---
name: sendgrid-automation
description: Automate SendGrid email operations including sending emails, managing contacts/lists, sender identities, templates, and analytics via Rube MCP (Composio). Always search tools first for current schemas.
requires:
  mcp: [rube]
category: email
---

# SendGrid Automation via Rube MCP

Automate SendGrid email delivery workflows including marketing campaigns (Single Sends), contact and list management, sender identity setup, and email analytics through Composio's SendGrid toolkit.

**Toolkit docs**: [composio.dev/toolkits/sendgrid](https://composio.dev/toolkits/sendgrid)

## Prerequisites

- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
- Active SendGrid connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `sendgrid`
- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas

## Setup

**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.


1. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
2. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `sendgrid`
3. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete SendGrid API key authentication
4. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

## Core Workflows

### 1. Create and Send Marketing Campaigns (Single Sends)

**When to use**: User wants to create and send a marketing email campaign to a contact list or segment.

**Tool sequence**:
1. `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_ALL_LISTS` - List available marketing lists to target [Prerequisite]
2. `SENDGRID_CREATE_A_LIST` - Create a new list if needed [Optional]
3. `SENDGRID_ADD_OR_UPDATE_A_CONTACT` - Add contacts to the list [Optional]
4. `SENDGRID_GET_ALL_SENDER_IDENTITIES` - Get verified sender ID [Prerequisite]
5. `SENDGRID_CREATE_SINGLE_SEND` - Create the campaign with content, sender, and recipients [Required]

**Key parameters for SENDGRID_CREATE_SINGLE_SEND**:
- `name`: Campaign name (required)
- `email__config__subject`: Email subject line
- `email__config__html__content`: HTML body content
- `email__config__plain__content`: Plain text version
- `email__config__sender__id`: Verified sender identity ID
- `email__config__design__id`: Use instead of html_content for pre-built designs
- `send__to__list__ids`: Array of list UUIDs to send to
- `send__to__segment__ids`: Array of segment UUIDs
- `send__to__all`: true to send to all contacts
- `email__config__suppression__group__id` or `email__config__custom__unsubscribe__url`: One required for compliance

**Pitfalls**:
- Setting `send_at` on CREATE does NOT schedule the send; it only prepopulates the UI date; use the Schedule endpoint separately
- `send_at: "now"` is only valid with the Schedule endpoint, not CREATE
- Must provide either `suppression_group_id` or `custom_unsubscribe_url` for unsubscribe compliance
- Sender must be verified before use; check with `SENDGRID_GET_ALL_SENDER_IDENTITIES`
- Nested params use double-underscore notation (e.g., `email__config__subject`)

### 2. Manage Contacts and Lists

**When to use**: User wants to create contact lists, add/update contacts, search for contacts, or remove contacts from lists.

**Tool sequence**:
1. `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_ALL_LISTS` - List all marketing lists [Required]
2. `SENDGRID_CREATE_A_LIST` - Create a new contact list [Optional]
3. `SENDGRID_GET_A_LIST_BY_ID` - Get list details and sample contacts [Optional]
4. `SENDGRID_ADD_OR_UPDATE_A_CONTACT` - Upsert contacts with list association [Required]
5. `SENDGRID_GET_CONTACTS_BY_EMAILS` - Look up contacts by email [Optional]
6. `SENDGRID_GET_CONTACTS_BY_IDENTIFIERS` - Look up contacts by email, phone, or external ID [Optional]
7. `SENDGRID_GET_LIST_CONTACT_COUNT` - Verify contact count after operations [Optional]
8. `SENDGRID_REMOVE_CONTACTS_FROM_A_LIST` - Remove contacts from a list without deleting [Optional]
9. `SENDGRID_REMOVE_LIST_AND_OPTIONAL_CONTACTS` - Delete an entire list [Optional]
10. `SENDGRID_IMPORT_CONTACTS` - Bulk import from CSV [Optional]

**Key parameters for SENDGRID_ADD_OR_UPDATE_A_CONTACT**:
- `contacts`: Array of contact objects (max 30,000 or 6MB), each with at least one identifier: `email`, `phone_number_id`, `external_id`, or `anonymous_id` (required)
- `list_ids`: Array of list UUID strings to associate contacts with

**Pitfalls**:
- `SENDGRID_ADD_OR_UPDATE_A_CONTACT` is asynchronous; returns 202 with `job_id`; contacts may take 10-30 seconds to appear
- List IDs are UUIDs (e.g., "ca7a3796-e8a8-4029-9ccb-df8937940562"), not integers
- List names must be unique; duplicate names cause 400 errors
- `SENDGRID_ADD_A_SINGLE_RECIPIENT_TO_A_LIST` uses the legacy API; prefer `SENDGRID_ADD_OR_UPDATE_A_CONTACT` with `list_ids`
- `SENDGRID_REMOVE_LIST_AND_OPTIONAL_CONTACTS` is irreversible; require explicit user confirmation
- Email addresses are automatically lowercased by SendGrid

