Which Automation Template Should I Use?

Overview

Use this guide to quickly choose the automation template that best matches what you’re trying to accomplish. You don’t need to understand every template to get started—focus on your goal, then follow the recommendation below.

This guide is designed for busy nonprofit staff and volunteers who want a fast, confident starting point.

Start With Your Goal

I want to welcome or re-engage supporters

Choose one of these templates if your goal is communication and relationship-building.

• Welcome Series
  Use this when someone is new to your organization and you want to introduce your mission, share next steps, or encourage deeper engagement.

• Reengagement
  Use this when supporters haven’t interacted with you recently and you want to bring them back.

• Birthday
  Use this to send a personal birthday message or schedule a follow-up for supporters on their birthday.

• First Gift Anniversary
  Use this to acknowledge and celebrate the anniversary of a supporter’s first donation.

👉 Start here if your goal is to stay connected and build long-term relationships.

I want to thank or follow up with donors

Choose one of these templates if your goal is stewardship or appreciation.

• Thank Offline Donors
  Use this when donors give by check, mail, or in person and you want to ensure they receive a timely thank-you.

• Lapsed Sustainer
  Use this when a recurring donor’s payment fails or their commitment ends and you want to encourage them to continue giving.

👉 Start here if your goal is to acknowledge generosity and maintain donor trust.

I want to track, organize, or segment supporters

Choose one of these templates if your goal is visibility and organization.

• Track Your Donors
  Use this to automatically apply tracking codes and flag supporters who take additional actions.

• Missing Employer or Occupation
  Use this when required donor information is missing and you need automated follow-up to complete records.

👉 Start here if your goal is to keep data accurate and actionable.

I want to identify or cultivate high-value supporters

Choose one of these templates if your goal is major donor development.

• Prospect Research
  Use this to score contacts, identify high-potential donors, and route them for staff follow-up.

• Relationship Builder
  Use this to assign staff, schedule follow-ups, and manage cultivation for supporters you’re preparing for larger asks.

👉 Start here if your goal is strategic donor growth.

Still Not Sure?

If more than one option seems right:

• Start with the template that matches the earliest point in the supporter journey

• Remember: templates are starting points—you can customize them later

• You can always pause, edit, or duplicate a workflow

If you’re new to automations, most organizations start with:

• Welcome Series or Thank Offline Donors

What Do You Want to Do Next?

• Learn how to use a specific template (choose a “How do I use the [Template Name]?” article)

• Learn how templates work overall (Understanding Workflow Automation Templates)

• Build or edit an automation from scratch (Understanding Workflow Automations)

Quick Reminder

You don’t need the “perfect” template to begin. Choose the one that’s closest to your goal—automation is flexible, and you can refine it as you learn what works best for your organization.