> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.benevolus.ch/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Import a list of members

> Add all your volunteers at once from an Excel or CSV file, with their teams and their coordinators.

If your volunteer list is already in a spreadsheet, import it in one go instead of inviting each person.

<Note>
  You must be an **organiser** of the organisation. One import accepts up to **500 rows**.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the import panel">
    In the **Members** tab, open the **Actions** menu, then click **Import members**.

    <Frame caption="The Actions menu of the Members tab">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/benevolus/02Vak2kz9xuT9-mG/images/import_member_1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=02Vak2kz9xuT9-mG&q=85&s=53fd2841e10bcb3c51850d7ccb882b58" alt="Import Member 1" width="2560" height="1720" data-path="images/import_member_1.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Prepare your file">
    Click **Download the template** to get an Excel file already in the right format, then fill in one row per volunteer. **First name**, **Last name** and **Email** are required. **Phone**, **Team** and **Coordinator** are optional.

    <Frame caption="The expected format and the template to download">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/benevolus/02Vak2kz9xuT9-mG/images/import_member_2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=02Vak2kz9xuT9-mG&q=85&s=92e6762906099e20c3915a5c80dbfeda" alt="Import Member 2" width="2560" height="1720" data-path="images/import_member_2.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drop the file and check the preview">
    Drop your `.xlsx` or `.csv` file. Benevolus shows how many rows are valid, which rows are skipped and why, and which teams will be reused or created. Nothing is saved yet at this stage.

    <Frame caption="The file preview before importing">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/benevolus/02Vak2kz9xuT9-mG/images/import_member_3.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=02Vak2kz9xuT9-mG&q=85&s=42a9923eab6605187a8b24bee673b013" alt="Import Member 3" width="2560" height="1720" data-path="images/import_member_3.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the import">
    Click **Import N member(s)**. The report lists the accounts created, the coordinators set, the teams created and the rows skipped. Every person created receives their invitation email.

    <Frame caption="The import report">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/benevolus/02Vak2kz9xuT9-mG/images/import_member_4.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=02Vak2kz9xuT9-mG&q=85&s=e816cf18923e7f11eb65fe779a1ef1c4" alt="Import Member 4" width="2560" height="1720" data-path="images/import_member_4.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  **The Coordinator column**: leave the cell empty for a regular volunteer, or type **Yes** to make the person a coordinator. The template offers the value in a drop-down list, and an `x` or a `1` work too. A coordinator manages the posts, the time slots, the teams and the communications of the organisation, but does not create events and does not invite members.
</Note>

<Note>
  Someone who is already a member of your organisation is never duplicated: they are counted as already a member and receive no email. Their **Team** and **Coordinator** columns still apply, which lets you reshuffle your teams with a simple import. Someone who already holds a higher role, Responsible or Super Administrator, is never demoted.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Imported people stay **Pending** until they activate their account. You can [resend their invitation](/en/add-members) from the member list.
</Tip>