Stage 1: Get a feel for Altru
In this stage, just get familiar with Altru and how to use some of the resources available to you. Don't worry about learning the details of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks yet; simply focus on the layout, features, and concepts of Altru. With this foundation, you’ll quickly learn the details in the next stages and prepare yourself to work in Altru.

Week One:
  1. Get a Blackbaud.com account. Blackbaud.com Login Help
  2. Complete the Basics of Altru eLearning course. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  3. Join the Altru Community.
  4. Get alerts about Altru system issues and outages by subscribing to the Altru System Status Blog.
  5. Read the following chapters and chapter sections in Altru for Beginners.
    • Introduction
    • Constituents
    • Tickets and Programs
    • Memberships - Get Members: You Really Like Me!
    • Sales
    • Group Sales and Facility Rentals - Check In Groups: We're Here!
    • Group Sales and Facility Rentals - Check Out Groups: Where’s Our Security Deposit?
    • Data Management - Query at Your Fingertips
    • Reports and KPIs
    • Outroduction
  6. Complete the Altru: Basics of Daily and Advance Sales eLearning course. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  7. ​Enroll in the Blackbaud University online instructor-led courses. These two courses are prerequisites for all other Altru online instructor-led courses:
    • Altru: Fundamentals—Entering and Maintaining Constituent and Revenue Records
    • Altru: Fundamentals—Managing Membership and Sales Functions
    • For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  8. If you are also responsible for membership at your organization, check out the role-based training guide for Membership Managers: What training is recommended for a new Membership Manager?​
  9. If you are also responsible for Group Sales at your organization, check out the role-based training guide for Group Sales Coordinators: What training is recommended for a new Group Sales Coordinator?
  10. If you are also responsible for the Gift Shop at your organization, check out the role-based training guide for Gift Shop Managers: What training is recommended for a new Gift Shop Manager?
  11. If you are also responsible for Volunteer Management at your organization, check out the role-based training guide for Volunteer Managers: What training is recommended for a new Volunteer Manager?

Stage 2: Learn how to do your job
The trainings and resources in this section are arranged so that your most common tasks are addressed first.

Week Two - Daily Tasks:
Daily and Advance Sales Tasks
As the Guest Services Manager, you will regularly assist your patrons when they visit and when they purchase tickets and registrations to your organization's future programming.
  1. Complete the Altru: Basics of Daily and Advance Sales eLearning course. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  2. Enroll in the Blackbaud University online instructor-led course Altru: Streamlining Guest Services Operations. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  3. Check out these Help Topics:
  4. Watch the Videos in this playlist: Daily and Advance Sales
  5. Refer to these Knowledgebase articles: 
  6. Review this Altru Masters Workshop Recording & Handout: Transaction Adjustments - Reversals, Refunds, Rescheduling, and More

Daily Cash Drawer and Financial Reconciliation Tasks
Cash drawer management and financial reconciliation is a key part of the sales process in Altru.
  1. Enroll in the Blackbaud University online instructor-led course Altru: Streamlining Guest Services Operations. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  2. Check out this Help Topic: Daily Tasks and the Create Deposits Process
  3. Watch these Videos:
  4. Refer to these Knowledgebase articles:

Constituents
As a Guest Services Manager, you’ll be interacting with constituent records in your database regularly. Use these resources to understand the constituent record in Altru.
  1. Complete the Altru: Basics of Constituents eLearning course. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  2. Check out these Help Topics:
  3. Watch these videos:
  4. Enroll in the Blackbaud University online instructor-led course Altru: Constituent Record Management. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.

Week Three - Weekly Tasks:
Unresolved Online Sales Orders
When Altru encounters an issue processing a transaction in online sales, the system assigns a status of “Unresolved” to those sales orders after website users make payments. The program uses this temporary status to create records for online sales orders even if errors prevent it from fully processing the orders. Guest Services Managers regularly review any unresolved orders, correct the errors, and complete the orders.
  1. Check out the Help Topic: Unresolved Online Sales Orders
  2. Watch this Video: Understanding Unresolved Online Sales Orders.
  3. Refer to these Knowledgebase articles:

Query
Query is a grouping tool that allows you to group records with similar characteristics. Queries are used throughout Altru to filter what records should be included in a mailing, report, export, or process.
  1. Complete the Altru: Basics of Query eLearning course. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  2. Enroll in the Blackbaud University online instructor-led courses:
  3. Check out the Help Topic: Getting Started in Query.
  4. Watch the Altru Query videos.
  5. Practice query with a few of these sales order related queries:
  6. Review this Altru Masters Workshop Recording & Handout: Focus on the Field - Query Tips for Ticketing

Reporting and Analysis 
Altru offers many reports and other analytical tools to assist you in analyze revenue raised and your progress toward your fundraising and financial goals.
  1. Enroll in the Blackbaud University online instructor-led course Altru: Data Analysis. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  2. Check out these Help Topics:
  3. Refer to these Knowledgebase articles:
  4. Search the Knowledgebase using the keywords "How to report on" for the answers to commonly asked reporting questions.
  5. Watch this Video: Configuring Smart Fields in Altru
  6. Review this Altru Support Seminar Recording & Handout: End of Year Reporting and Analysis Part I: Sales, Ticketing, and Attendance

Week Four - Monthly & Occasional Tasks:
Program Configuration
Before any tickets and registrations can be sold in Altru, you must configure programs and schedule program events and all of their component pieces. 
  1. Enroll in the Blackbaud University online instructor-led course Altru: Program and Ticket Sales Setup. For all Blackbaud University training options, visit the curriculum datasheet.
  2. Check out these Help Topics:
  3. Watch the Videos in these playlists: 
  4. Refer to these Knowledgebase articles:
  5. Review these Altru Blog Posts:
  6. Review these Altru Masters Workshop and Support Seminar Recordings & Handouts:

Configure Daily Sales Page
The buttons on the Daily Sales Page in Altru are customizable and can be changed and updated as needed.
  1. Check out these Help Topics:
  2. Watch this Video: Customizing the Daily Sales Page
  3. Refer to these Knowledgebase articles:

Point of Sale Workstation Setup
Each computer that you would like to print receipts and tickets from must be configured in Altru as a workstation.
  1. Refer to these Knowledgebase articles: 
  2. Watch these Videos:

Export
  1. Check out the Help Topic: Export
  2. Watch this Video: Altru Export Basics
  3. Review this Altru Masters Workshop Recording & Handout: Exporting Data

Stage 3 - Practice makes perfect
Now that you’ve learned the basics and laid the foundation to mastering Altru, let’s hone those skills through practice and review.

Week Six and Beyond: