We’ve created this Setup Checklist to help guide you through the full preparation and launch of your new REACH account.

This is intended for clients who want to set up REACH on their own. If you are seeking paid assistance with preparing and launching their new REACH account, please see our Setup Checklist with Expert Assistance: Your Guided Onboarding article.

REACH Tips:

• As you’re just getting started, we highly recommend you view our Getting Started Webinar and register to attend our next New Admin Orientation.
• The printable can be used to check off items as you complete them. Please refer to the section below for direct links to articles in our Knowledge Base that provide more detail and instruction on how to complete each item.
• If you are wanting to test out REACH using a few records at first, refer to our Trying out REACH article. This article will guide you through adding a few key records at a time to test out your personalized configuration of REACH before starting to add in all of your data.

General Setup#

• Add your organization’s Account details
• Set up your Admin Users (please add more than one Admin User for contingency purposes)
• Review Account Rule Settings
• Disable Supporter Email during setup (optional)
• Get familiar with the Admin Console

Online Donations Setup#

• Set up REACHpay or your Payment Gateway
• Prepare for donations with the Donation Setup
• Set up Donation Categories
• Review our Double the Donation matching gift integration

Portal Setup#

• Select your Portal Theme
• Customize your Portal details and branding
• Customize your website/portal Menus
• Set up your Places (optional)
• Set up your Projects (optional)
• Set up any additional web Pages (optional)
• Review the Donor Portal

Prepare for Sponsorships#

• Review the Sponsorship Checklist

Sponsorships and Supporters#

• Create your Custom Fields for Sponsorships
• Set up your Sponsorship and Share Types
• Create your Custom Fields for Supporters, (Optional – add them to your Donation Form)

Import Your Records#

You will want to first review the basic steps for importing your data.

Note: When first importing data into REACH, the order of your imports should be as follows. The imports build on each other, so the order is essential.

• Import your Sponsorship Images
• Import your Sponsorships
• Import your Supporters
• Import your Donation History
• Transfer Supporter Payment Information into REACH

Prepare for Communications#

• Learn about our REACH System Emails
• Review/Edit your Email Templates
• Create Custom Email Templates (optional, certain REACH plans only)
• Set up Supporter Notifications (optional)
• Set up Mail Merge Templates
• Review Text Message options
• Review Communications Preferences list
• Review and Set up any Site Integrations
• Set up any Automations (Optional)

Review Available Features#

• Campaigns
• Events
• Products (Online store)
• Text to Give
• Trips
• Reports and Segments
• Groups

Prepare to Launch#

• Complete testing using the list of system checks
• If you have not already done so, onboard your Admin Users

Onboard Your Supporters#

• Convert sponsorships from legacy to online
• Prepare Email to Supporters
• Re-enable Supporter Emails following setup (optional)