### 3. Manage Sender Identities

**When to use**: User wants to set up or view sender identities (From addresses) for sending emails.

**Tool sequence**:
1. `SENDGRID_GET_ALL_SENDER_IDENTITIES` - List all existing sender identities [Required]
2. `SENDGRID_CREATE_A_SENDER_IDENTITY` - Create a new sender identity [Optional]
3. `SENDGRID_VIEW_A_SENDER_IDENTITY` - View details for a specific sender [Optional]
4. `SENDGRID_UPDATE_A_SENDER_IDENTITY` - Update sender details [Optional]
5. `SENDGRID_CREATE_VERIFIED_SENDER_REQUEST` - Create and verify a new sender [Optional]
6. `SENDGRID_AUTHENTICATE_A_DOMAIN` - Set up domain authentication for auto-verification [Optional]

**Key parameters for SENDGRID_CREATE_A_SENDER_IDENTITY**:
- `from__email`: From email address (required)
- `from__name`: Display name (required)
- `reply__to__email`: Reply-to address (required)
- `nickname`: Internal identifier (required)
- `address`, `city`, `country`: Physical address for CAN-SPAM compliance (required)

**Pitfalls**:
- New senders must be verified before use; if domain is not authenticated, a verification email is sent
- Up to 100 unique sender identities per account
- Avoid using domains with strict DMARC policies (gmail.com, yahoo.com) as from addresses
- `SENDGRID_CREATE_VERIFIED_SENDER_REQUEST` sends a verification email; sender is unusable until verified

### 4. View Email Statistics and Activity

**When to use**: User wants to review email delivery stats, bounce rates, open/click metrics, or message activity.

**Tool sequence**:
1. `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_GLOBAL_EMAIL_STATISTICS` - Get account-wide delivery metrics [Required]
2. `SENDGRID_GET_ALL_CATEGORIES` - Discover available categories for filtering [Optional]
3. `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_EMAIL_STATISTICS_FOR_CATEGORIES` - Get stats broken down by category [Optional]
4. `SENDGRID_FILTER_ALL_MESSAGES` - Search email activity feed by recipient, status, or date [Optional]
5. `SENDGRID_FILTER_MESSAGES_BY_MESSAGE_ID` - Get detailed events for a specific message [Optional]
6. `SENDGRID_REQUEST_CSV` - Export activity data as CSV for large datasets [Optional]
7. `SENDGRID_DOWNLOAD_CSV` - Download the exported CSV file [Optional]

**Key parameters for SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_GLOBAL_EMAIL_STATISTICS**:
- `start_date`: Start date YYYY-MM-DD (required)
- `end_date`: End date YYYY-MM-DD
- `aggregated_by`: "day", "week", or "month"
- `limit` / `offset`: Pagination (default 500)

**Key parameters for SENDGRID_FILTER_ALL_MESSAGES**:
- `query`: SQL-like query string, e.g., `status="delivered"`, `to_email="user@example.com"`, date ranges with `BETWEEN TIMESTAMP`
- `limit`: 1-1000 (default 10)

**Pitfalls**:
- `SENDGRID_FILTER_ALL_MESSAGES` requires the "30 Days Additional Email Activity History" paid add-on; returns 403 without it
- Global statistics are nested under `details[].stats[0].metrics`, not a flat structure
- Category statistics are only available for the previous 13 months
- Maximum 10 categories per request in `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_EMAIL_STATISTICS_FOR_CATEGORIES`
- CSV export is limited to one request per 12 hours; link expires after 3 days

### 5. Manage Suppressions

**When to use**: User wants to check or manage unsubscribe groups for email compliance.

**Tool sequence**:
1. `SENDGRID_GET_SUPPRESSION_GROUPS` - List all suppression groups [Required]
2. `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_ALL_SUPPRESSION_GROUPS_FOR_AN_EMAIL_ADDRESS` - Check suppression status for a specific email [Optional]

**Pitfalls**:
- Suppressed addresses remain undeliverable even if present on marketing lists
- Campaign send counts may be lower than list counts due to suppressions

## Common Patterns

### ID Resolution
Always resolve names to IDs before operations:
- **List name -> list_id**: `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_ALL_LISTS` and match by name
- **Sender name -> sender_id**: `SENDGRID_GET_ALL_SENDER_IDENTITIES` and match
- **Contact email -> contact_id**: `SENDGRID_GET_CONTACTS_BY_EMAILS` with email array
- **Template name -> template_id**: Use the SendGrid UI or template endpoints

### Pagination
- `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_ALL_LISTS`: Token-based with `page_token` and `page_size` (max 1000)
- `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_GLOBAL_EMAIL_STATISTICS`: Offset-based with `limit` (max 500) and `offset`
- Always paginate list retrieval to avoid missing existing lists

