---
title: Data Imports and Migrations
description: "Learn about Golden's data migration options: self-serve imports (free) and Enterprise migrations to seamlessly transfer your participant data into Golden."
---

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October 16, 2026

# Data Imports and Migrations

At Golden, we're committed to making your transition to our platform as smooth as possible! Whether you're migrating from another participant management system or importing your existing participant database, we offer flexible options to get your data into Golden.

Many new Golden users have existing data sets from other systems that they want to import or migrate into Golden. Although there are some situations in which data is incompatible with Golden (or extraneous), we encourage new Golden users to get started by importing their past data sets.

Golden has 2 options for Data Migration:

1. **Self-Serve Imports** (free)
2. **Enterprise Imports / Migrations** (additional charges may apply)

**Self-Serve Imports**

*Available to: all Golden users*

Before you import any data, we highly recommend creating your Opportunities first.

With "Self-Serve" data uploads, you can:

- Upload participant names and emails
- Add participants to Groups

Items to keep in mind:

- If you upload new participants, Golden will automatically send them an email prompting them to set up their password. This is extremely helpful in getting them access to the right Opportunities.
- You'll notice that you can't upload mailing addresses, phone numbers, or other information yourself. We recommend asking for this info in the "Extras" section of Opportunity Creation. This guarantees you get up-to-date info from your participants.

**Enterprise Imports / Migrations** (additional charges may apply)

*Available to: contact [support@goldenvolunteer.com](mailto:support@goldenvolunteer.com) for a price quote. Please include an example and description of the data you're interested in migrating to Golden.*

Before you import any data, we highly recommend creating your Opportunities first.

With Enterprise Imports / Migrations, you can:

- Receive a 1-hour consulting session with the Golden engineering team
- Access dataset formatting services if needed
- Perform test uploads
- Upload existing Opportunities
- Migrate current Opportunity registrations from your existing system into Golden 
    - For example, if you have participants signed up for activities next month, you can move those sign-ups into Golden, and they'll get reminder emails from Golden.
- Upload participant contact records and profiles, including mailing addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts, and other demographic information
- Upload participant data with custom data points (not Golden-native data points)
- Add participants to Groups
- Migrate past participant hours and credentials
- Upload lists of partner organizations (both corporate and non-profit)

Items to keep in mind:

- Golden will provide templates for you to match your datasets to, or Golden can provide dataset formatting as a service.

**What Data Can Golden Import**

Golden can only import data that matches fields already in Golden, unless custom data fields have been scoped as part of an Enterprise migration.

Certain data fields are required for all imports. Missing "key data" may result in specific records not being imported. These include:

*For Participants:*

- First name
- Last name
- Email address (placeholders can be used if necessary)

*For past hours:*

- Opportunity Name
- Opportunity Date
- Start Time
- Hours performed OR End time

*For partner organizations (either corporate or non-profit):*

- Partner Name
- Preferred: partner contact email

*For Opportunities:*

- Full content matching the templates provided to you.

**Note:** Golden uses email addresses as the unique identifier. Please highlight cases in which participants may share email addresses so that Golden can work accordingly.

**Before Migrating your Data...**

- Check for inaccuracies. Golden is not responsible for inaccurate data that you provide.
- Check for duplicate participant records. This can cause inadvertent problems.
- Double check that you actually need the data! For instance, Golden does not recommend importing participants UNLESS those participants need access to Private Opportunities (i.e., you're adding them to specific Groups).

**Questions? Need data templates?**

Don't hesitate to contact [support@goldenvolunteer.com](mailto:support@goldenvolunteer.com).

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