Using Template Keys

Created by Brittany Crow, Modified on Tue, 07 May 2024 at 10:38 AM by Brittany Crow

 Heads up! This article is intended for site managers. Only site managers have access to template keys when drafting email blasts or managing automated notifications.  


Whether you're sending out email blasts or customizing your automated notifications, you'll see the option to insert template keys. Template keys help streamline the process of writing your communications. In this article, we cover: 


What are template keys? 

Template keys are a great way to experience your site's automation benefits while still personalizing your messages! For example—if your template key says First Name—it automatically replaces it with the recipient's first name. To insert a template key into an email blast or automated notification, click in the message field where you want it to go and then click the template key you want to insert there!

  • Here's what it looks like when you're inserting the template keys into an email blast: 

 Heads up! Your editing tool may look different from this one. 

  • Here's what it looks like to the volunteer when they receive that email: 

Can I edit template keys? 

Template keys can't be edited. If you try to edit a template key, it alters their code and they won't populate correctly in the messages sent out. Template keys should only be inserted into your messages—from there, they'll automatically populate with the intended information on their own. 


What do they do?   

Now that we've covered what the template keys are, we'll look at what some of them do. These are some of the more commonly used template keys. You'll see these as options to insert into messages when creating email blasts or when customizing automated notification templates: 

