You can import payment files from CAF into Donorfy using the File Uploader. This article explains how to set up a CAF payment method, prepare the CAF file in Excel, and configure field mappings so future imports are quicker.

⚠️Important:
Before you import for the first time, you must set up a CAF payment method in Donorfy.

1. Set Up the CAF Payment Method (First Time Only)

If this is the first time you are importing a CAF file:

Go to Settings.
Search for Payment Methods.
Add a new payment method called CAF.
Save your changes.

You will use this payment method name in your CAF import file.

2. Prepare the CAF File in Excel

Each time you download a file from CAF:

Open the file in Excel.
Add the following new columns to the sheet (if they are not already present):
- Constituent Type.
- Product.
- Payment Method.
- Block Mail.
- Block Email.
- Block Phone.
- Block SMS.
- Exclude From Gift Aid.
- Fund (if you want to assign a fund as part of the import)
Check that the original CAF columns such as Donor Marketing Preferences, Donation Tax Effective, and Donor URN are present, as these will be used during preparation and mapping.

3. Populate the New Columns

In the columns you added, enter values as follows:

Constituent and Payment Details

Constituent Type

Enter the type of constituent making the donation, for example:

Individual.
Company.
etc., depending on who the donation was from.

Product

Enter your product name, for example:

Donation.

Payment Method:Enter CAF, this must match the payment method you set up in Settings.
Fund: Enter the relevant fund for the donation (as required by your setup).

Marketing Preferences (Using DonorMarketingPreferences)

Use the contents of the DonorMarketingPreferences column from the CAF file to set the block flags:

If DonorMarketingPreferences contains no further contact:

Set all of the following to Yes:

BlockMail.
BlockEmail.
BlockPhone.
BlockSMS.

If DonorMarketingPreferences contains email set:

BlockEmail to No.
BlockMail, BlockPhone, and BlockSMS to Yes.

Adjust other combinations based on your own interpretation of CAF’s marketing preference values, following the same pattern.

Gift Aid (Using Donation Tax Effective)

Use the Donation Tax Effective column from the CAF file to set Gift Aid:

If Donation Tax Effective contains Tax Effective:

Set Exclude From Gift Aid to Yes.

This ensures that donations where CAF is handling Gift Aid are excluded from Gift Aid processing in Donorfy.

4. Save and Upload the File

When you have completed all required columns:

Save the file as an Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx).
Go to Data Management, click File Upload in Donorfy.
Upload your prepared Excel file.

5. Set Up Field Mappings (First Time Only)

When you upload a CAF file for the first time:

After the file is checked, go to Check Field Mappings.
Map each column in your file to the appropriate field in Donorfy (for example, Amount, Date, Constituent fields, Product, Payment Method, Fund, and block flags).
Ensure that Donorfy saves the CAF reference number for each donor:
- This is usually in a column called DonorURN.
- Map DonorURN to an appropriate external reference field so it can be reused for matching in future imports.
Save the field mappings so they can be reused.