How to Use Donorbox CRM’s Donor & Data Imports Feature for Quick Set-Up
You’ve likely arrived at this blog because you’re ready for a new CRM. Maybe the one you’re using is clunky and complicated, or maybe your organization has never used one. Whatever the case may be, you’re probably dreading the process of setting up a new CRM and migrating all your vital donor data. Well, you shouldn’t be! Read on to discover how you can easily upload all donor and transaction data to Donorbox CRM with the Donor and Data Imports feature.
When it comes to fundraising, data is everything. And yet 60% of nonprofit professionals report they don’t use data to make decisions. The other 40% of fundraisers rely on tools like a comprehensive CRM to provide ongoing access to data about donors, transactions, campaign success, and more. These fundraisers recognize the value of data – and the tools needed to store and sort it.
Donorbox CRM offers several data-focused tools to help you fundraise smarter – each one designed to simplify data management and make it easier than ever to create and deploy incredible fundraising and communications campaigns.
Donorbox CRM’s Donor and Data Imports feature makes it easy to get up and running with a streamlined, powerful CRM – no headaches required. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to use the Donor and Data Imports feature to upload all supporter and transaction information quickly and efficiently.
How Donor and Data Imports Simplify Data Management
Let’s see how Donorbox CRM’s easy imports can help you simplify data management.
1. Save valuable time
We know you’re busy. Between maintaining donor relationships, tracking your fundraising goals, and plotting your next major campaign, the time required to manually transfer your data from one CRM to another is nonexistent.
Donor and Data Imports is a quick way to upgrade your CRM experience to Donorbox’s powerful CRM so you have everything you need in one place.
Remember those incredible time-saving tools we mentioned? Donorbox CRM is built with AI functionality that helps you pull reports and craft fundraising materials, an all-in-one Mail Center, and so much more.
Check out everything Donorbox CRM has to offer in this article.
2. Protect your data
When someone gives to your cause, they are trusting you to be responsible stewards of their data. Using Donorbox CRM’s quick Donor and Data Imports feature to transfer existing data means your donors’ information is safe and sound.
To learn more about Donorbox’s industry-leading security standards, visit this page.
3. Keep crucial info in one place
We know how chaotic it can be keeping your donor communications in one file, your donor contact info in another, and your transactions in a separate database. This approach can make an already hectic fundraising season even more scattered.
The Donorbox CRM Donor and Data Imports feature means you can streamline your data management and quickly combine everything in one comprehensive platform.
4. Upgrade with ease
Ready for a new and improved donor management experience – but not ready for the arduous process of migrating all of your data?
Donor and Data Imports makes the process of switching to a new CRM a breeze. No stress, no hassle.
How to Use Donorbox CRM’s Donor and Data Imports
There are two types of CSV imports to easily upload your data to Donorbox CRM:
Supporters, which imports all information you have about donors, ticket buyers, and more.
Transactions with Supporters, which imports all transaction data along with information you have about donors, ticket buyers, and more.
In this section, we’ll show you how to do both to ensure you have everything you need in your CRM.
Note: The amount of contacts you can import depends on your Donorbox CRM plan. For example, if you have a 500 contact plan and import 600 contacts, 100 of those contacts will be displayed as “archived.” However, the transactions for all 600 contacts will still be recorded as there is no limit on the number of transactions you can record.
How to Import Existing Transactions and Supporters to Donorbox CRM
If you have comprehensive data you don’t want to lose, follow these instructions to import all transaction and supporter data in one CSV import process.
1. Create a CSV file with the required information and any optional import fields you wish to include
First, export data from your existing CRM or other database. Then organize it into a CSV file with the following required fields:
First Name
Last Name
Email
Amount
Currency (3-letter ISO code. Eg: USD)
Status*
*Status supports the following values: blocked, charge_pending, failed, fraud, migrated, paid, paypal_pending, paypal_processing, pending, refunded)
You can also import additional information using optional fields like Campaign, Provider ID, Salutation, Occupation, and more.
Need some help? Visit our comprehensive Zendesk article for more information on the optional supporter fields you can include on your CSV file!
Some important notes about importing from your CSV file:
Columns with a blank header will be skipped during the import process.
If your file contains duplicate column headers, Donorbox CRM will process only the last duplicate column.
2. Access the Donorbox CRM landing page
Log in to your Donorbox account and click “CRM” (if you have access to Donorbox CRM as part of your plan).
Donorbox CRM introduces subscription options, tailored to the number of records or constituents you manage.
Our Sales Team is ready and waiting to supply you with detailed information on pricing and subscription options and answer any questions you might have.
From the side menu, select “Data Imports.” Then, click “Import New File.”
