization for the volunteer.
  2. On the organization home page, click Volunteers.
  3. Select a volunteer.
  4. On the volunteer's profile, click Profile Details.
  5. In the section Bloomerang CRM Information, review the “No Longer Mapped” message that explains why the mapping was disconnected.
    Bloomerang CRM Integration Information for a volunteer that is no longer mapped
  6. Use the table below to match the “No Longer Mapped” reason with steps to remap. Complete the steps.
  7. Return to the volunteer Profile Details and select Remap.
  8. If prompted, complete the additional steps to finish remapping.

This list explains the reasons why volunteers are no longer mapped and includes the steps to remap in each scenario. 

“No Longer Mapped” Reason To Remap
You remove the volunteer from the Bloomerang Volunteer Organization

In Bloomerang Volunteer, add the volunteer back to Bloomerang Volunteer Organization, and then sync.

In Bloomerang CRM, add the constituent back to the Volunteer group.

Next, in Bloomerang Volunteer, sync.

You remove your own account from the Bloomerang Volunteer Organization

In Bloomerang Volunteer, add your account back to Bloomerang Volunteer Organization, and then sync.

In Bloomerang CRM, add your constituent record back to the Volunteer group.

Next, in Bloomerang Volunteer, sync.

You remove the constituent from Bloomerang CRM

In Bloomerang CRM, add a new constituent with the same email address as the volunteer.

Next, in Bloomerang Volunteer, open the volunteer Profile Details and click Remap.

You remove the constituent from the Volunteer group in Bloomerang CRM In Bloomerang CRM, add the constituent to the Volunteer group, and then sync.
You convert the constituent type from Individual to Organization in Bloomerang CRM

In Bloomerang CRM, change the constituent type back to Individual.

Next, in Bloomerang Volunteer, sync.

You change the constituent’s primary email address in Bloomerang CRM*

In Bloomerang CRM, change the primary email address back to the original email address.

Next, in Bloomerang Volunteer, sync.**

You delete the constituent’s primary email address in Bloomerang CRM

In Bloomerang CRM, add the primary email address to the constituent’s account again.

Next, in Bloomerang Volunteer, sync.

The volunteer deletes their Bloomerang Volunteer account You cannot remap in this case
In the constituent's Bloomerang CRM profile, you change the status to Inactive or Deceased

In Bloomerang CRM, change the constituent's status to Active.

Next, in Bloomerang Volunteer, sync.

* If you sync after this change, Bloomerang Volunteer creates a new account for the volunteer. The account uses the new email address. The original account with the original email address remains in Bloomerang Volunteer, but now has the status No Longer Mapped

** If you sync after this change, the original account in Bloomerang Volunteer remaps to the sync. The new account now has the status No Longer Mapped. You can manually remove the account with the No Longer Mapped status from the organization. 

Sync Data

You must use Bloomerang Volunteer to turn on automatic syncing or to start a manual sync. You can also verify that a sync completed successfully. See Sync Volunteer Data with Bloomerang CRM

Update the API Key for the Integration

When you set up the integration between Bloomerang CRM and Bloomerang Volunteer, you use an API key from Bloomerang CRM to allow Bloomerang Volunteer to share information with Bloomerang CRM. This API key is tied to an individual Bloomerang CRM account.

Note: If the Bloomerang CRM user account that generated the API key is deleted, the API key is also deactivated and any integrations that use the deactivated API key, including Bloomerang Volunteer, are no longer able to connect to Bloomerang CRM.

Replace a Working API Key

You may need to update the API key in some situations under normal circumstances. For example, the most common reason to update the API key is if the person who set up the integration between Bloomerang CRM and Bloomerang Volunteer leaves your organization. 

To replace a working API key:

  1. In Bloomerang CRM, generate a new API key.
  2. Open your organization. If you are in more than one organization, open the organization where you want to replace an API key.
  3. On the organization home page, click Integrations.
  4. On the Bloomerang CRM tile, click Edit Settings.
  5. In the Bloomerang CRM Authorization section, click Replace API Key Here.
  6. In the Enter API Key text box, enter the API key you generated in Bloomerang.
  7. Click Connect to save the new API key and connect Bloomerang Volunteer to Bloomerang CRM. 

Resolve an API Key Issue

If Bloomerang Volunteer detects a problem with the API connection between Bloomerang CRM and Bloomerang Volunteer, Bloomerang Volunteer notifies Organization Managers by email and in Bloomerang Volunteer. Organization Managers receive two notifications:

  1. The first notification is sent to Organization Managers when a problem with the connection between Bloomerang CRM and Bloomerang Volunteer is first detected.
    Email subject: Invalid Api Key. 
  2. If the connection issue is not resolved within 7 days, the integration is automatically disconnected and Bloomerang Volunteer sends a second notification to Organization Managers.
    Email subject: Integration Disconnected

Note: Organization Managers with Read-Only permissions are not notified.

Common causes include:

  • The Bloomerang CRM user account that generated the API key was deleted in Bloomerang CRM.
  • API key was deactivated in Bloomerang CRM.
  • API key was removed from Bloomerang Volunteer.
  • Bloomerang CRM was disconnected from Bloomerang Volunteer.

If you receive a notification that Bloomerang Volunteer is no longer able to connect to Bloomerang CRM, do the following to resolve:

  1. In Bloomerang CRM, generate a new API key.
  2. Open your organization. If you are in more than one organization, open the correct organization.
  3. On the organization home page, click Integrations.
  4. On the Bloomerang CRM tile, click Edit Settings or Connect.
    If it has been fewer than 7 days since Bloomerang Volunteer detected a API connection issue, the button says Edit Settings. After 7 days, the button says Connect.
  5. In the Enter API Key text box, enter the API key you generated in Bloomerang CRM.
  6. Click Connect to save the new API key and connect Bloomerang Volunteer to Bloomerang CRM.

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