How to Set Up Email Forwarding in Cloudflare
Create professional email addresses like info@yourrescue.org and forward them to Gmail or Outlook using Cloudflare Email Routing.
Forwarding is great for receiving messages at domain addresses.
Sending from your domain (info@yourrescue.org) is a separate setup.
Quick Path
- Confirm your domain is active in Cloudflare and you have DNS access.
- Enable Email Routing, verify a destination inbox, then create forwarding rules.
- Test by sending an email to each new address.
- Remember: forwarding receives mail only; sending from your domain is separate.
Step 1 — Decide if email forwarding is enough for your rescue
This step helps you choose between forwarding and real inboxes.
Forwarding works best when you only need to receive messages.
- Use forwarding if you want to receive mail at role-based addresses and deliver it into an existing inbox (Gmail/Outlook).
- If you want real inboxes for a team (instead of forwarding), follow Personalized Nonprofit Email with Google Workspace.
- Pick a small set of role-based addresses that stay stable as volunteers change.
- Examples: info@yourrescue.org, adoptions@yourrescue.org, fosters@yourrescue.org, volunteer@yourrescue.org.
You know forwarding (Cloudflare Email Forwarding) is the right tool for your goal.
Step 2 — Confirm you have the prerequisites
This step prevents you from getting blocked mid-setup.
You need Cloudflare access to your domain.
- Confirm your domain is in Cloudflare and shows as active.
- Confirm you can edit DNS records for the domain.
- If you want a plain-language overview of record types, see DNS Records 101 in Cloudflare.
- Choose which inbox will receive forwarded mail (example: a shared Gmail inbox).
- If your domain is not already managed in Cloudflare, start with How to Transfer a Domain to Cloudflare.
You can log in to Cloudflare and open the correct domain.
You know the destination inbox you want to forward into.
Step 3 — Enable Cloudflare Email Routing
This step turns on the Email Routing feature for your domain.
Cloudflare will add the required DNS records.
- Log in to Cloudflare dashboard and open your domain.
- In the left menu, go to Email → Email Routing.
- Click Enable Email Routing.
- When prompted, allow Cloudflare to add the required DNS records.
Email Routing shows as enabled for the domain.
You can see tabs like Destination addresses and Routing rules.
Step 4 — Verify a destination email address
This step tells Cloudflare where to deliver forwarded mail.
Cloudflare requires the destination inbox to be verified first.
- In Email Routing, open the Destination addresses tab.
- Click Add destination address.
- Enter the inbox that should receive forwarded mail.
- Open that inbox and click the verification link Cloudflare sends.
The destination address appears as verified in Cloudflare.
You can now create forwarding rules.
Step 5 — Create forwarding rules (your new email addresses)
This step creates addresses on your domain and forwards them to the verified inbox.
You will repeat this step for each address you want.
- Go to Email Routing → Routing rules.
- Click Create rule.
- Set the custom address (example: info@yourrescue.org).
- Set the action to forward to your verified destination inbox.
- Save the rule.
- Repeat for other addresses you need (adoptions@, fosters@, volunteer@).
Your routing rules list shows each new address.
Each rule forwards to a verified destination inbox.
Step 6 — Test your setup
This step confirms forwarding works end-to-end.
Testing catches typos and spam-folder issues early.
- Send a test email to each new domain address.
- Confirm it arrives in the destination inbox.
- If you do not see it, check spam or junk folders.
Test emails arrive at the destination inbox.
You can reply from your personal inbox (reply-from will be your personal address).
Step 7 — Optional: add a catch-all rule
This step forwards any address on your domain, even if you did not create a specific rule.
It can reduce admin work for small teams.
- Create a new routing rule.
- Set the custom address to * (wildcard).
- Forward it to a verified destination inbox.
Mail sent to unknown addresses on your domain still arrives somewhere.
You understand this can also increase spam volume.
Step 8 — Know the limits (forwarding is receive-only)
This step prevents confusion about “sending as” your domain.
Forwarding receives mail only; sending from your domain needs a mailbox service.
- Assume forwarding is for receiving messages at domain addresses only.
- If you need to send mail as info@yourrescue.org, plan for Google Workspace or another mail host.
- Recommended upgrade path: Google Workspace for Nonprofits.
- If you want 4leggedIT to handle setup, contact us and we’ll configure it safely.
You know what forwarding can and cannot do.
You know what to choose next if your rescue needs sending and shared inboxes.
Official References
Open these only if something doesn’t match your screen.
You do not need to read them to complete the guide.
Related How-To Sessions
How to Create Your Organization's Cloudflare Account
Set up your domain and DNS before enabling email routing.
DNS Records 101 in Cloudflare
Plain-language DNS basics (A, CNAME, MX, TXT) and safe changes.
How to Transfer a Domain to Cloudflare
Move your domain registration to Cloudflare for simpler management.
Personalized Nonprofit Email with Google Workspace
Upgrade to full inboxes when you're ready to grow.
Prefer a Managed Setup?
We can configure Cloudflare Email Routing and connect your forwarding addresses for you.