This quickstart helps you automatically acknowledge all donations. You can set up three simple single-step automations for first-ever donations, initial recurring donations, and next donations.
For detailed instructions, or to create advanced multi-step automations that include an email series and filters for segmentation, 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 Donor Lifecycle > Current Donors section, click First Ever Donation.
Click Save.
Click Add Step
.In the Actions section, click Send Email.
Click New Email.
To use an existing template to create your email:
Click Select Email Template.
Click Continue.
Select a Bloomerang template or a saved custom template.
Enter a name for the email.
Click Next.
To copy an existing email:
Click Copy Email.
(Optional) To view the email type and purpose, and who last modified the email, click the down arrow next to the email.
Select an email to copy.
Click Continue.
From the Purpose list, select Acknowledgement.
From the Type list, select Constituent or Transaction.
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 exit (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 Donor Lifecycle > Current Donors section, click Initial Recurring Donation.
Click Save.
Click Add Step
.In the Actions section, click Send Email.
Click New Email.
To use an existing template to create your email:
Click Select Email Template.
Click Continue.
Select a Bloomerang template or a saved custom template.
Enter a name for the email.
Click Next.
To copy an existing email:
Click Copy Email.
(Optional) To view the email type and purpose, and who last modified the email, click the down arrow next to the email.
Select an email to copy.
Click Continue.
From the Purpose list, select Acknowledgement.
From the Type list, select Constituent or Transaction.
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 exit (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 Donor Lifecycle > Current Donors 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 use an existing template to create your email:
Click Select Email Template.
Click Continue.
Select a Bloomerang template or a saved custom template.
Enter a name for the email.
Click Next.
To copy an existing email:
Click Copy Email.
(Optional) To view the email type and purpose, and who last modified the email, click the down arrow next to the email.
Select an email to copy.
Click Continue.
From the Purpose list, select Acknowledgement.
From the Type list, select Constituent or Transaction.
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 exit (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)