Our Raisers Edge version is running just perfectly for what we need.  Do I have to upgrade to 7.91 or is it just an option?

 We don't collect credit card info in Raisers Edge, we use another piece of software for our financial and electronic fund transfers.

 Help!

Hi Jessica,

 You don't have to upgrade but it's a good idea to keep current on the software. There may be changes in later versions that you want and you'd have to do a big jump with many end user changes or possibly a 2 step upgrade (go to version 7.91 and then to 7.99 - I've had to do that). Also, if you do have issues, Blackbaud usually tells you to be on the current version before they spend a lot of time helping you out. It's not that they won't talk to you if you are on an earlier version but if it gets icky, upgrade will be the answer.

 Having said that, I don't jump on the latest version whenever it comes out for three reasons. Like you many times I don't have issues with the current version and the "updates" don't give me anything new or better. Two, I like to wait for the first round of bugs to be discovered and fixed. I'm not one to be on the cutting edge, especially when it comes to software that handles money. Three, I need to find an appropriate time that I can take RE down to upgrade it. Which means a weeknight I am able to stay after hours and be in first thing the following morning to upgrade workstations as people come in. And the Institutional Advancement office can't have a big shin-dig that night or the next or the auditors coming in or whatever. Most of the workstations upgrade without a hitch but I always have 2 or 3 that need my intervention and it's never the same ones twice.

 That's just my 2 cents. Others may feel differently.

laura