This article explains what you can change on an automation rule or a program that's already running, and what happens to rewards already sent. You need admin access to edit automations and programs.
Can I edit an automation rule after it's already active?
Yes. Automation rules — for work anniversaries, birthdays, new hires, or leave of absence — are editable in place at any time. You can change:
Enable/disable — turn the rule on or off without deleting it.
Budget — the dollar amount sent per match.
Reward — the gift type sent.
Recipients — the label filters that decide who's included.
Send mode — email or direct mail (see "Email vs direct mail: automation send modes" for eligibility rules).
Recipient expiry — how long recipients have to claim, up to 365 days.
Funding account — which org balance funds the reward.
New hire and leave of absence rules can also have their send timing (before/on/after, plus day count) edited the same way.
Do changes to a rule affect people who already received a reward?
No. Editing a rule only changes how it behaves for future matches. Rewards already sent — and the programs created for them — are unaffected by later edits to the rule.
Can I edit a program that an automation already created?
Yes. Each match creates a single-member program, and that program can be edited the same way as any other program: budget, reward, recipients, funding account, and expiry are all adjustable after the fact.
What happens if I change a program's funding account?
Changing a program's funding account only affects new spend going forward — it doesn't retroactively move funds already spent from the previous account. Activating a program also requires send permission on whichever account is currently assigned.
Can I turn an automation off without losing its configuration?
Yes. Use the enable/disable toggle on the rule. Disabling it stops future matches from firing but keeps all your configured settings — budget, reward, recipients, timing, and expiry — in place so you can turn it back on later without reconfiguring.
Can managers edit automations and programs too?
Program actions like activating, expiring, and editing require admin or manager access. Members can only act on their own membership, so day-to-day automation editing is an admin or manager task.