To build the recipient list for your letter, add filters that include or exclude constituents based on your desired criteria.
Select the Filter Type
When you build a new letter, select how you would like to filter your recipients. Bloomerang CRM allows you to build letters by filtering your audience according to several different criteria:
Constituents (includes individuals, groups, and households)
Transactions
Interactions
Tribute notificants
Each letter type includes different filters. The letter type that you select determines which filters that you can add to your letter.
For example, if you select the Constituent filter type, a list of constituent-related filters appears. Constituent-related filters are available in constituent, transaction, and interaction letters.
Tribute Notificant Letters have their own unique set of filters. For a list of filter types, and available filters in each filter type, read Report Columns and Filters.
Note: You cannot change the letter type after you make this decision.
Add or Edit Letter Filters
To build the recipient list for your letter, add or change filters.
Keep in mind that letters automatically exclude some constituents. For more information, read the Automatic Exclusions section in this article.
To add or edit filters:
Click Communications.
Click Letters.
Click Filters.
Add or edit filters.
Click Save And and then click Preview.
Click Recipients and review the recipient list.
Click Send and then click Send Now or Schedule for Later.
Read more about how to use filters:
Households in Filters
When you filter by household communication restrictions, households are included or excluded only when all members of the household meet the criteria. For example, if you exclude Communication Restriction is Do Not Mail, the household is excluded if all household members have a Do Not Mail restriction.
In constituent letters, if you click Constituent and select Households, households appear in the list rather than individual household members. Constituents who are not household members also appear. To see only households, add the Is In a Household filter.
Bloomerang CRM sends the letter to only the primary physical address of the household.
On the Design page, if you add the Informal Name merge field, the letter uses the informal name of the household. For more information about merge fields, read Edit a Letter Template.
Automatic Exclusions
Letters exclude inactive or deceased constituents by default. Letters also exclude constituents with a Communication Restriction of Do Not Mail. Transaction-based letters also exclude soft credits. You can remove these filters if needed.
Bloomerang CRM skips creating letters when:
The primary address is bad, incomplete, or missing.
A merge field is blank or contains more than one value.
To generate letters with blank merge fields, or to generate letters for constituents who have bad, incomplete, or missing addresses:
Click Make Changes.
Click Details.
Select the box under Allow Blank Merge Fields or Allow Bad, Incomplete, or Missing Addresses.
Click Save.
Related
Video: Use Households in Filters (2 minutes)