SendGrid
We recommend using SendGrid for Platform email. SendGrid provides transactional and bulk email, and MinistryPlatform supports extended email statuses when you use SendGrid for outgoing mail. Want updates on your Messages after you press send? Use the Message Recap Report to get updates 24 and 48 hours after you send your Messages.
There is no SendGrid Sync Tool. You can manage mailing lists using the Subscribe to Publication and My Subscriptions Widgets as well as through Publications in the Platform.
Note: SendGrid requires two-factor authentication for all accounts. This does not affect Platform mail. To learn more about how to enhance your account security, see this Best Practices post from SendGrid. If you have any questions or need assistance, see this SendGrid 2FA documentation or reach out to their Support team.
Recommended MinistryPlatform Configuration
- Server: smtp.sendgrid.net
- User Name: apikey
- Password: <api key> (see Create an API Key for SendGrid)
- Port: 587
- SSL/TLS: Optional. MinistryPlatform only uses the SMTP protocol, not TLS.
Important: When you set up your SendGrid account, you'll select a dedicated or shared IP address. For more on this difference, see this post. While a shared IP address is less expensive, beware that you also share a sending reputation. This matters because a bad sending reputation means Internet Service Providers are more likely to block your emails. Basically, anyone using a shared IP address can ruin the sending reputation of anyone else using that IP address, which could mean your church's emails won't reach your people. If possible, use a dedicated IP address.
Need help configuring SendGrid in MinistryPlatform? Send Support an API Key, and we'll configure the various email subsystems in MinistryPlatform.