An external key is an ID or reference number already assigned to your constituents in another system (e.g., a legacy CRM, Access database, or membership system). Including external keys when importing into Donorfy ensures consistent matching, especially when importing timeline entries such as activities, donations, or recurring instructions.
Add External Keys When Importing Constituents
Open your Data Preparation Template for constituent import.
Complete the External Key column for each constituent.
External keys may contain letters and numbers.
Maximum length is 50 characters.
Import your constituent file into Donorfy.
Use External Keys When Importing Timeline Entries
Open the appropriate Data Preparation Template for the timeline data you are importing (e.g., Transactions, Activities, Opportunities).
Populate the External Key column with the correct key value corresponding to the constituent.
Import the timeline entries.
Make External Keys Unique
If you import data from multiple systems prefix each key with a system name for clarity and uniqueness:
AccessDB_0001.
This prevents clashes when different systems use the same numbering patterns.
If you haven't got an external key available you can still match timeline entries to constituents by other means - see the knowledgebase article about importing timeline entries for help with this.