Exporting Contacts from ActivistCentral

ActivistCentral lets you export Contact data to a CSV file for use in spreadsheets, reporting, data review, or other systems.

You can export your entire Contact database or limit the export to the people you're currently working with.

Start an export

Go to Contacts and select Export CSV.

The Export Contacts window lets you choose:

1. Which Contacts to export
2. Which columns to include

ActivistCentral also shows the estimated number of rows that will be included before you begin the export.

Choose which Contacts to export

Under What do you want to export?, choose the group of Contacts you need.

All contacts

Choose All contacts to export the Contacts in your organization's database.

Use this option when you need a broad export rather than a particular subset of people.

Filtered results

Choose Filtered results to export the Contacts matching the filters currently applied in the Contacts directory.

This is useful when you've narrowed the directory using search, Tags, phone or email status, or other available filters and only want those matching Contacts in the CSV.

Selected contacts

Choose Selected contacts when you've manually selected specific Contacts in the directory.

The number in parentheses shows how many Contacts are currently selected.

If no Contacts are selected, this option is unavailable.

Choose which columns to include

Under Which columns?, choose how much Contact information you want in the CSV.

Visible columns

Choose Visible columns to export the columns currently shown in your Contacts directory.

This is useful when you've configured the directory to show the information you need and want the CSV to reflect that view.

All fields

Choose All fields when you want a more complete export of the available Contact data rather than limiting the CSV to the columns currently visible in the directory.

This is the better choice when you're creating a broader data export or want information beyond your current directory view.

Check the estimated export size

Before exporting, review Estimated rows to export.

The estimate changes based on whether you're exporting all Contacts, filtered results, or selected Contacts.

This gives you a quick way to confirm that the export scope matches what you intended.

For example, if you've filtered the directory down to a small group but the estimated export still includes thousands of Contacts, check your export selection before continuing.

Export the CSV

Once you've selected the Contacts and columns you need, choose Export CSV.

ActivistCentral prepares the file and shows Exporting... while the export is being created.

Larger exports may take longer to prepare than smaller ones.

When the export is complete, the CSV file can be opened in a spreadsheet application or used with another system that accepts CSV data.

Exporting filtered groups

You don't have to export your entire database every time you need Contact data.

For example, you can first use the Contacts directory to narrow the people shown using:

• Search
• Tags
• Phone status
• Email status
• Other available Contact filters

Then select Export CSV → Filtered results.

This makes the Contacts directory itself useful for preparing targeted exports without changing your underlying Contact records.

Exporting specific Contacts

When you only need a particular group of people, select those Contacts in the directory before opening Export CSV.

Then choose Selected contacts.

This is useful for one-time exports where creating a permanent Saved List or changing your filters isn't necessary.

Choosing between Visible columns and All fields

A simple way to decide is:

Visible columns — use when you want an export that reflects the information you're currently viewing in the Contacts directory.

All fields — use when you want a broader Contact-data export.

If you're unsure and your goal is to preserve or review Contact data, All fields provides the more comprehensive option.

Your data remains available to you

Exporting does not change or remove anything from ActivistCentral.

It creates a CSV copy of the selected Contact information while the original Contact records remain in your organization.

You can export Contact data whenever you need it for reporting, review, outside analysis, or another authorized use by your organization.