This quickstart helps you set up simple single-step automations for first-ever donations, initial recurring donations, and next donations. You can set up these three automations to automatically acknowledge all donations.
For detailed instructions, or to create advanced multi-step automations that include filters, read:
Before You Begin
Make sure your email acknowledgements and receipts are distinctly different. Follow these best practices.
Plan how automations will replace your current acknowledgement methods. This is important so you don’t send multiple acknowledgements for the same payment.
Review best practices for email deliverability, user accounts, and constituent data.
Create Draft Automations
First, create draft automations for each donation payment type:
Click Communications.
Click Journey Automation.
Click New Automation.
Enter an Automation Name, such as First Ever Donation.
Click Save. The automation saves as a draft.
Repeat steps 3-5 to create draft automations named Initial Recurring Donation Payment and Next Donation.
Automate Acknowledgements for First-Ever Donations
This automation applies to constituents who make the first-ever payment on their timeline. Read more about the First Ever Donation entry source.
To set up the First Ever Donation automation:
In the draft automation that you created, click Choose an Entry Source.
In the Donations section, click First Ever Donation.
Click Save.
Click Add Step
.In the Actions section, click Send Email.
Click New Email.
To create the acknowledgement email, select an email template:
To start with a prebuilt Bloomerang template, click the Bloomerang Templates tab and select a template.
To start with a custom template that you already created, click the Saved Templates tab and select a template.
Enter an Email Name, such as First Ever Donation Acknowledgement.
Click Next.
Enter the Subject, From Name, and From Email.
From the Purpose list, select Acknowledgement.
From the Type list, select Constituent or Transaction.
Build the email:
Enter the Subject, From Name, and From Email.
On the Design tab, edit the email design and text.
To save and finish setting up your automation, click Save And, and then select Go to Journey Automation. The email is now part of your draft automation.
When you’re ready for constituents to enter the automation, click Publish. The automation appears in the list with the Running label.
Bloomerang automatically sends the acknowledgement email when constituents enter the automation. Constituents then complete (leave) the automation.
Automate Acknowledgements for Initial Recurring Donations
This automation applies to constituents who make the initial payment on any new recurring donation schedule. Read more about the Initial Recurring Donation entry source.
To set up the Initial Recurring Donation Payment automation:
In the draft automation that you created, click Choose an Entry Source.
In the Donations section, click Initial Recurring Donation.
Click Save.
Click Add Step
.In the Actions section, click Send Email.
Click New Email.
To create the acknowledgement email, select a template:
To start with a prebuilt Bloomerang template, click the Bloomerang Templates tab and select a template.
To start with a custom template that you already created, click the Saved Templates tab and select a template.
Enter an Email Name, such as Initial Recurring Payment Acknowledgement.
Click Next.
From the Purpose list, select Acknowledgement.
From the Type list, select Constituent or Transaction.
Build the email:
Enter the Subject, From Name, and From Email.
On the Design tab, edit the email design and text.
To save and finish setting up your automation, click Save And, and then select Go to Journey Automation. The email is now part of your draft automation.
When you’re ready for constituents to enter the automation, click Publish. The automation appears in the list with the Running label.
Bloomerang automatically sends the acknowledgement email when constituents enter the automation. Constituents then complete (leave) the automation.
Automate Acknowledgements for Next Donations
This automation applies to constituents who make their next donation. A donation is a next donation if it’s not a first-ever donation or an initial payment for a recurring donation or membership. Read more about the Next Donation entry source.
To set up the Next Donation automation:
In the draft automation that you created, click Choose an Entry Source.
In the Donations section, click Next Donation.
To acknowledge all types of next donations, keep all donation types selected.
Click Save.
Click Add Step
.In the Actions section, click Send Email.
Click New Email.
To create the acknowledgement email, select a template:
To start with a prebuilt Bloomerang template, click the Bloomerang Templates tab and select a template.
To start with a custom template that you already created, click the Saved Templates tab and select a template.
Enter an Email Name, such as Next Donation Acknowledgement
Click Next.
From the Purpose list, select Acknowledgement.
From the Type list, select Constituent or Transaction.
Build the email:
Enter the Subject, From Name, and From Email.
On the Design tab, edit the email design and text.
To save and finish setting up your automation, click Save And, and then select Go to Journey Automation. The email is now part of your draft automation.
When you’re ready for constituents to enter the automation, click Publish. The automation appears in the list with the Running label.
Bloomerang automatically sends the acknowledgement email when constituents enter the automation. Constituents then complete (leave) the automation.
Next Steps: Manage Automations and Track Emails
After you create and publish an automation, you can monitor participation, manage automations, view emails sent by automations, and view tasks assigned by automations. Read Manage Automations.
Related
Creating Journey Automations for Transactions (Bloomerang Learning course)