# Import a Donor

The **Donors Import** feature allows you to add a large number of donors to the system at once, instead of entering them individually. This is ideal for importing existing donor lists or onboarding donors in bulk.

### Accessing the Donors Import

* In the left sidebar, navigate to **List**.
* Under the **List** category, click **Donors**.
* On the top-right corner of the Donors screen, click the **three-dot (More Actions) icon**.
* Select **Import**.
* Choose **Import Donors**.

### Import Method Overview

Donors are imported using an **Excel template**. The system automatically recognizes each column and creates donor records based on the data you provide.

To ensure a successful import, it is critical to use the provided template exactly as instructed.

### Excel Template Structure

* In the Import Donors window, click **Download Excel Template**.
* The file will automatically download to your computer’s Downloads folder.
* Open the file in Excel.
* Click **Enable Editing** to begin entering data.

{% hint style="info" %}
NOTE! 

* **Rows 1 and 2** cannot be **deleted** or **edited**, as they are required for the system to import the file correctly.
* **Rows** **3 and 4** in the spreadsheet contain **example entries,** and are provided as a formatting guide.
  {% endhint %}

### Column descriptions

Work from **left to right**, using the example rows as a guide for formatting.

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Donor Account Number</mark>

* Enter a **unique donor account number**.
* This number **must not already exist** in your donor list.
* If an existing account number is used, **all donor information for that account will be** [**updated**](/overview/lists/donors/update-a-donor.md).
* The account number acts as the donor’s primary identifier.

{% hint style="info" %}
**NOTE:** Account numbers for imported donors cannot start with **DNR**. The **DNR** prefix is reserved for donors created directly in the DRM, where the system automatically assigns a default account number starting with **DNR**.
{% endhint %}

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Donor Name (English)</mark>

* **Title (English)**: e.g., Mr., Mrs., Miss, Rabbi
* **First Name (English)**
* **Last Name (English)**

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Donor Name (Hebrew / Yiddish)</mark>

* **Title (Hebrew/Yiddish)**: e.g., Harav
* **First Name (Hebrew/Yiddish)**
* **Last Name (Hebrew/Yiddish)**
* **Suffix (Hebrew/Yiddish)**: e.g., Shlita

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Home Address</mark>

* **House Number**
* **Street**
* **Apartment**
* **City**
* **State**
* **ZIP Code**
* **Country**

Use the example row to ensure proper formatting.

{% hint style="success" %}
To customize the address label[^1], update the text **after the colon** in the column header.

For example: HouseNum:Home TO HouseNum:Office

**Important!** The label must be updated across ALL corresponding address columns for the import to process correctly.
{% endhint %}

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Phone Numbers</mark>

**Home Phone**

* **Home Phone Country Code -** If left blank, the default is **USA**
* **Home Phone**&#x20;

**Cell Phone**

* **Cell Country Code -** If left blank, the default is **USA**
* **Cell Phone**&#x20;

Additional phone columns (e.g., Cell 2, other) can be used as needed.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Country Code** identifies the country associated with the phone number and ensures messages are sent with the correct international dialing code. For example, an Israeli phone number must use the **ILS** country code so the system knows to apply Israel’s dialing prefix when sending texts.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
To customize the Phone Number label[^1], update the text **after the colon** in the column header.

For example, CountryCode:Home **TO** Countrycode:Office

**Important!** The label must be updated in both the country code AND phone columns for the import to process correctly.
{% endhint %}

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Email Addresses</mark>

* **Personal Email**
* **Business Email**

{% hint style="success" %}
To customize the email label[^1], update the text **after the colon** in the column header.

For example, Email:Business **TO** Email:Home
{% endhint %}

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Family Tree Information</mark>

Family relationships appear on the donor card’s [**Family Tree**](/overview/lists/donors/add-a-donor.md#family-tree-tab) section.

<i class="fa-hand-point-right">:hand-point-right:</i> **Plain Text Entry**

* To display a name only, use the **Donors Father** and **Donors Father-in-law** columns. These fields are **display-only**—if they are filled in, the father or father-in-law will **not be linked** to the donor and will appear as text only.

<i class="fa-hand-point-right">:hand-point-right:</i> **Linked Donor Accounts**

* To display a linked name, use the **Donors Father Account Number** and **Donors Father-in-law** **Account Number** columns. The referenced account numbers can belong to donors listed anywhere in the import file (for example, in another row) and do **not** need to be pre-existing donors in the DRM.&#x20;
* Enter the **related donor’s account number**.
* This creates a **clickable hyperlink** to that donor’s card.

<details>

<summary>See family tree in Donors card:</summary>

<figure><img src="/files/BNjK6guBigXEX5SiKQYB" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

</details>

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Custom Fields</mark>

The template includes predefined [custom field](/cloud-drm/getting-started/setup-and-configuration/advanced-fields.md#custom-fields-features) columns.

* To **rename** a custom field:
  * Edit the column header **after the colon**.

{% hint style="info" %}
This will create a new custom field in the DRM
{% endhint %}

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Tags</mark>

* You may assign **multiple** [**tags** ](/cloud-drm/getting-started/setup-and-configuration/advanced-fields.md#tags-features)to a donor.
* Separate tags with a **comma**.

{% hint style="info" %}
This will create a new tag in the DRM
{% endhint %}

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Location IDs</mark>

* Enter the **Location ID** (not the location name).
* Please contact Customer Support to obtain the required Location IDs.
* Multiple [locations ](/overview/lists/donors/add-a-donor.md#locations-tab)may be assigned by separating IDs with commas.

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Business Address</mark>

If applicable, fill in:

* **Business Name**
* **House Number**
* **Street**
* **Apartment**
* **City**
* **State**
* **Zip Code**
* **Country**

{% hint style="info" %}
The **business address** will be used for **tax** purposes if the donor requires a receipt issued to their business.
{% endhint %}

***

#### <mark style="color:$primary;">Adding Additional Addresses</mark>

* To add more addresses:
  * Copy columns **AI through AP**
  * Paste them starting in column **AQ** and onward
* Each copied set represents an additional address.

***

### Uploading the File

1. Save and close the completed Excel file.
2. Upload it through the Import Donors window.

Once the upload begins:

* The system processes the file automatically.
* The user who initiated the import will receive an **email notification** with the import status.
* If any errors occur, the email will include details.

[^1]: A category for a phone number, email, or address that defines its type. In example: **Home**, **Business** etc.


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