Import members into church software without starting over
You import the Excel or CSV sheets you already have. If you’re coming from another system, we help bring your people across. Setup is included and your church is ready in up to 2 weeks.
From spreadsheets and WhatsApp to one record per person
- Excel sheets and CSV files
- Lists in WhatsApp groups
- Exports from another system
- One record per person, with the family alongside
- Columns matched with you during import
- Row-by-row errors before saving
- An import you can undo for 24 hours
How the move works, step by step
- Step 1
Gather your lists
An Excel sheet or a CSV file is enough. You don’t need to reorganise the columns.
- Step 2
Choose the file
In Import data, you choose what you’re bringing. Brado suggests how the columns match and you confirm with us.
- Step 3
Check and confirm
You see the duplicates and errors before anything is saved. If something goes wrong, you undo the import within 24 hours and try again.
- Step 4
Invite the church
Share the app’s link or QR code at the service and people start using it.
What you bring with you
This is the data the import accepts.
-
People
People and families, from Excel or CSV, up to 20,000 rows per import. It detects who already exists and you can undo for 24 hours.
-
Groups
Groups and who is in each one, by file. A group that already exists isn’t duplicated.
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Past donations
Earlier donations by fund, with date and method, so the year doesn’t start from zero.
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Attendance
Who came to each group meeting. Missing meetings are created automatically.
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Other systems
On the Grow plan or above, assisted import from Planning Center, ChurchTools, ChMeetings, ChurchCRM and Breeze.
Where are you coming from?
| Where you’re coming from | How we bring it across |
|---|---|
| Excel sheet | Direct import in the dashboard, with column matching. |
| CSV file | Direct import in the dashboard. |
| Planning Center | Assisted import, from the Grow plan. |
| ChurchTools | Assisted import, from the Grow plan. |
| ChMeetings | Assisted import, from the Grow plan. |
| ChurchCRM | Assisted import, from the Grow plan. |
| Breeze | Assisted import, from the Grow plan. |
| Another system | You export to Excel or CSV and import. If you have questions, we talk them through in the demo. |
| Lists in WhatsApp groups | You copy the contacts into a sheet and import. |
How long it takes and who does it
- rows per import, can be undone for 24 hours
- 20 000
- systems with assisted import, from the Grow plan
- 5
- until your church is ready, once you decide to go ahead
- 2 weeks
Setup and moving your lists are included in the plan, at no extra cost.
Who does what
Importing a sheet is done in the dashboard and you can undo it for 24 hours. If there are errors, you download the report with the row and the reason. The assisted setup, with your name, colour, logo and people, is done with you by the Brado team after the demo.
Bring your sheets
In the demo you can bring your sheets and we run the import with the columns you already have. That way you know, before you decide, how your people will look in Brado.
Questions by system you’re coming from
My people are in an Excel sheet. How do I bring them in?
You import the file in Import data, and we match the columns with you (name, mobile, email, date of birth). Brado shows errors row by row before saving and you can undo the import for 24 hours. Setup is included and your church is ready in up to 2 weeks.
I have a CSV file exported from another program. Will it work?
It will. The import accepts CSV files of up to 20,000 rows at a time, and you match the columns on the import screen. Brado shows errors row by row before saving. In the demo we look at your file and tell you what goes into the records.
Can I switch from Planning Center?
Yes. On the Grow plan or above there is assisted import from Planning Center, done with you by the Brado team. We ask you for the export and in the demo we check which fields go into the records. Setup is included and your church is ready in up to 2 weeks.
Can I switch from ChurchTools?
Yes. Assisted import from ChurchTools is available on the Grow plan or above and is done with you. You bring the ChurchTools export and in the demo we confirm what carries over to Brado. Whatever doesn’t, we tell you before you commit, and you can undo the import for 24 hours if the result isn’t what you expected.
Can I switch from ChMeetings?
Yes. On the Grow plan or above, assisted import accepts ChMeetings exports and is done with you. In the demo we look at your export and what ends up in the records, before the church commits.
Can I switch from ChurchCRM or Breeze?
Yes. On the Grow plan or above, assisted import accepts ChurchCRM and Breeze exports, like those from Planning Center, ChurchTools and ChMeetings. In the demo we look at your export and what ends up in the records.
Our lists are in WhatsApp groups. Now what?
You copy the contacts into a sheet, with each person’s name and mobile number, and import it like any Excel or CSV file. Then you invite the church with the app’s link or QR code. In the demo we go through the sheet with you.
General questions
Do I need to clean up the sheet before importing?
You don’t have to reorganise everything. We match the columns with you and you can undo the import for 24 hours if the result isn’t what you expected. Brado shows errors row by row before saving, so you can fix whatever is missing in the sheet itself.
What if I have more than 20,000 rows?
Each import accepts up to 20,000 rows, so you split the file into two or more imports. Your plan’s limit on people also counts, so in the demo we confirm which one fits.
What data can I bring?
People and families, groups, past donations and attendance, from Excel or CSV. Other data, such as notes, we look at case by case in the demo. You tell us what you have and we answer honestly whether it fits and how.
Do members’ consents carry over to Brado?
You record consents on each person’s record. Before importing, check that your church has the right to hold and process that data. The GDPR guide for churches explains the rules.
What if we want to leave Brado later?
Before access ends, whoever manages privacy downloads a file with people, families, groups, events and donations. You cancel renewal whenever you like and access continues until the end of the paid period, with no refunds.
Bring your sheets
We show you the import with the files you already have. If it makes sense, we set everything up with you.