At SYSTOPIA, we develop and maintain a variety of CiviCRM extensions, Drupal modules, and other useful tools. With over 60 active repositories, we’re always working to improve CiviCRM. In this edition of our "Extension of the Month" series, we introduce the Birthdays extension – a simple way to keep track of your contacts' birthdays.
What does it do?
The Birthdays extension for CiviCRM helps organizations manage and track the birthdays of their contacts. It adds a report about the upcomming birthdays of your contacts and makes it possible to send out custom birthday messages. A well-timed birthday message can be a small but meaningful way to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers, and members. By using this extension, organizations can add a personal touch to their communication, which may leed to your contacts feeling more appreciated.
Key features
- birthday search: Easily find contacts with upcoming birthdays using the advanced search function.
- automated birthday mailings: The extension provides a way to send out birthday messages automatically.
- customizable messages: Personalize birthday messages with tokens, ensuring each message feels unique and special.
How do you use it?
Once installed, the Birthdays extension adds new search options and reports within CiviCRM, making it easy to locate contacts with upcoming birthdays. Users can filter results based on configurable parameters, export lists, or integrate them with automated messaging workflows. The ability to filter by custom date ranges allows organizations to proactively schedule birthday campaigns in advance.
By navigating to "Administer" – "Communication" – "Birthday Settings", you will find a step-by-step guide on how to configure automated birthday mailings. Here, you can provide a template for your birthday messages and personalize them using tokens.
If you create a scheduled job, your contacts will receive personalized birthday wishes from you. In case you’re unsure how to create a scheduled job—don’t worry—the extension’s settings include a detailed explanation on how to set one up.
Real-World Applications
Nonprofits, membership organizations, and advocacy groups often rely on strong personal relationships to maintain engagement and support. A well-executed birthday campaign can serve as a simple yet effective tool to boost member retention and donor loyalty. For example:
- Donor Engagement: Automatically send a personalized birthday email with a thank-you message for past contributions and an invitation to donate again.
- Volunteer Appreciation: Recognize active volunteers with a special note on their birthday to thank them for their efforts.
- Community Building: Strengthen personal connections by making supporters feel valued and acknowledged on their special day.
