Our import tool helps you add transactions to Givebutter. Upload a comma-separated value file (CSV), copy and paste contacts from a spreadsheet like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, or type info directly into the import table.
Importing transactions will automatically create new contacts for you if our system can't match the data to an existing contact. To ensure your contacts merge properly, please use their Givebutter-generated Contact ID or confirm their email address or phone number matches what is already on file for that first and last name.
These contacts will be automatically subscribed to email and SMS messaging if an email and phone number are provided. Imported transactions will appear in a contact's event timeline.
Preparing data for import 🧮
To successfully upload your transactions, your data needs to be formatted properly. Data formatting can be a time-consuming step, so we recommend using the template below to help you prepare that data.
Your file must contain the following columns:
Campaign Code – the six-digit ID code of an existing Givebutter campaign. (You can find this at the top of your campaign's edit page, above the Title.)
Or Campaign Title – the name of the campaign from your previous platform (the import will create a "shell" campaign in Givebutter with this name)
First Name + Last Name – two separate columns, both required
Or Contact ID – existing Givebutter contact ID, which can be found by running a contact export report
Amount – amount donated, not including transaction or platform fees (must be a positive value, you cannot import refunded transactions)
Payment Method – choose from ACH, Card, Cash, Check, Digital Wallet, Paypal, Venmo, DAF
Transaction date – Defaults to UTC. For non-UTC timezones, the timezone/offset must be included in the timestamp (ie. 12:00:00 EST, or 12:00:00-05:00). Valid date formats include:
01/01/2023
2023-01-01
2023-01-01 12:00:00-05:00
2023-01-01 12:00:00 EST
Optional fields:
Campaign Team ID – credit an existing team (new teams will not be created if a record does not already exist)
Team Member ID – credit an existing team member (new team members will not be created if a record does not already exist)
To locate Team and Team Member IDs, export your Teams or Team Members. ID numbers can be found in the first column of these exports.
Fund Code – existing Givebutter campaigns/funds only
Platform Fee
Processing Fee
Fee Covered – cannot be more than Platform Fee + Processing Fee
External Label – name of the previous platform
External ID – unique identifier/customer ID from your previous platform
The External columns only work together. If you have one column with values, you must include the other for these to import correctly.
Acknowledged Date
Check Number
Check Deposit Date
Email
Phone
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City
State
Postal Code
Country Code – code of the country (ie. USA), not area code
If one address field has a value, then all address fields must have a value. For example, if Country Code and ZIP Code have a value, then Address 1, City, and State must also contain a value. Incomplete addresses will be deleted.
Once you have completed formatting your data, save the file to your computer or download it as a CSV.
Uploading your data ⬆️
Go to Transactions in your Givebutter dashboard, click Actions in the upper right corner, then select New Import.
On the next screen, choose whether to upload data from file or manually enter data/copy and paste.
To upload your data from a spreadsheet file, click Upload file.
Select the correct file from your computer. Supported file types include .csv, .tsv, .xls, .xlsx, .xml, and .txtfile.
Confirm mapping for your data. If Givebutter assigned your Incoming Field data to a Destination Field that isn't a match, click the dropdown arrow to assign your column to a different Givebutter field/attribute.
When you're done matching the data fields, click Continue in the upper right corner, and after the data has been mapped, click Submit to import your transactions.
You'll be notified by email when your import is complete.
Viewing imports 👀
In your dashboard, go to Account, then click Imports. You'll see a list of your import history.
If there are failed rows, click the dropdown arrow on the left side of the Import to see why they failed. Reasons will be listed in reference to the specific line item that failed.
If you'd like to download your entire import file or just the failed records (for the purpose of correcting them and re-uploading), click the three dots [...] to the right side of the import Status.
Deleting imports ❌
If you make a mistake, you can delete entire imports from your account. This will remove all data from this import – proceed with caution. We cannot restore deleted import data.
In your Givebutter dashboard, navigate to Account, and click Imports.
You'll see a list of all previous imports in the History section. Click the three dots [...] on the right side of the import you'd like to delete.
Click Delete imported transactions to delete this import.
You can also delete contact imports the same way!
You'll be given the option to additionally remove the contacts associated with the transaction import you're deleting. Click the checkbox to also remove the contacts from your account.
Click Delete Data to confirm the deletion.
FAQ 🤔
I am importing an Excel file and the data does not look correct after being reviewed by the importer. What can I do?
Excel has many formatting options for text or numbers. Make sure your data isn't formatted in any particular way that will be confusing for the system. General is a good category to default to if you can.
Below is an example of a format that could cause issues:
