This checklist helps you set up sponsorships in REACH from planning through launch.

Use the Quick Start if you want to get sponsorships live quickly.

Use the Full Checklist to make thoughtful decisions before importing or publishing sponsorships.

Note: Features vary by plan level. 

Sponsorships Quick Start#

If are just trying out sponsorships, or need to get started right away, follow these steps first. You can refine details later.

Step 1: Decide What Sponsors Will See#

Choose:

• How sponsorships will be named publicly (for example: full name, first name, code system – consider sponsorship privacy)
  • Enter this in the sponsorship Title field, which will also become the permalink
• Which details you want to show (for example: age, grade, location)
  • Add under Data Setup → Custom Fields. Then, add these to the Sponsorship Type(s) you create. Refer to Sponsorship Custom Fields article.
• Whether sponsorships will be grouped (for example: families or households)
  • Refer to Family Unit Sponsorships article

Step 2: Set Up Sponsorship Types#

Create at least one sponsorship type and set the monthly cost.

(Sponsorships → Sponsorship Types)

Options:

• Divide sponsorship cost into equal shares
• Create share types with different costs

Step 3: Prepare Sponsorship Images#

Each sponsorship must have an image to appear publicly.

• Use real photos when available
• Use a placeholder image if needed

Step 4: Create or Import Sponsorships#

You can manually create a few sponsorship profile records as trial:

(Sponsorships → +New Sponsorship)

Or import multiple sponsorship records from a spreadsheet:

1. Upload sponsorship images first
2. Then import sponsorships

Step 5: Review & Publish#

Before going live:

• Preview a sponsorship profile in the admin console and public page
• Test the donation flow
• Review filters on your Sponsorships page

Full Sponsorships Checklist#

Use this section to plan and configure your sponsorship program in detail. You can view examples at demo.reachapp.co.

1. Sponsorship Custom Fields#

☐ Decide which custom fields (demographic or personal information) to capture per sponsorship. 

   Examples: Grade, Favorite Activity, Favorite Subject

☐ Identify custom fields visible to Admins only

☐ Identify custom fields visible to Sponsors only

User Tip:

• Custom Fields can be added under Data Setup → Custom Fields → Referral: Sponsorship Type. Then, when you create your Sponsorship Types, click Add a Custom Field to add these to your sponsorship types. 
• Age does not require a custom field. The Date of Birth field is automatically converted to Age in the public view.

2. Sponsorship Types & Shares#

☐ Define sponsorship types (categories)

☐ Decide whether to use multiple shares, to allow for multiple sponsors

☐ Set cost per share

☐ Decide whether to use share types with varying costs (for example: Education $30 and Healthcare $50)

User Tip:

• Sponsorship Types are created under Sponsorships → Sponsorship Types
• As noted above, be sure to add your desired custom fields to each sponsorship type you create.

3. Naming & Privacy#

☐ Decide how sponsorship names will appear publicly (for example: full name, first name, alpha-numeric system – consider sponsorship privacy)

User Tip:

• The sponsorship Title is public. Custom fields may be added to include full names for sponsor or admin view only if needed.
• The sponsorship’s permalink used in REACH is derived from the title.   

4. Sponsorship Images#

☐ Select a profile image for each sponsorship 

☐ Select a placeholder image if photos are unavailable

☐ Compile additional images for sponsorship albums (if using)

User Tip:

• Sponsorship images work best sized to 900px x 900px square, under 10MB
• Save your sponsorship images to match the sponsorship’s title. For example, if using the sponsorship’s name, the images file names should be firstname-lastname to help match the sponsorship’s photo with the sponsorship’s record in REACH during import.
• Set album settings under Settings → General Settings → Sponsorships tab

5. Legacy IDs & Imports (Optional)#

☐ Decide whether to use External Reference IDs

User Tip:

• The External Reference ID is a system field included in imports, you do not need to create a custom field for this information. 
• However, you can create a new custom field to automatically assign a sequential number to each new sponsorship added.

6. Family Units & Grouping (Optional)#

☐ Decide whether to group sponsorships into families or households

User Tip:

• Refer to Family Unit Sponsorships article

7. Sponsorships Settings#

Set these under Settings → General Settings → Sponsorships tab

General

• Decide which admin to notify of past due sponsorships
• Decide whether to add new sponsors to a Supporter Group
• Decide if you want to skip the cart page in the sponsor donation process
• Decide if you want to ask sponsors to include an additional recurring donation to another category at the time of sponsoring? If so, this additional donation will be added to each recurring sponsorship donation. 

Filtering and Public Listings

☐ Decide how to order your sponsorships (position, alphabetical or random)

☐ Decide whether to hide fully sponsored sponsorships

☐ Decide whether to limit search engine indexing of sponsorship profiles

Messaging & Engagement

☐ Decide whether to enable moderated conversations

☐ Decide whether to enable video messaging for sponsors

☐ Decide whether to allow attachments in emails or require sponsors to be logged in

Payment Handling

☐ When sponsors log in to their Donor Portal, do you want an alert shown with the option to donate to catch up if their sponsorship is past due? 

What’s Next#

Once sponsorships are live, you can:

• Add stories, photos, and updates through sponsorship messages
• Enable conversations or gifts
• Customize sponsorship terminology (optional) under Settings → General Settings → Terminology tab