How to import contacts and hours

In this article

• How to import contacts
• How to fill in the template
• How to import historical hours
• What happens to existing contacts
• How to read the import results
• FAQs

How to import contacts

The import is available on all plans.

Step 1: Open the import page

1. In your admin dashboard, go to People, then click Contacts.
2. Click Create Contacts in the top right corner.
3. Select Import a CSV.

Step 2: Download and fill in the template

1. On the Import Contacts page, click Download our CSV template here.
2. Keep the first row with the column headers.
3. Delete the example row and add your volunteers’ data starting from row 2. 

You can use only the columns you need and delete the rest. See How to fill in the template below.

 

Step 3: Upload your file

Click Upload a CSV file and select your completed file.

Step 4: Add contacts to groups (optional)

There are two ways to add imported contacts to groups:

• All contacts in the file: use the Associate contacts with Groups field to select one or more groups. Every contact from the file will be added to these groups.
• Each contact separately: use the groups column in the file to list the groups for each contact.

You can use both options together.

Step 5: Choose whether to invite volunteers

• Create Contacts only: the contacts are added to your account without an invitation. You can always invite them later.
• Create contacts and invite them via email to claim their POINT account: the contacts are added, and each volunteer gets an email invitation to join your organization. Invited volunteers get Private Access, which you can change later.

Step 6: Create the contacts

Click Create Contacts. If you chose to invite volunteers, the button says Send Invite Emails. When the import is finished, you’ll see a summary of the results

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How to fill in the template

Columns are matched by name, so First Name, first_name, and firstName all work. If a column isn’t recognized, POINT lists it under the uploaded file and skips it.

1. Contact Personal Information 

Column header	Format / Instructions	Example
email	Required. Each volunteer is identified by their email address. Make sure it has no extra spaces.	michael@example.com
firstName	Text.	Michael
lastName	Text.	Scott
birthDate	MM/DD/YYYY, DD.MM.YYYY, or YYYY-MM-DD. Future dates are skipped.	03/15/1965
phone	Any valid phone number format.	(570) 555-0100
tShirtSize	Text.	S, M, L, XL
dietaryRestrictions	Text.	Peanut allergy
languageSkills	Language names, separated by a semicolon.	English;Spanish
notes	Any additional information about the volunteer.	Prefers weekend shifts