How to Merge Multiple Contacts

If you discover duplicate contact records in your BetterUnite account, you can merge them into a single, clean profile. Merging helps keep giving history, contact details, and engagement activity consolidated in one place.

This article walks you through where to access the merge tool and how the process works.

Where Can I Merge Contacts?

You can access the Merge Contacts screen from multiple locations:

1) Contacts Page

Go to Contacts in your dashboard.
Select two or more contacts using the checkboxes.
Click Merge.

2) Duplicate Warning (Inside a Contact Record)

Open a contact record, click Edit.
If BetterUnite detects a possible duplicate, you’ll see a Duplicate Warnings tab.
From there, you can review and merge the suggested duplicate.

3) Manage Duplicates Page

Navigate to the Manage Duplicates page.
Review automatically detected duplicates.
Select the contacts you’d like to merge and proceed.

Why Merge Contacts?

You may want to merge contacts when:

A donor was added more than once because of varying information
Someone gave using multiple email addresses
You imported contacts that already existed with varying information
A supporter registered separately for events and donations with varying information

Merging ensures:

No duplicate records
Combined donation and activity history
Cleaner reporting
More accurate communication lists

How to Merge Contacts

Step 1: Open the Merge Screen

Use one of the three methods above to access the Merge Contacts window.

You’ll see all selected contact records displayed side by side.

Step 2: Choose Which Information to Keep

In the merge window:

Each row shows a field (Last Name, Email, Country, Marital Status, etc.)
Only fields that have actual value and need a decision to pick are displayed
For each field, select the radio button next to the value you want to keep

You can review fields such as:

Name
Email
Address
Custom fields
And more

Only one value per field will be saved in the final merged record.

Step 3: Complete the Merge

Once you’ve reviewed all fields:

Click Complete Merge
Confirm the action

The system will:

Combine the records
Preserve associated giving history and activity
Remove the duplicate record

What Happens After Merging?

After a merge:

All donations and transactions remain intact
Event registrations stay connected
Communication history is preserved
Only one contact record remains

The duplicate profile is permanently removed.

Important Notes

Merging cannot be undone.
You must manually select which field values to keep.
If both contacts have different email addresses, only one will remain as the primary email.

Best Practices

✔ Always review donation history before merging
✔ Double-check email and mailing address fields
✔ Merge the record with the most complete or accurate information
✔ Use the Manage Duplicates page regularly to keep your database clean