REACH provides several Email System Templates for all clients regardless of plan level.

For organizations on the Essentials, Pro, and Pro Plus plans, REACH provides an Email Template Editor that gives you the ability to customize the design and text of the emails, the email subject lines and modify the Unsubscribe links that are automatically sent by REACH to your supporters.

Reminder, you can change your REACH plan level at any time. 

Review your Email Templates#

To review the System Templates already included: 

• Go to Settings > Email Templates 
• You’ll see a list of included System Templates.

• Notes:
  • If this is your first time viewing the System Emails or if REACH has updated the System Email Templates, click on the red Generate Email Templates button for your templates to appear or be updated.
  • REACH released an updated email template editor in June 2022. If you are using an older template, you can click on Use New System Template to upgrade to the new editor from within your email templates. Important note: Any previous updates you may have made to the email template will be lost once you update and Save. 

To edit or preview these templates, click on the blue down arrow next to the template. 

• Clicking Send Preview will email a preview of the email template to the email address of the admin requesting the preview. 
• Clicking Edit will open the email template editor.

Building and Editing Custom Email Templates#

Using the Email Template Editor, you can build and edit custom email templates using our drag and drop email editor or import an HTML template from an external email editor. 

Notes:

• While our drag and drop email editor is intended to be user-friendly and does not require coding, a basic knowledge of HTML is sometimes necessary.
• Only Supporter and Account Liquid tags (Merge Tags) are available in customized email templates.

• To Edit your template, click the blue button and select Edit 
• To Create a new custom template (available when using the REACH Essentials, Pro and Pro Plus plans), click on + New Template.

• Use Content to add columns, buttons, dividers, headings, html, images and text.
  • When editing the content, you will see a toolbar with standardized options to change your font, font size, bold, italicize, underline, strikethrough, etc. 
  • In the editor toolbar, click on Merge Tags to pull various Account or Supporter liquid tags into your templates. Next to Account and Supporter is a list of the available liquid tags you can use. For a full list, view our Liquid Objects article. Reminder that only Account and Supporter tags are available in customized email templates.
  • When editing Content, you’ll also see additional options to the right:
    • Text section: Choose your text color, alignment, and line height. 
    • Links section: Choose Inherit Body Styles
    • General section: Choose your Container Padding
    • Responsive Design section: Choose to Hide on Desktop
• Use Blocks to add various size blocks in your template
• Use Body to:
  • General section: Modify your text color, background color, content width, content alignment, font family.
  • Email Setting section: Include a Preheader text (a short summary text that follows the subject line when viewing an email from the inbox)
  • Links section: Choose the color of your links and whether or not your links are underlined.
• Use the Upload area to add images or select files to upload.
• At the bottom of the editor, you will see the options to Undo, Redo, Preview, view as a Desktop and view as Mobile. 

To pull in a template from another email editor, click on the green </> Import HTML Template button. Paste the HTML source into the Import HTML Template box that pops up and click Import. 

Once finished editing or creating, be sure to click on Save Changes.

Reminder: You can click Send Preview next to the template to email a preview of the template to the admin requesting the preview. 

Email Subject Lines#

REACH includes default email subject lines for each email template. 

The email templates listed below can be updated if desired by going to Settings > Email Templates. Next to the template you wish to edit, click on the blue button at the right > Edit. 

Next to Customize Subject, type in your desired email subject. The default email subject is listed in the blue box.

Refer to the list below for suggested email subjects that include any Liquid tags (Merge tags) you may wish to include. The examples are formatted as:

The Subject Line as it comes through in the email / What to put in the Customize Subject Line

Once you’ve edited the template and saved your changes, next to the template, click on the blue button at the right, then Send Preview to receive a preview of the editing email template to your email. 

Daily Supporter Update#

Purpose: Reports on any information–i.e. Messages, Albums, etc.–which has been updated in your Sponsorships, Projects or Places, and sends an email with links to any of those Sponsorships, Projects or Places the supporter has donated toward so they can view the recent updates.

