Every import goes through the same six-step wizard. Each step is saved as you go, so you can stop and resume later without losing work.
Before You Start: Get the Shape Right
If you are building the file yourself rather than exporting one, download a template first. Go to Imports → Templates, pick your module, and click Download template. Every column in that file maps itself on upload, so there is nothing left to match by hand. See Start From a Template.
Step 1: Pick a Module
Go to Imports → New Import. Choose what kind of data you're importing: People, Donors, Companies, Giving, Recurring gifts, Invoices, Events, Groups, Check-in history, Notes, Clients, Vendors, or Projects. The list shows the modules that are switched on for your workspace, so you will not see Giving on a workspace with no giving module.
Step 2: Pick a Source
Tell Studio where the CSV came from: Planning Center, Tithe.ly, Breeze, Church Office Online, Kindrid, Generic CSV, etc. Picking the right source means Studio knows the column names ahead of time and can auto-match almost everything for you.
Step 3: Upload Your CSV
Drag your CSV onto the upload area or click to browse. The file uploads directly to secure cloud storage rather than to Studio’s app server, so even very large files (up to 2 GB / 250,000 rows) upload quickly.
Once the upload finishes, Studio reads the headers and the first few rows to detect the format.
Step 4: Map Your Columns
Studio shows your CSV columns on the left and lets you pick a Studio field for each. Most columns auto-match if you picked the right source. The right side of the page lists every Studio field with a short description, so you know exactly what each one means before you map to it.
Items already mapped show a green check on the glossary side. Required fields have a red “Required” badge. See the dedicated Mapping Columns article for details.
Step 5: Review
Studio shows a preview of the first few rows with your mapping applied, plus any rows it's flagged for review (e.g., names that look like organizations rather than individuals). Confirm or adjust before running.
Step 6: Run
Click Run import. Studio queues the work and processes 500 rows at a time in parallel, so a 25,000-row file finishes in a couple of minutes. The progress bar updates live.
Step 7: Done
The completion screen shows: how many records were created, how many existing records were updated, how many were skipped (e.g., duplicates of gifts already in Studio), and any errors. Click any error to jump straight to the affected profile and fix it.
If Something Goes Wrong
Every import is fully reversible. Click Revert this import on the completion screen to roll back. See the Reverting an Import article.