Self-Guided Training

Welcome to Momentum! This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step training so you can master the platform without needing live support.

Welcome to Momentum!

This guide serves as a complete self-guided training, walking you through every aspect of Momentum so you can get fully up and running without needing live support.

Here is our most recent, full video walkthrough.

📌 Note: If you're brand new to Momentum, we recommend following this guide in order. If you're looking for guidance on a specific feature, use the table of contents to jump directly to that section.


📌 Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started: Navigation & Orientation

  2. The Inbox: Managing Donor Engagement

  3. Creating & Managing Outreach

  4. Automations: Reducing Manual Effort

  5. Workspace: Customizing Engagement

  6. Prospecting: Identifying High-Value Donors

  7. Managing Lists & Segments

  8. Managing Donor Data

  9. Assistant Mode: For Team Collaboration

  10. AI Writer: How It Personalizes Outreach

  11. Troubleshooting & FAQs

  12. Action Checklist: Get Fully Set Up


1️⃣ Getting Started: Navigation & Orientation

Momentum is structured to provide clear workflows for donor engagement. Below is a breakdown of the key sections.

📍 Top Navigation Bar (Left to Right)

Feature

Description

🏠 Home Button (M Logo)

Always brings you back to the Inbox.

📥 Inbox

Central hub for managing outreach, drafting emails, and responding to donors.

📂 Donors

Houses all constituents (assigned & unassigned). Segments, lists, and full CRM records live here.

🛠️ Workspace

The "brain" of Momentum—where templates, automations, cadences, and prospecting are managed.

📊 Reports

Provides activity tracking and engagement analytics (toggle on after training).

🔍 Search Bar

Allows you to search only assigned donors within Momentum.

⚙️ User Settings

Configure integrations, manage preferences, and access support.


2️⃣ The Inbox: Managing Donor Engagement

The Inbox is where you'll spend most of your time in Momentum. It serves as your centralized action hub, ensuring no important outreach falls through the cracks.

📌 Key Features of the Inbox

Feature

Description

Action Queue (Left Panel)

Displays a list of actions—both manually created and automated recommendations.

Lightning Bolt Icon ⚡

Indicates an automated recommendation (e.g., "Get in Touch" reminders).

Paper Airplane Icon ✈️

Represents actions that you have scheduled or drafted.

Group Actions

Batch processing for similar outreach, like sending thank-you notes.

Donor Sidebar (Right Panel)

Provides full donor details, including contact info, giving history, and engagement plan.

AI Drafts

Automatically generated outreach messages, personalized based on past interactions.

📌 Recommended Screenshot: Show an example of the Inbox layout with icons highlighted.


3️⃣ Creating & Managing Outreach

Momentum provides multiple ways to create donor touchpoints, allowing you to work efficiently and personalize outreach at scale.

📝 How to Create a New Action

  1. Click "New Action"

    • Located in the top-right of the screen.

  2. Choose Recipients

    • Select an individual, group, or list.

    • Exclude specific recipients if needed.

  3. Define Message Content

    • Use an AI-generated draft or a pre-written template.

    • Give the AI writer guidance, such as “Make this warmer.”

  4. Select Action Type

    • Email (Supports individual or group actions).

    • Letter (Currently only supports individual actions).

    • Call (Generates suggested talking points).

  5. Set a Follow-Up or Schedule for Later

    • Configure “If no reply” automation.

    • Attach files or add custom notes.

📌 Recommended Screenshot: Walkthrough of the "New Action" window with annotations.


4️⃣ Automations: Reducing Manual Effort

Momentum automates repetitive tasks so you can focus on relationship-building.

📌 Default Automations

Automation

Description

Get in Touch

Triggers an action if a donor has gone X days without contact.

No Reply Follow-Up

Reminds you to follow up on unanswered emails.

Gift Expected

Predicts upcoming gifts and prompts outreach.

Gift Received

Automates thank-you messages for recent donations.

Gift Anniversary & Birthday

Suggests outreach for key donor milestones.

🛠️ Customizing Automations

  • Modify rules, timing, and language per donor segment.

  • Use dynamic adjustments so automations update based on donor activity.

📌 Recommended Video Tutorial: How to configure automations for different donor journeys.


5️⃣ Workspace: Customizing Engagement

Your Workspace powers automation and personalization.

📂 Templates

  • AI Prompts: Reusable instructions for AI-generated outreach.

  • Mail Merge Templates: Pre-set messaging with placeholders (e.g., "Dear [First Name]").

📑 Cadences

  • Pre-built sequences for key donor journeys.

  • Examples: New Donor Welcome Series, Major Gift Cultivation.

📈 Prospecting

  • Helps prioritize unassigned mid-level donors.

  • Surfaces the best prospects based on past engagement.

📌 Recommended Screenshot: Example of a cadence with touchpoint timelines.


6️⃣ Managing Lists & Segments

📍 Lists

  • Ad-hoc groupings for specific outreach (e.g., event invites).

  • Does not affect a donor’s broader engagement journey.

📍 Segments

  • Long-term donor journeys (e.g., VIPs, recurring donors).

  • Include automations to drive ongoing engagement.


7️⃣ Managing Donor Data

Momentum syncs seamlessly with your CRM.

🔄 Automatic Syncing

  • Updates every 10 minutes.

  • Pulls in new donor data, gift history, and engagement activity.

📂 Manual Updates

  • Users can override AI decisions (e.g., reassigning segments).

  • Import bulk donor lists for segment updates.

📌 Recommended Video Tutorial: How to upload a donor list into a segment.


8️⃣ Assistant Mode: For Team Collaboration

Momentum allows support staff to assist fundraisers in managing outreach.

👥 Capabilities

  • View and edit another user’s account.

  • Set up lists, drafts, and tasks.

  • Cannot send emails (primary user must send).

📌 Recommended Screenshot: Assistant mode interface with restricted permissions highlighted.


9️⃣ AI Writer: How It Personalizes Outreach

Momentum’s AI adapts to your style over time.

How It Works

  1. Analyzes your tone & style based on past emails.

  2. Reads previous interactions to ensure continuity.

  3. Pulls CRM data to provide contextual accuracy.

💡 Best Practice: Always review AI drafts before sending.


🔟 Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: How do I ensure my outreach is logged? ✅ Check your Sent Folder in Outlook/Gmail.

Q: Can I modify a draft after AI generates it? ✅ Yes! AI provides a first draft, but you can customize before sending.


✅ Action Checklist: Get Fully Set Up

Set up your segments & listsConfigure automations for donor engagementCreate templates & AI prompts for outreachSchedule first outreach actions


🚀 You're now ready to fully adopt Momentum! Let us know if you need additional support.

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