Template KeyDescription
{{agency_contact}}This inserts the name of the individual listed as a contact under Contact Information for an Agency. 
{{agency_email}}This inserts the email address listed under Contact Information for an Agency.  
{{agency_id}}This inserts the Agency's ID. 
{{agency_name}}This inserts the name of the Agency. 
{{agency_phone}}This inserts the Agency's phone number. 
{{amount}}
This inserts the volunteer's donation amount. 
{{benchmark_date}}This inserts the Benchmark's date. 
{{benchmark_image}}This inserts the Benchmark badge. 
{{benchmark_name}}This inserts the name of the Benchmark. 
{{calendar_links}}This shares links to the calendar for assigned shifts. 
{{checkin_link}}This shares a link to check-in. 
{{company_name}}This inserts the company name. 
{{contactEmail}}This inserts the contact's email address. 
{{contactFax}}This inserts the contact's fax number. 
{{contactPhone}}This inserts the contact's phone number. 
{{count}}This inserts the number of something—e.g., number of pending items that need review. 
{{doc_title}}This inserts the name of the Advanced Event—e.g., DOC = Day of Caring. 
{{donor_cc_last4}}This inserts the last four numbers of the donor's credit card. 
{{event_date}}This inserts the date the Event takes place. 
{{event_description}}This inserts the Event's description. 
{{event_id}}This inserts the Event's ID. 
{{event_link}}This shares a link to the Event. 
{{eventName}}This inserts the Event's name. 
{{event_title}}This inserts the Event's title. 
{{excerpt}}This inserts a blog excerpt. 
{{from_email}}This inserts the sender's email. 
{{from_firstname}}This inserts the sender's first name. 
{{from_lastname}}This inserts the sender's last name. 
{{from_phone}}This inserts the sender's phone number. 
{{from_userid}}This inserts the sender's user ID. 
{{from_username}}This inserts the sender's username. 
{{hour_date_added}}This inserts the date the hour was added. 
{{hour_date_start}}This inserts the start date for the volunteer hours. 
{{hour_date_updated}}This inserts the date the volunteer hours were updated. 
{{hour_description}}This inserts the description for those hours. 
{{hour_hours}}This inserts the specific hours for a volunteer Need—e.g., the hours that were rejected. 
{{hour_miles}}This inserts the miles submitted for those hours. 
{{initiative_message}}This inserts the Initiative message. 
{{items}}This inserts a list of pending items. 
{{joinLink}}This sends an invitation to join link. 
{{level}}This inserts the level of background check the user has submitted—only for Sterling Volunteers. 
{{link}}This template key is found in a few automated notifications and inserts the link associated with that message.
  • For example, in the User Imported Message notification template, this is the link to the user's new profile on the site. 
{{linkEvent}}This shares a link to an Event. 
{{link_settings}}This shares a link to the user's edit profile page. 
{{linkSurvey}}
This shares a link to a survey. 
{{loginLink}}This shares a login link. 
{{manage_user_link}}This shares a link to the Manage User area for a volunteer. 
{{manager_firstname}}This inserts the site manager's first name. 
{{manager_email}}This inserts the site manager's email. 
{{manager_lastname}}
This inserts the site manager's last name. 
{{message}}This inserts a message into the body of the notification—e.g., the weekly digest. 
{{minor_name}}This inserts the name of a minor awaiting guardian or parental consent. 
{{need_address}}This inserts the physical address where the volunteer Need is to take place. 
{{need_city}}This inserts the city where the volunteer Need is to take place. 
{{need_comment}}If you have written any private comments on a volunteer Need, then this template key shares those comments. 
  • Comments are private and only shared between site managers. 
{{need_date}}This inserts the date that the volunteer Need is scheduled for or expires. 
  • This includes the date and time for non-shift Needs (e.g., Happens on, Ongoing, etc.). 
{{need_description}}This inserts the description you created for the volunteer Need when you made it. 
{{need_id}}This inserts the volunteer Need ID. 
{{need_link}}This inserts the link to the volunteer Need on your site. 
{{need_postal}}This inserts the ZIP Code for a volunteer Need. 
{{need_state}}This inserts the state where the volunteer Need is to take place. 
{{need_title}}This inserts the title of your volunteer Need. 
{{password_reset_link}}This inserts a link to the password reset form. 
{{pin}}This inserts a PIN that the user can use to log into the mobile app for sites that use SSO. 
{{projectAddress}}This inserts the Advanced Event Address. 
{{projectAddress2}}This inserts the Advanced Event Address. 
{{projectCity}}This inserts the Advanced Event City. 
{{projectState}}This inserts the Advanced Event State. 
{{qualification_name}}This inserts the Qualification's name. 
{{qualification_needed}}This inserts the name of the Qualification needed. 
{{qualification_title}}This inserts the Qualification title. 
{{recipient_domain}}This inserts the recipient's domain. 
{{registerLink}}This shares a link to register. 
{{registration_closed_date}}This inserts the registration closed date for a volunteer Need. 
{{reset_password}}This shares the rest password link. 
{{response_link}}This shares a link to the volunteer Need response. 
{{resume_link}}This shares a link to a resume. 
{{sharing}}This inserts social media sharing links for a Benchmark a user has achieved. 
{{shift}}This inserts the shift for a volunteer Need. 
{{shift_end}}This inserts the date/time a shift ends. 
{{shift_start}}This inserts the date/time a shift starts. 
{{shift_times}}
This inserts the scheduled shift times for a volunteer Need. 
  • This includes the date and time for Needs with scheduled shifts (e.g., Custom or Recurring Shifts). 
{{signature}}After you've created a signature in the Notifications area of your site, this inserts that signature where applicable. 
{{site_domain}}This inserts your site's domain name, e.g., awesome.galaxydigital.com. 
{{site_link}}This inserts the link to your site. 
{{site_name}}This inserts your site's name. 
{{site_supervisor}}This inserts the name of the individual you've assigned as a site supervisor for a volunteer Need. 
{{site_supervisor_email}}This inserts the email address for the individual you've assigned as a site supervisor for a volunteer Need. 
{{site_url}}This inserts your site's URL. 
{{team_creator_first_name}}This inserts the first name of the individual that created the team. 
{{team_creator_last_name}}This inserts the last name of the individual that created the team. 
{{teamleader_email}}This inserts the team leader's email address. 
{{teamleader_first_name}}This inserts the team leader's first name. 
{{teamleader_last_name}}This inserts the team leader's last name. 
{{team_name}}This inserts the team's name. 
{{timestamp}}This inserts a timestamp—e.g., the time a donation is submitted. 
{{title}}This inserts the title. 
{{to_email}}This inserts the recipient's email address. 
{{to_firstname}}
This inserts the recipient's first name. 
{{to_id}}This inserts the recipient's user ID. 
{{to_lastname}}This inserts the recipient's last name. 
{{to_password}}This inserts the temporary password for the recipient to use if they're a new user or an imported user. 
{{to_profile}}This inserts the link to the recipient's profile. 
{{to_userid}}This inserts the recipient's user ID.
{{to_username}}This inserts the recipient's username. 
{{user_email}}This inserts the user's email address. 
{{user_fname}}This inserts the user's first name. 
{{user_lname}}This inserts the user's last name. 
{{volunteerSupervisor}}This inserts the volunteer supervisor's name.