Admins can quickly and easily upload contact data into their Givebacks site by selecting Contacts and All Contacts on the toolbar, then clicking Add Contact and selecting Upload New from CSV. Download the template, enter your data, and upload it. After importing, your contacts will be accessible under the Contacts > All Contacts section for easy management.
Ensure that all contacts have a first name, a last name, and a valid email. Rows with missing email addresses will not be added to the contacts. This ensures that every entry in the system has a valid, unique email address, as required for contact record creation.
Importing Contacts
To import contacts, follow these steps.
Notes:
This import only adds contacts to your contacts list. It does NOT add or update membership records. Here’s how to enter paid members individually. Contact imports only add names and contact details; memberships are managed separately in the Memberships > Members section.
It’s also essential to check for duplicate email addresses and ensure accurate list entries. During import, if duplicate email addresses are found, the system retains only the first occurrence of each email address and removes subsequent duplicates. This ensures that every contact maintains a single, unique record, improving data integrity.
From the toolbar, select Contacts and All Contacts.
Click the Add Contact button and select Upload New from CSV.
Click Sample Contacts CSV Template to download the template.
Fill out the template without changing the header row. Save as a .csv file.
First Name and Last Name are recommended.
Email is required.
Phone number is optional but required to receive text messages.
Enter "Yes" for Directory Access to include the contact in the directory. Contacts will still need to opt in.
Lists must be entered exactly as titled on the Lists page. You can add multiple lists, separated by commas.
The template is customized to show the List and Property Options. Use the data in row 2 as a guide for the formatting of those fields. Do not include that row in your final import.
Click Select File and then Import.
Results will be emailed
Once the import is complete, we will email the results to the submitter. If there are errors before the import starts, you may see an error message with instructions. If any rows have erroneous or invalid data, the import will skip those rows and try to run to completion.
Also, watch for dynamic list errors or privacy preferences that might block certain contacts from appearing even after a successful import.
Best Practices for Smooth Imports
Always use the standard CSV template provided by Givebacks to ensure compatibility.
Validate your file before import by reviewing its format and required fields.
Perform imports during non-peak hours to avoid potential platform delays.
Use unique identifiers (email addresses) to ensure no duplicates.
Start with smaller test batches for initial imports to identify and address potential issues early, minimizing disruptions for larger datasets.
Common Causes of Import Failures
Missing Required Fields: If a row lacks a first name, last name, or email address, it will not be imported.
Status Code 500 Error: This error often arises due to invalid or missing email addresses in the import file. To address this, ensure all email entries are in a valid format and conduct thorough checks before re-importing.
List Type Issues: Import only to manual lists. Dynamic lists are automatically created based on set criteria.
Contact Privacy Settings or Preferences: Imported contacts may not appear in the directory immediately due to their subscription status or privacy preferences.
Questions? Click the "?" icon to contact Givebacks Support.