Sender signatures & custom domains

Choose the From name and address for each kind of email your organization sends, and send from your own domain after verifying DKIM and Return-Path.

Who this is for: administrators who set up club email. Permission required: Manage Communications (the same settings are also under Org Settings → Communication for members with Manage Organization Settings).

A sender signature is the "From" name and email address your members see on an email from Boathouse Connect. By default, emails come from a Boathouse Connect address. Once you add and verify your club's own domain, you can send from addresses such as [email protected], which members recognize and spam filters are more likely to trust.

You can choose a different signature for each kind of email, so that, for example, payment receipts come from your treasurer's address and practice reminders from your coaches.

Open communication settings

Go to Communications → Settings. Communication Settings has three tabs:

Tab What it is for
General Choose a signature for each kind of email and turn automated emails on or off. Also holds your club's social media links.
Domains Add your sending domain, check its verification status and create sender signatures.
Authorized Users See which groups and people hold each communications permission.

Add your sending domain

  1. On the Domains tab, add a domain under Email Domains.
  2. Enter the Domain Name, for example example.com. Do not include https:// or www.
  3. Click Add Domain.

Boathouse Connect creates two sender signatures for the new domain automatically, a "notifications" address and an "updates" address. Everyone with Manage Communications is emailed the DNS records you need to add.

Note: The person who controls your domain's DNS (often whoever manages your website) needs to add the records. Boathouse Connect cannot change DNS for you.

Verify DKIM and Return-Path

The domain's row shows SPF Verified, DKIM Verified and Return Path Verified. Until DKIM and Return-Path are verified, the domain shows Verification Required.

Record DNS record type Why it matters
DKIM TXT Proves emails really come from your domain.
Return Path CNAME Lets bounced emails return to Boathouse Connect so delivery problems can be reported.
  1. Click Verify next to DKIM. Copy the hostname and value into a new TXT record at your DNS provider, then click Verify DNS.
  2. Click Verify next to Return Path. Copy the hostname and value into a new CNAME record, then click Verify ReturnPath.
  3. DNS changes can take a while to spread. If a check fails, wait and try again. Boathouse Connect also rechecks your domains automatically every hour.

When both are verified, the domain shows Verified. For extra help, use the documentation linked under Need help? on the Domains tab.

Add a sender signature

  1. On the Domains tab, under Sender Signatures, click Add Signature.
  2. Enter the Name members will see, such as "Coach Smith" or "Club Treasurer".
  3. Enter the Email username, the part before the @. The full From Email is shown as you type.
  4. Save the signature. It appears in the Sender Signatures table with its Email Address and Name.

Choose a signature for each kind of email

On the General tab, Email Sender Signatures groups the emails Boathouse Connect sends by area. For each, pick a signature under Select Signature, or Use Boathouse Connect domain to keep the default.

Area Emails
General Communications Email From a Human, Invalid Phone Number
Practices Unknown Practice Attendance, Upcoming Practice Lineups, Attendance Change Request, Post Practice Survey
Finances Upcoming Charges, ACH Payment Scheduled, Payment Receipt, Donation Receipt, Past-due account
Regattas Regatta Entry Lineups, Unknown Regatta Attendance
Club Management Documents Requiring Signature, Monthly Organization Overview, New Uploaded User, Boathouse Connect Notifications

Use Allow Sending or Disable Sending to turn an automated email on or off. Some emails, such as Email From a Human, cannot be turned off.

Tip: Verify your domain before assigning its signatures, so members do not receive emails from an address that is not yet authenticated.

FAQ

Do I need my own domain to send email? No. Without one, emails are sent from the Boathouse Connect domain.

Why does my domain still say Verification Required? The DNS records are missing, mistyped or have not spread yet. Check the hostname and value match exactly, then click Verify again or wait for the hourly check.

Can I use a Gmail or Outlook address as a signature? No. Signatures use a domain you have added and verified, because you have to prove you control it with DNS records.

Who receives the DNS instructions email? Everyone in your organization with Manage Communications.

Where do I see who can send messages? On the Authorized Users tab. See also Roles & permissions.

Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].