When preparing for an upcoming NPSP release and wanting to validate customizations, the consultant can take the following approaches:

Test Customizations in an Updated Sandbox (A):

Update the sandbox to the latest release of NPSP.

Deploy the customizations to the updated sandbox and thoroughly test them to ensure compatibility with the new release.

Configure a Scratch Org with NPSP Dependency and Test Customizations (D):

Set up a new scratch org using Salesforce DX and include the NPSP dependency.

Deploy the customizations to the scratch org and test them to validate their functionality with the latest NPSP release.

Steps to Implement:

Update Sandbox:

Refresh the sandbox and ensure it is on the same version as the upcoming NPSP release.

Deploy and test the customizations in the sandbox environment.

Set Up Scratch Org:

Use Salesforce DX to create a scratch org with the necessary NPSP configurations.

Deploy the customizations to the scratch org and perform testing.