An e-mail categorization system can include a plurality of role templates, each role template being associated with an e-mail account and defining a plurality of categories for categorizing e-mail messages. An authorized account holder can establish the plurality of categories and can designate programmatic actions that are to be selectively executed by an e-mail receiving application upon the receipt of e-mail messages. The selection of actions can be based upon categories of the received e-mail messages. Role templates can be distributed to e-mail originators so that when e-mail originators direct e-mail messages to an account associated with a role template, the originators are prompted to select one of the categories defined by a corresponding role template.