Unison lets you import multiple volunteers at once using a spreadsheet or by pasting multiple emails. This is the fastest way to get large groups of volunteers into your database so you can assign them to schedules and communicate with them efficiently.
Importing volunteers is especially helpful when:
You’re onboarding a large group at once (e.g., school groups, event sign-ups, orientation lists).
You already have volunteer contact lists in a spreadsheet format (.csv, .xlsx).
You want to add many volunteers quickly without entering them individually.
This feature saves time and reduces manual data entry when preparing for large events or seasonal sign-ups.
How It Works
Go to the Volunteers pane in Unison.
Click the “+” button and select “Add multiple volunteers.”
In the pop-up dialog, choose “Import file.”
Drag and drop your spreadsheet into the upload box or click Browse to locate the file on your computer.
Click Continue.
Map the columns in your spreadsheet to the corresponding Unison fields (e.g., first name, last name, email).
If there are fields in your spreadsheet you don’t want to import, you can leave them unmapped and confirm that Unison should ignore them.
Click “Import X volunteers” to complete the process.
Alternate Import Options
You can also import volunteers by:
Typing or copy/pasting a list of emails
Importing from Gmail/Outlook
Alternate Import Locations
You can also import volunteers directly from:
The “To” line when composing an email, or
From the Opportunities pane when viewing the list of volunteers in a given opportunity.
These alternate paths can be useful if you’re adding volunteers from specific contexts without starting in the Volunteers pane.
Best Practices
Standardize column names: Use clear headings (First Name, Last Name, Email) so import mapping is quick.
Clean your data: Remove duplicates or rows with missing/invalid email addresses before importing.
Preview mapping: Always verify that fields are mapped correctly in the import step.
Split large lists: If you have a very large list, break it into parts to make troubleshooting easier.
Troubleshooting & Tips
Missing Required Fields:
If a volunteer doesn’t have a first name, last name, or email, the import may fail for that row — double-check these fields before importing.
Unwanted Columns:
If your spreadsheet contains columns you don’t want to import, leave them unmapped when you reach the import mapping screen and confirm that Unison should ignore them.
Check Results After Import:
After the import completes, search your Volunteers list to verify that all entries were added correctly and that contact details are accurate.