REACH gives organizations the ability to fully customize the look and feel of your online portal by using Theme designs. A REACH Theme is a collection of editable templates that use HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Liquid elements to display all the information about your organization. Should you choose to use a theme for your REACH portal, it is recommended that someone on your team is familiar with HTML and CSS.

Note: REACH now offers Portal Templates and Embeds, giving organizations more user-friendly ways to design and manage their portal experience. These are the default REACH portal options for all new accounts.

For accounts using an Active Theme for their REACH portal, we highly recommend making sure you are using the most recent theme version.

Theme FAQs#

When do I update my REACH Theme?#

When an organization first activates a REACH theme, they are automatically assigned the latest version. From then on, it is up to the organization to update their Theme as new versions are released. The development team pushes updates to the theme code when necessary. This could include feature updates or minor bug or error fixes (examples could be misspellings or buttons not working as intended).

Are REACH Themes fully customizable?#

Yes, you have complete control over your REACH Theme allowing you to fully customize the style and design of your REACH portals as desired.

How can we tell what REACH Theme we are currently using? #

To determine your current REACH Theme, from your Admin Console, go to Settings > Themes > Your Themes tab. Your current Theme will have the Status of Active.

Why do I need to update my REACH Theme?#

To stay current, we highly recommend you update your REACH Theme as new versions are released. This will ensure you have the most current features and should there be any Theme fixes (mis-spellings, broken buttons, etc.) these are released with new Theme updates. Keeping your Theme updated is similar to keeping an app updated on your device.

What if I only use REACH for sponsorships? #

Updating your REACH Theme does not effect your entire website if you only use REACH for sponsorships. You will still want to keep your REACH Theme updated to ensure you benefit from any updates and new features that our development team makes to sponsorships.

To determine if our new Theme updates include an update to sponsorships, you can view our New Features List by REACH Theme article.

Can we preview a Theme before activating it?#

Yes, you can preview a new Theme before activating it. For detailed instructions, see our Updating your REACH Theme article. Please note that previewing works best one page at a time, and Javascript may not function as expected in preview mode.

Can we set up a staging environment to customize our Theme prior to it going live?#

Yes. To do so, go to Settings > Themes. From the Your Themes tab, click Actions > Copy next to the Theme you want to customize. Use the copied Theme as your staging environment. When ready to make live, click Actions > Activate.

What are the most current REACH Themes?#

As of July 2022, the most current REACH Themes are Quartz 2.3 and Ruby 2.3. The most current Version will always be displayed on the available themes in the Theme Store. You can view these by going to Settings > Themes > Theme Store.

Is there a list of new features available by REACH Theme?#

Yes, you can review the new features list by viewing our New Features List by REACH Theme article.

If you are using REACH for sponsorships only, simply preview the sponsorship(s) pages only when updating to ensure they look and function as intended.

How am I notified of new REACH Theme versions?#

We will notify you if a new REACH Theme version is available by posting a notification on your Admin Console, in our monthly newsletter, on our Change Log (which is also shown in your Admin Console Dashboard Widget area) and via our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook).

How do I update my REACH Theme?#

For guided instructions on how to update your REACH Theme, please see our Updating your REACH Theme article.

Can I revert back to previous Themes? #

Yes, to revert back to a previous Theme, you will simply need to find that Theme in the Your Themes list, click on Actions > Activate to reactivate your previous Theme.

What if I have added customizations to my current Theme? #

If you have added a number of customizations to your current Theme, we recommend you simply bring in those customizations to your new Theme.

The easiest way to do this is to Preview the updated version, then copy and paste the specific customized code from your previous Theme version to the newer, updated Theme version. Or, if you are proficient in HTML, you can selectively add your customizations. Preview your new Theme as desired and then Activate it once ready.

What if I am using a REACH Theme other than Quartz and Ruby?#

Themes older than Quartz and Ruby are not materially different; however, they are no longer supported by our development team. If you are using a previous theme, the main differences with Quartz and Ruby are an updated look and newer features, such as Donation Levels and Family Sponsorships. A full list of newer features can be found by viewing our New Features List by REACH Theme article.

If you are on an older REACH Theme, we do recommend you consider updating to take full advantage of our newest features and coding updates.

Is there documentation available for your Quartz and Ruby Themes?#

Yes, you can review developer documentation on our Quartz 2 and Ruby 2 Theme Documentation article.

What are the design components of a REACH Theme?#

A REACH Theme uses four main Theme Design components: layout file, template files, partials, and assets. Learn more by reviewing our Theme Design Components article.

What about basic updates to my REACH portal, such as colors and text? #

Many of the basic updates to your REACH portal are handled using Portal Setup and Portal Branding. View our Portal Setup and Portal Branding articles for more detailed information.

How do I use Menus in my REACH Theme? #

REACH allows you to create and use multiple Menus in your REACH Theme to organize and categorize your information. To learn more, view our Theme Menu article.

What coding language is used for REACH Themes?#

REACH Themes use Liquid Objects and other functionality based on the Liquid Templating language. For a full list of Liquid Objects available, please see our Liquid Objects article.