• Note: This update email is turned off by default. You can turn it on by going to Settings > Account Rules and updating the checkbox for Enable Supporter Daily Digest Email

Default Email Subject:

Recent Updates at Organization / Recent Updates at {{ account.name }}

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

What’s New in Organization / What’s New in {{ account.name }}

First Name, here’s whats new at Organization / {{ supporter.first_name | capitalize }}, here’s whats new at {{ account.name }} 

Failed Recurring Donation#

Purpose: Sent when a recurring transaction payment fails

Default Email Subject: 

Failed Donation to Organization / Failed {{ donation.donation_or_payment | capitalize }} to {{ account.name }}

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

Your donation of $xx failed / Your {{ donation.donation_or_payment }} of {{ donation.currency_symbol }}{{ donation.total_amount | money_without_currency }} failed

First Name, your donation of $xx failed / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, your donation of {{ donation.currency_symbol }}{{ donation.total_amount | money_without_currency }} failed

First Name, your donation on date failed / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, your donation on {{ donation.date }} failed

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 2024-02-15

Your $xx donation on date failed / Your {{ donation.currency_symbol }}{{ donation.total_amount | money_without_currency }} donation on {{ donation.date | date: “%m/%d/%Y” }} failed.

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 02/15/2024

Your $xx donation on date failed / Your {{ donation.currency_symbol }}{{ donation.total_amount | money_without_currency }} donation on {{ donation.date | date: “%m.%d.%Y” }} failed.

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 02.15.2024

Honoree Note#

Purpose: Sent to a Honoree email address if provided by the supporter giving a donation 

Default Email Subject: 

Donation in your honor to Organization / {{ donation.donation_or_payment | capitalize }} in your honor to {{ account.name }}

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

Person has donated to Organization in your honor / {{ donation.name }} has donated to {{ account.name }} in your honor

Honoree, Person has donated in your honor / {{ donation.honoree_name | capitalize }}, {{donation.name }} has donated in your honor

Honoree, Person has donated to Organization in your honor / {{ donation.honoree_name }}, {{donation.name }} has donated to {{ account.name}} in your honor

New Batch Donation#

Purpose: Sent when an admin creates a batch donation for a supporter (Admin must select “Send email receipt”)

Default Email Subject: 

Donation to Organization / {{ donation.donation_or_payment | capitalize }} to {{ account.name }}

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

Thank you for your donation! / Thank you for your {{ donation.donation_or_payment }}!

Donation Confirmation to Organization / Donation Confirmation to {{ account.name }}

First Name, thanks for your donation! / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, thanks for your donation!

First Name, we received your donation on date, thank you. / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, we received your donation on {{ donation.date }}, thank you.

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 2024-02-15

First Name, we received your donation on date, thank you. / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, we received your donation on {{ donation.date | date: “%m/%d/%Y” }}, thank you.

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 02/15/2024

First Name, we received your donation on date, thank you. / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, we received your donation on{{ donation.date | date: “%m.%d.%y.” }}, thank you.

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 02.15.2024

New Donation#

Purpose: Sent when a supporter donates online, or an admin creates a donation and selects “Send email receipt”

Default Email Subject: 

Donation to Organization / {{ donation.donation_or_payment | capitalize }} to {{ account.name }}

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

Donation of $xx / {{ donation.donation_or_payment | capitalize }} of {{ donation.currency_symbol }}{{ donation.total_amount | money_without_currency }}

Thank you for your donation! / Thank you for your {{ donation.donation_or_payment }}!

Thanks for your contribution of $xx! / Thank you for your contribution of {{ donation.currency_symbol }}{{ donation.total_amount | money_without_currency }}!

Donation Confirmation of $xx / Donation Confirmation of {{ donation.currency_symbol }}{{ donation.total_amount | money_without_currency }}!

First Name, thanks for your donation! / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, thanks for your donation!

First Name, we received your donation on date, thank you. / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, we received your donation on {{ donation.date }}, thank you.

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 2024-02-15

First Name, we received your donation on date, thank you. / {{ donation.first_name | capitalize }}, we received your donation on {{ donation.date | date: “%m/%d/%Y” }}, thank you.

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 02/15/2024

We received your $ donation on date. / We received your {{ donation.currency_symbol }}{{ donation.total_amount | money_without_currency }} donation on {{ donation.date | date: “%m.%d.%y.” }}

• Note: Dates will come through formatted as 02.15.24

New Campaign#

Purpose: Sent when a supporter creates a new campaign.

