Slate provides a standard Research tab that allows for the storing and management of data from both external and internal sources. This data can be source-specific from a provider (such as rating or score) or it can be more generally applicable information that may be provided from multiple sources (such as a prospect's estimated capacity).
The Research tab appears to the left of the Profile tab for a record when there is at least one configured Research Source that matches the record's scope.
Create custom research sources and data keys to store your own research methods and data elements on a constituent's record and allow staff to add their own sources of information to a constituent's record.
Research-scoped materials may be created and associated with individual research items. These materials support material metadata functionality.
In all cases, research data is entirely accessible for querying and reporting. Materials may be uploaded to Slate and directly associated with research records, allowing for immediate access to any necessary primary source backup.
Example of a Custom Staff Research Source
📺 Research: An Overview Video
Technolutions staff members provide an overview of the Research functionality. Topics discussed in the webinar include when to utilize Research vs when to utilize an entity, research sources, data keys (shared vs private), permissions, research materials, and how to add research to a record.
Standard Wealth Screening Integrators
Institutions typically leverage Slate's Research tab in combination with one or more external vendors who screen constituent records, returning the data to Slate to be stored and leveraged across the database. Technolutions has partnered with DonorSearch and iWave to make this screening of data very straightforward. A library of items exists to allow institutions to easily search for records within Slate, export a file in a standardized format to the vendor, and automatically consume the returned file containing the screened records.
Example of the DonorSearch Research Source
Example of the iWave Research Source
Enabling Research within the Database
Research is currently available as an Early Access feature. To enable it:
- From the top navigation, select Database.
- From the Configurations section, select Configuration Keys.
- From the Database Configuration section, select Early Access Features.
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Select Research, then click Save.
As with all configuration changes, the effect may take up to 15 minutes to be reflected across all web nodes.
A link to access the Research Configurations displays in the 'Configurations' section of the database.