---
title: "Email Settings — From, Reply-To, Subject, Message, Merge Tags"
description: "Every feed includes email settings that define the content and headers of your outgoing messages. --- ## Notification Template - You can optionally use a Gravity Forms notification as a template. - When selected, the feed fields will pre-fill with…"
url: "https://brightleafdigital.io/docs/email-settings-from-reply-to-subject-message-merge-tags/"
updated: "2026-10-18"
category: Mass Email Notifications for Gravity Forms / Settings Reference
---

# Email Settings — From, Reply-To, Subject, Message, Merge Tags

Every feed includes email settings that define the content and headers of your outgoing messages.

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## Notification Template

- You can optionally use a Gravity Forms notification as a template.
- When selected, the feed fields will pre-fill with the notification’s details.
- See **Setup → Use a GF Notification as Your Email Template** for more details.

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## From Name & From Email

- **From Name**: The name that appears in the recipient’s inbox.
- **From Email**: The address shown as the sender.
  - Best practice: Use an address on your site’s domain to avoid spam filtering.
  - Example: `noreply@yoursite.com`.
- If you load a notification as a template, these fields will pre-fill with its values. You can override them without affecting the original notification.

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## Reply-To

- The address that replies will go to.
- Often different from the From Email (e.g., support inbox vs. noreply address).
- Supports merge tags, so you can direct replies to addresses stored in form entries if desired.

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## Subject

- Required field.
- Sets the subject line of the outgoing email.
- Can use merge tags from the control form or target form entries to personalize each message.

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## Message

- Required field.
- The body of the email.
- Rich-text editor supports formatting, links, and media.
- Merge tags can personalize content with values from both the control form and target form entries.
- Example: `Hello {Name:1:meff}, thank you for your donation of {Amount:2:meff}.`
- Shortcodes are supported in the editor for Premium or higher plans.

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## Merge Tag Scope

You can pull values from:

- **Control Form**: Values entered when triggering the batch (e.g., Subject, Message).
- **Target Form**: Data from the entries of the audience you’re sending to (e.g., donor names, dates, or statuses).

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## Auto-Formatting

- By default, Gravity Forms automatically inserts paragraph breaks in your message.
- Check **Disable Auto-Formatting** if you are writing your own HTML email content.
- This prevents unwanted `<p>` or `<br>` tags from being added and changing your layout.

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These settings give you flexibility: start with an existing notification for convenience, or customize every detail for complete control.