Default Email Subject: 

Campaign Name Created / {{ account.campaign_name }} Created

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

Your Campaign Name has been Created / Your {{ account.campaign_name }} has been created

Thanks for creating Campaign Name / Thanks for creating {{ account.campaign_name }}

You can start promoting your Campaign Name / You can start promoting your {{ account.campaign_name }}

New Sponsorship #

Purpose: Sent when a supporter or admin creates a new recurring donation to a sponsorship (Admin must select “Send email receipt”)

Default Email Subject: 

New Sponsorship / New {{ account.sponsorship_name }}

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

Thank you for sponsoring Sponsorship’s Name / Thank you for sponsoring {{ sponsorship.title }}

First Name, thank you for your sponsorship / {{ supporter.first_name | capitalize }}, thank you for your sponsorship.

First Name, thank you for sponsoring Sponsorship Name / {{ supporter.first_name | capitalize }}, thank you for sponsoring {{ sponsorship.title }}

Campaign Funded#

Purpose: Sent to a supporter when their peer to peer campaign is fully funded.

Default Email Subject: 

Campaign Name Funded / {{ account.campaign_name }} Funded

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

Your Campaign Name has been Funded / Your {{ account.campaign_name }} has been funded

Campaign Name is fully funded! / {{ account.campaign_name }} is fully funded!

Your Campaign Name is fully funded / Your {{ account.campaign_name }} is fully funded

Conversation Update#

Purpose: Sent when there is a reply or update to a conversation initiated by a supporter. 

Default Email Subject: 

New Sponsorship from Sponsorship / New Message from {{ sponsorship.title }}

Other Suggestions for Email Subject:

You have received a new message from Sponsorship Name / You have received a new message from {{ sponsorship.title }}

First Name, you have received a new message from Sponsorship Name / {{ supporter.first_name | capitalize }}, you have received a new message from {{ sponsorship.title }}

New Message from Sponsorship Name / New Message from {{ sponsorship.title }}

Unsubscribe Link#

The following non-transactional REACH email templates automatically include an Unsubscribe option at the bottom of the email:

• Daily Supporter Update
• Emailings Template
• Supporter Notifications (Settings > Supporter Notifications)

To add additional wording around the Unsubscribe link, type in any custom text, and then add a hyperlink by clicking the Insert/Edit Link button and in the URL field typing: {{supporter.unsubscribe_link}}, without spaces as shown. Example below:

Note: Do not use Merge Tags when adding the Unsubscribe link. This will result in the full URL being used in the template instead of being directed to the Unsubscribe page.

If a supporter unsubscribes, their Contact Preferences will update to “No thanks.” If this is clicked by mistake, they can resubscribe on the following confirmation page. Doing so will change their Contact Preferences back to “Yes” and any specifics based on their contact preferences. 

To determine which supporters have Unsubscribed, you can go to Reports > Supporters Report. Next to Contact Filter, select No, do not contact me. from the drop-down menu. We also recommend you check the box to Schedule as a recurring report, which you can schedule weekly or monthly as desired.

Note: If you add an Unsubscribe link to any transactional email template REACH sends (ex: (New Donation, New Sponsorship, etc.) and the supporter clicks Unsubscribe, the supporter will be unsubscribed from all non-transactional REACH emails but will still receive all transactional REACH emails, including when the“Send email receipt” option is selected by an admin.

Additional Notes#

As with any email editor, please keep in mind the following potential formatting issues:

• Videos should not be sent via email. All email platforms have a size limit when it comes to sending and receiving videos; therefore, if the videos surpasses the limit, your intended recipient will not receive your email. Instead, we always recommend you use a platform like YouTube or Vimeo and link to the video through a button or image.
• While you can add formatting to an HTML email, not all email clients will display your formatting as intended. Different email clients – i.e. Apple Mail, Google Mail, Outlook, etc – use different engines to render HTML emails. Not all email readers have the same capabilities as a web browser.
• Some email clients will strip CSS from an email. Other email clients may add their own styles on top of yours. There is a chance that someone receiving your email will not be able to view the HTML email and will only see the text.
• Some email clients will show images by default. Some will not and the user must choose to display images. When sending out a bulk email in REACH, this will affect how REACH tracks if someone opened the email.  

Email Templates Webinar#

Watch the recording of our Email Templates Webinar. Join us as we discuss this important communication feature in REACH.

We reviewed our system-generated emails and what emails are sent and when, how to create and customize your own email templates and debuted new features such as the ability to customize subject lines and include an unsubscribe option.