Email Domain Authentication

An email domain is the part of an email address after the "@" symbol. It typically represents the name of the organization, company, or service provider that hosts the email account. For example, "example.com" is the domain in the email address "user@example.com." The email domain is crucial to route the email to the correct server and ensure that it reaches the intended recipient. Businesses and individuals can customize email domains, making them an essential part of professional and personal communication. Your organization likely owns one or more domains that you use for email.

To ensure the security and authenticity of email, various authentication protocols are used, such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC). SPF verifies that the email is sent from an authorized server, reducing the risk of spoofing. DKIM adds a digital signature to email, allowing the recipient's server to check if the email was altered during transit. DMARC builds on SPF and DKIM by providing a way for domain owners to specify how to handle email that fail these checks, offering a comprehensive approach to email security, and reducing the likelihood of phishing and spam.

For a more detailed explanation of these protocols and how they effect your email metrics, see Establish sender authentication.

Your organization likely owns one of more domains that you use for email. To add the domain to your Blackbaud account:

  1. Log in to app.Blackbaud.com.

  2. From the solution menu on the left, select Admin.

  3. Select Settings and Email settings.

  4. On the Email authentication settings page, select Add.

  5. Enter your domain, such as example.com, and select Add.

Tip: For more information, see your domain provider's instructions for authentication.

The Email authentication settings page displays your claimed domains. The domain status may be:

  • Needs attention — Your domain authentication isn't verified. Select the edit button to view and update your domain authentication settings.

  • Deploying — Your domain authentication is fully verified, and the process to enable your email is in progress.

  • Ready — Your domain is fully authenticated and ready to send email.

  • Error — Your email authentication was verified, but a problem occurred. The issue might be due to expired protocols or a problem with your domain provider. Select the edit button to view and update your domain authentication settings.