Pledge Confirmation Email System

Client-facing summary of the Break Ground Now email system Created: January 21, 2026

Before You Go Live

We've tested the email system locally and confirmed emails are coming through on our end.

A few notes on deliverability:

• Since we can't control individual users' spam filters, there's no guarantee that 100% of emails will land in every inbox
• However, since you're using SendGrid, deliverability is generally extremely high — it's an industry-standard email service
• If you'd like to run a few test submissions, the easiest way is to use one of your personal email addresses, submit some test entries, and then delete them once they've been approved. That way you can confirm everything is working without leaving test data behind.

The Pledge Journey

1. Someone visits californiaforever.com/breakgroundnow and fills out the pledge form

2. They click Submit

3. → EMAIL 1 SENDS IMMEDIATELY - Thanks them for signing - Lets them know their signature is under review - Sent from: California Forever advocacy@californiaforever.com

4. They land on the Thank You page

5. They can optionally add a personal quote

6. If they add a quote → EMAIL 2 SENDS - Confirms their quote was received - Shows them a copy of what they wrote - Lets them know they'll hear from us when it's published

7. Their submission sits in the queue waiting for approval

8. You approve them (via Slack or WordPress)

9. → EMAIL 3 SENDS - Tells them the great news — they're now live on the site - Includes a direct link to their card on the supporters page - If they added a quote, it shows their quote in the email

Managing the Emails

• Email 1 is always on — it sends automatically when someone submits the form
• Emails 2 and 3 have on/off toggles in WordPress (Settings → Email Settings) — they're currently OFF until you're ready to turn them on
• You can edit the subject lines and email wording anytime without touching code

Where to Find the Settings

Email 1: Forms → Break Ground Pledge → Settings → Notifications

Emails 2 & 3: Settings → Email Settings (toggle on/off + edit content)