Configure your agent's email

Your agent needs an email address and configuration to send email messages from your organization's domain so that emails look legitimate and reach your constituents without being flagged as spam.

Note: You won't need to monitor this inbox, and we recommend not sending emails from it. Configure it as a forward-only inbox, if possible.

Create email address

Choose a permanent email address for your agent.

Warning: You cannot change this email address. Use your organization’s domain to reassure recipients that messages come from a trusted source.

  1. In Development Agent email address, enter the address in the format of agent@yourdomain.com.

  2. Select Next.

Inbox configuration

You won't enter information on this page — just share details with your IT team. Your IT team will configure email authentication by updating your domain's DNS records and routing so the agent can send messages from your domain.

Use the Copy buttons to easily share the values.

  • Email to forward inbox to (required): Forward incoming messages, such as replies, to this inbox provided.

  • DKIM configuration (required): Enable domain key signing to verify message integrity and authenticity.

  • DMARC configuration (recommended): Set a policy to monitor and protect your domain from unauthorized use.

  • Bounce domain (optional): Handle undeliverable messages.

  • Track domain (optional): Enable engagement tracking.

  • SPF configuration (required if you have an SPF record): Prevent spoofing by validating sources of emails for a domain. Include exists:%{i}._spf.sparkpostmail.com before ~all at the end of your bounce domain record or in a domain's record that already defines it, such as: include:sparkpostmail.com. Skip this step if your domain doesn't have an SPF record."

Select Next, then close this page and wait until your IT team confirms that these configurations are complete before moving to the Test connection step.

Test connection

After your IT team finishes configuration, run a test to make sure everything works.

  1. Select Start email test.

  2. Wait for confirmation that the test was successful.

Option to start the email configuration test in the UI

If you see a failed response, inform your IT team. After correction, return to this step and select Retry email test.

Email configuration changes can take time, up to 24 hours or more to propagate. It’s possible for DNS records to validate correctly in public DNS tools while still failing the email test. If tests continue to fail after confirming the DNS setup and allowing sufficient time for propagation, report your issue to Blackbaud.

Once email provisioning is complete, including the email forwarding test, you can select the Get Started button and move through the workflow described in the Get Started with Development Agent. Email configuration will no longer be accessible since setup will be complete.