### Async Operations
Contact operations (`ADD_OR_UPDATE_A_CONTACT`, `IMPORT_CONTACTS`) are asynchronous:
- Returns 202 with a `job_id`
- Wait 10-30 seconds before verifying with `GET_CONTACTS_BY_EMAILS`
- Use `GET_LIST_CONTACT_COUNT` to confirm list growth

## Known Pitfalls

### ID Formats
- Marketing list IDs are UUIDs (e.g., "ca7a3796-e8a8-4029-9ccb-df8937940562")
- Legacy list IDs are integers; do not mix with Marketing API endpoints
- Sender identity IDs are integers
- Template IDs: Dynamic templates start with "d-", legacy templates are UUIDs
- Contact IDs are UUIDs

### Rate Limits
- SendGrid may return HTTP 429; respect `Retry-After` headers
- CSV export limited to one request per 12 hours
- Bulk contact upsert max: 30,000 contacts or 6MB per request

### Parameter Quirks
- Nested params use double-underscore: `email__config__subject`, `from__email`
- `send_at` on CREATE_SINGLE_SEND only sets a UI default, does NOT schedule
- `SENDGRID_ADD_A_SINGLE_RECIPIENT_TO_A_LIST` uses legacy API; `recipient_id` is Base64-encoded lowercase email
- `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_ALL_LISTS` and `SENDGRID_GET_ALL_LISTS` both exist; prefer RETRIEVE_ALL_LISTS for Marketing API
- Contact adds are async (202); always verify after a delay

### Legacy vs Marketing API
- Some tools use the legacy Contact Database API (`/v3/contactdb/`) which may return 403 on newer accounts
- Prefer Marketing API tools: `SENDGRID_ADD_OR_UPDATE_A_CONTACT`, `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_ALL_LISTS`, `SENDGRID_CREATE_SINGLE_SEND`

## Quick Reference

| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
|------|-----------|------------|
| List marketing lists | `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_ALL_LISTS` | `page_size`, `page_token` |
| Create list | `SENDGRID_CREATE_A_LIST` | `name` |
| Get list by ID | `SENDGRID_GET_A_LIST_BY_ID` | `id` |
| Get list count | `SENDGRID_GET_LIST_CONTACT_COUNT` | `id` |
| Add/update contacts | `SENDGRID_ADD_OR_UPDATE_A_CONTACT` | `contacts`, `list_ids` |
| Search contacts by email | `SENDGRID_GET_CONTACTS_BY_EMAILS` | `emails` |
| Search by identifiers | `SENDGRID_GET_CONTACTS_BY_IDENTIFIERS` | `identifier_type`, `identifiers` |
| Remove from list | `SENDGRID_REMOVE_CONTACTS_FROM_A_LIST` | `id`, `contact_ids` |
| Delete list | `SENDGRID_REMOVE_LIST_AND_OPTIONAL_CONTACTS` | `id`, `delete_contacts` |
| Import contacts CSV | `SENDGRID_IMPORT_CONTACTS` | field mappings |
| Create Single Send | `SENDGRID_CREATE_SINGLE_SEND` | `name`, `email__config__*`, `send__to__list__ids` |
| List sender identities | `SENDGRID_GET_ALL_SENDER_IDENTITIES` | (none) |
| Create sender | `SENDGRID_CREATE_A_SENDER_IDENTITY` | `from__email`, `from__name`, `address` |
| Verify sender | `SENDGRID_CREATE_VERIFIED_SENDER_REQUEST` | `from_email`, `nickname`, `address` |
| Authenticate domain | `SENDGRID_AUTHENTICATE_A_DOMAIN` | `domain` |
| Global email stats | `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_GLOBAL_EMAIL_STATISTICS` | `start_date`, `aggregated_by` |
| Category stats | `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_EMAIL_STATISTICS_FOR_CATEGORIES` | `start_date`, `categories` |
| Filter email activity | `SENDGRID_FILTER_ALL_MESSAGES` | `query`, `limit` |
| Message details | `SENDGRID_FILTER_MESSAGES_BY_MESSAGE_ID` | `msg_id` |
| Export CSV | `SENDGRID_REQUEST_CSV` | `query` |
| Download CSV | `SENDGRID_DOWNLOAD_CSV` | `download_uuid` |
| List categories | `SENDGRID_GET_ALL_CATEGORIES` | (none) |
| Suppression groups | `SENDGRID_GET_SUPPRESSION_GROUPS` | (none) |
| Get template | `SENDGRID_RETRIEVE_A_SINGLE_TRANSACTIONAL_TEMPLATE` | `template_id` |
| Duplicate template | `SENDGRID_DUPLICATE_A_TRANSACTIONAL_TEMPLATE` | `template_id`, `name` |

---
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