Save time and eliminate repetitive manual tasks by automating donor communications, tasks, and data entry. You can start from a pre-designed template automation from a range of triggers, or create a new workflow from scratch. Workflows begin with a single trigger which sets off specific actions.

To create a workflow, click Workflows in your dashboard, and click the New Workflow button in the upper right corner. You'll be prompted to begin from a template or a trigger to build a workflow from scratch.

You can select a workflow from a selection of templates for popular use cases. Template workflows can be implemented as-is, or used as a starting point and customized. You can also add additional Actions to any template!

To create your own workflow from scratch, you'll need to start with a single trigger. In the workflow builder, select the Triggers tab. You'll see a list of all available triggers to begin a workflow. Multiple actions can be configured from a single trigger.

A trigger is a specific event that initiates a sequence of automated rules and actions. Click on any option below to view details and configurable options for each trigger.

After picking a trigger for your workflow, click Start building in the upper right corner.

The list of available actions is the same across all triggers. You can set multiple actions per workflow. Some actions (donor-facing actions) will also allow you to choose when the action takes place. Click on any option below to view details and configurable options for each action.

Workflows can be further customized by using built-in time delays and branching (yes/no) dependencies.

Some actions allow you to add a delay between the trigger and the resulting action. You can choose from a range of preset options or customize the delay, including skipping weekends. Scheduling options are excellent for spacing out communications, such as outbound emails or texts.

Branching (yes/no dependency) is a crucial component of an effective automation. By adding branches to your workflow, you can execute different actions based on specific conditions to create flexible, adaptable, and efficient workflows.

If you're preparing for an event, your goals might include selling tickets or registering bidders for an auction. Branching makes it easier to guide your contacts toward these goals and send relevant communications based on the actions they take.

You can branch workflows by the following conditions:

After editing your template or building your workflow, click Next in the upper right corner to review before publishing.

Before publishing your workflow, you'll need to review:

Click Publish changes to set your workflow live.

Your workflows will be saved in your dashboard under Active, Paused, and Drafts tabs, as applicable. In each tab, you'll see a list of workflows, when they were last triggered, and their creation date.

Clicking on a workflow will take you to its details page, where you can view a preview, a graph of year-to-date trigger volume, and an activity log of individual contacts who have entered this workflow, including revenue generated as a result.

You can edit workflows at any time. To edit a workflow, click the three dots [...] on the right side of the workflow, then click Edit. You can also click the Edit icon from the workflow's details page to open up the workflow builder.

You can edit the trigger configuration, but you cannot change the trigger event itself. To change the trigger, you must create a new workflow. After a workflow has been created, you can edit, add, and delete actions.

If you want to duplicate an existing workflow, you can do so from the workflow's details page. Click the Duplicate icon in the upper right.

A duplicate workflow will be created as a new draft, with "(Copy)" added to the title. Duplicates are not automatically published, so you can make any desired changes before clicking Publish.

Pausing a workflow temporarily prevents a workflow from firing, even if the trigger event occurs. To edit a workflow, click the three dots [...] on the right side of the workflow, then click Pause. You can also click the Pause button on the workflow's details page. Follow these same steps again to resume a workflow.

To permanently remove a workflow from your account, click the three dots [...] on the right side of the workflow, then click Delete. You can also click the Delete icon from the workflow's details page.

Can I create a workflow with more than one trigger? For example, when a contact becomes a recurring donor and donates to a specific campaign.

No, you cannot currently configure multiple triggers that work together. Each workflow supports one trigger which can result in one or more actions.

Do messages created from workflows appear on contact activity feeds?

Yes, all Engage communications (Email, SMS, and Mailings) will appear on a contact's activity feed, including those created with workflows.

Can tags be applied retroactively to trigger a workflow?

Tags cannot be applied retroactively using a workflow, but you can work around this by adding tags in bulk, which can then trigger a workflow as a result.

Do imports, offline transactions, or integrations trigger workflows if they meet the trigger criteria?

Offline transactions and integrations can trigger workflows, but imported data (contacts or transactions) cannot.