From here, you can change the title of this import file for future reference. Select “Transactions” from the “Import Type” dropdown.
Note: You can also import transaction and supporter information directly on the Transactions page! Simply click on the “Actions” menu and select “Import Transactions.”
4. Select your prepared CSV file
Select “Choose File” and locate the CSV file you prepared in the first step. Note that you will only be able to upload CSV files.
5. Map the CSV fields with Donorbox fields
You’ll see a preview showing you the data from your CSV file. Underneath, you’ll be able to map the fields in your file with the corresponding Donorbox fields.
Most fields will automatically mapped in this step, but you will need to review the mapping section here to ensure your data is properly aligned with Donorbox fields.
When you are satisfied with your mapping, click “Next.”
6. Map campaigns from your file with existing Donorbox campaigns
If you had mapped the “Campaign” field in the previous step then this step will appear. You’ll see the names of any campaigns you’re trying to import. Map those imported campaigns to any of the existing Donorbox campaigns to ensure all of your campaign data ends up in the same place. Click “Next” when you’re finished.
7. Review and import
On the next page, you’ll see a preview of your mapped CSV data. If all looks right, click “Import.”
When your import is finished, you’ll see the import status and the number of valid and errored records.
Any error records will be consolidated into a CSV file with an extra column at the end detailing why that record failed. This makes it easy for you to fix any errors and reupload that same file to complete your import process!
You’ll find a record of this import process on the Data Imports page for future reference.
That’s it! You should now see these imported transactions and supporters on your Donorbox CRM account.
How to Import Existing Supporters to Donorbox CRM
If you have supporters who do not have an existing transaction, you can import them into Donorbox CRM on their own. The steps are very similar to those outlined above, with just a few changes.
Watch this short tutorial or continue reading for the step-by-step instructions:
1. Create a CSV file with the required information and any optional import fields you wish to include
After exporting data from your existing CRM or other database, you’ll need to organize it in a CSV with the following required fields:
First Name
Last Name
Email
In addition to the required fields for importing just supporters, you can also add optional fields like occupation, supporter type, birth date, and more. These optional fields help you capture all of your hard-earned donor data to maintain strong relationships and receive more repeat donations.
Need some help? Our comprehensive Zendesk article will guide you through setting up your CSV file and the optional transaction fields you can include on your CSV file!
2. Access the Donorbox CRM landing page
Log in to your Donorbox account and click “CRM” (if you have access to Donorbox CRM as part of your plan).
3. Navigate to “Data Imports”
From the side menu, select “Data Imports.” Then, click “Import New File.”
From here, you can change the title of this import file for future reference. Select “Supporters” from the “Import Type” dropdown.
Note: You can also import supporter information directly on the Supporters page! Simply click on the “Actions” menu and select “Import Supporters.”
4. Select your prepared CSV file
Select “Choose File” and locate the CSV file you prepared in the first step. Note that you will only be able to upload CSV files.
5. Map the CSV fields with Donorbox fields
You’ll see a preview showing you the data from your CSV file. Underneath, you’ll be able to map the fields in your file with the corresponding Donorbox fields.
Most fields will automatically map in this step, but you will need to review the mapping section here to ensure your data is properly aligned with Donorbox fields.
When you are satisfied with your mapping, click “Next.”
6. Review and import
On the next page, you’ll see a preview of your mapped CSV data. If all looks right, click “Import.”
When your import is finished, you’ll see the import status and the amount of valid and error records.
Any error records will be consolidated into a CSV file with an extra column detailing why that record failed. This makes it easy for you to fix any errors and reupload that same file to complete your import process!
You’ll find a record of this import process on the Data Imports page for future reference.
You did it! You will now be able to see imported supporters on your main Supporters page.
Over to You
At Donorbox, we’re all about helping you help others. That means offering powerful, easy-to-use tools that raise more money for your cause and streamline your fundraising tasks.
That’s why we created the Donor and Data Imports feature to help you quickly migrate your important supporter and transaction data to one comprehensive platform: Donorbox CRM.
Because when you have all of your data in a secure, robust CRM system, there is no limit to what your organization can achieve.
For more Donorbox how-to articles, check out the rest of our Nonprofit Blog or head over to our knowledge base. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the best of the blog in your inbox every month.
Lindsey spent years wearing many hats in the nonprofit world. Whether she was helping arts nonprofits with their messaging and content, planning a fundraising gala, writing an NEA grant proposal, or running a membership program with over 400 members, she learned how to navigate – and appreciate! – the fast-paced world of fundraising. Now, she loves sharing those hard-earned lessons with the Donorbox community.
Lindsey Baker Bower
