For All Users
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What are Cards?
Think of the office birthday card everyone passes around and signs. Cards in Bonusly bring that experience online so your whole team can celebrate someone together, no matter where they work.
A card is a shared space where a group of people compose messages, add GIFs, stickers, photos, and even link existing recognitions, all for one recipient. The card stays private until someone delivers it, so it's always a surprise.
Cards are completely separate from recognition points. Creating or signing a card doesn't cost any points and doesn't affect anyone's giving allowance. If you want to include a recognition you've already given, you can link it into the card, but the card itself is just a heartfelt, collaborative message.
Start a card for a peer
Starting a card makes you the organizer. You'll pick the recipient, write the central message, and choose who gets to sign.
Open the give menu and select the Cards option.
Choose a recipient from your company.
Give the card a title and write your central message this is the main note that sits at the heart of the card.
Inviting Participators
You control who gets invited to sign the card:
Everyone -- your whole company (except the recipient) can sign.
Specific groups -- target by department, location, team, or other custom properties.
No one -- keep it as a personal card from just you.
Invited signers receive an email, a Slack notification (if your company uses the Bonusly Slack integration), and an in-app notification asking them to add their contribution.
The recipient is never notified about the card until it's delivered. Their surprise is safe.
Scheduling delivery
You can deliver the card right away or schedule it for a specific date and time. Scheduled cards are delivered automatically you don't need to come back and hit send. The delivery time is based on the recipient's timezone, so it'll arrive at the right moment for them.
You can also add an alternate email address if you'd like the delivery notification sent somewhere other than the recipient's Bonusly email.
Sign a card you've been invited to.
When someone creates a card and invites you to sign, you'll get a notification. Click through to open the card and add your contribution.
You can add:
A written message -- type something personal for the recipient.
A GIF -- search and pick one that fits.
A sticker or emoji -- add a fun visual touch.
A photo or image -- upload from your device.
A linked recognition -- attach a recognition you've already given to the recipient, so it appears right on the card alongside everyone else's contributions.
You can arrange your items on the canvas by dragging them to the spot you like. Once you've added something, you've signed the card.
Deliver the card
When you're the organizer (the person who created the card), you decide when to deliver.
Deliver now -- sends the card to the recipient immediately.
Scheduled delivery -- set a future date and time, and the card goes out automatically.
Once delivered, the recipient gets an email, a Slack message (if connected), and an in-app notification with a link to open their card.
After delivery, a shareable public link is generated so you can share the card more widely for example, in a team channel or a meeting.
Once a card is delivered, it can't be undelivered. Make sure everyone who wants to sign has had a chance before you hit deliver.
View a card you've received
When someone delivers a card to you, you'll get an email and an in-app notification with a link to open your card. Click through to see all the messages, GIFs, stickers, and linked recognitions your team put together for you. If your company uses the Bonusly Slack integration, you'll get a Slack notification too.
Coming soon: you'll be able to view cards you've received directly from your profile page.
FAQ
Do Cards cost any points? No. Cards are free to create and sign. They don't use any points from your giving allowance or your redeemable balance. If a recognition is linked into a card, those points were already given separately, the card just displays it alongside everyone else's contributions.
Can I edit my contribution after signing? Yes. You can update or remove your items on the card as long as it hasn't been delivered yet.
Can the recipient see the card before it's delivered? No. The card is completely hidden from the recipient until the organizer (or an admin) delivers it.
Who can deliver the card? The organizer and anyone who's been invited to sign can deliver the card. Admins with awards permissions can also deliver any card in the company.
What if I don't see Cards in my navigation? Cards needs to be enabled for your company by an admin. If you don't see it, check with your company's Bonusly admin.
Can I delete a card I created? Yes. As the organizer, you can delete the card at any time. Deleting a card doesn't affect any recognitions that were linked into it, those remain in the recognition feed.
Questions? Send us a note to [email protected], we'd be happy to help.