> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.helpyousponsor.com/guides/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.helpyousponsor.com/guides/core-features/automations/create-a-journey.md).

# Create a Journey

Create a journey when your team has a relationship workflow that should happen the same way every time. A new journey starts as a draft, so people do not enter it until you publish it.

<figure><img src="/files/o5DyJII8gQBPQnVBnke0" alt="Create Journey dialog with the goal prompt, audience choices, template mode, and structured preview."><figcaption><p>Create Journey dialog with the goal prompt, audience choices, template mode, and structured preview.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Before you start

Decide what you want the journey to accomplish before choosing a template.

It helps to know:

* who the journey is for: donors, trip participants, or recipients,
* what should start the journey,
* what message or staff action should happen first,
* what outcome should end the journey.

{% hint style="info" %}
If the shared message library has not been provisioned yet, the create flow can show a setup prompt. Provisioning the starter library gives your team reusable source templates for journey messages.
{% endhint %}

## Create the draft

1. Open **Automations**.
2. Choose **Journeys**.
3. Select **Create Journey**.
4. Describe what you want the journey to do.
5. Choose the audience: **Donors**, **Trip Participants**, or **Recipients**.
6. Choose **Use template** when you want Gratona to suggest a starting structure, or **Start blank** when you want to build every step yourself.
7. Review the structured preview.
8. Create the journey.

The structured preview helps you confirm the audience, likely trigger, audience filter, goal, and exit rules before the draft is created.

## Pick a useful starting point

Templates are best when the workflow already matches a common relationship moment. Depending on the audience, the starter library can include journeys for:

* first gift welcomes,
* repeat gift thank-yous,
* monthly donor onboarding,
* overdue payment recovery,
* VIP donor handoff,
* new sponsor welcomes,
* trip participant onboarding,
* trip task completion follow-up,
* background check handoff,
* recipient status transitions,
* new sponsor assignments,
* missing recipient update escalation.

Start blank when your team already knows the exact trigger, steps, and goal, or when the workflow is too specific for a starter template.

## What happens after creation

Gratona opens the new draft in the journey builder. From there you can adjust the trigger, add or edit steps, review settings, and publish when the readiness checklist passes.

A draft is not live. Matching donors, trip participants, or recipients will not enter the journey until you publish it.

## Next steps

After creating the draft, continue to [Build and Publish a Journey](/guides/core-features/automations/build-and-publish-a-journey.md).