Before you begin
Before starting setup, make sure you have the following:
From your SFTP server
Your host
Your port
Your username
Your password or SSH private key
The folder path where your CSV files are stored
Note: If you need an SFTP hosted on your behalf, reach out to support@tatango.com and our team can provision one on your behalf. You will have to use SSH authentication.
From your CSV file
A sample file in CSV format uploaded to the SFTP server
Column headers in the first row
A column that contains phone number
A file name that includes a date
The file name should have a date in one of these formats:
YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., 2026-02-26)
YYYYMMDD (e.g., 20260226)
MM-DD-YYYY (e.g., 02-26-2026)
MMDDYYYY (e.g., 02262026)
DD-MM-YYYY (e.g., 26-02-2026)
Note: If you have multiple phone fields from your source system, please coordinate with your Customer Success Manager on how you can manually upload your full file, download a report, and reconcile your valid mobile phone numbers into a single field in your source system.
From Tatango
The list you want to import subscribers into
Any custom fields already created in that list, if you plan to map them during setup
When should I use this?
Use this integration if:
Tatango doesn't have an existing integration with your CRM or fundraising platform
Your system can export data as a CSV file on a schedule
You want to automate subscriber uploads into Tatango
If your system can drop a CSV file into an SFTP server, this integration will work.
How to set up the SFTP integration
Step 1: Open the SFTP integration
Start by going to the Integrations tab in Tatango.
From there:
Find SFTP Integration ( you can scroll or press cmd+f and search for SFTP)
Click on configure
Step 2: Enter your SFTP connection details
First, connect Tatango to your SFTP server. Select SFTP as the Protocol Type.
Enter the following:
Host
Port
Username
Password or SSH private key
If using SSH, ensure you provide the passcode if the key is passcode protected.
Take a moment to double-check these details before moving on. If any of this information is incorrect, Tatango won’t be able to access your files.
Step 3: Choose when the import should run
Select the time you want Tatango to check your SFTP server each day.
All scheduled times are based on Eastern Time.
Hours are presented in 24-hour format (e.g., 18 = 6pm)
When choosing a time, make sure your CSV file will already be available on the server before the import runs. If the file arrives after the scheduled time, Tatango won’t find it for that day’s run.
💡 It’s usually best to schedule the import a little later than your file delivery time to avoid timing issues.
Step 4: Enter the folder path where your files are stored
Now enter the directory path where your CSV files live on your SFTP server. This tells Tatango exactly where to look for your files each day.
If you’re not sure what folder to use, check with whoever manages your SFTP server.
If using the home or root directory, enter
.
💡 Follow the instructions carefully on this page to avoid any errors.
Step 5: Select a sample file
Next, choose a sample CSV file from the folder you just connected to.
Choose a file that matches the date format you plan to use going forward.
The file name should have a date in one of these formats:
YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., 2026-02-26)
YYYYMMDD (e.g., 20260226)
MM-DD-YYYY (e.g., 02-26-2026)
MMDDYYYY (e.g., 02262026)
DD-MM-YYYY (e.g., 26-02-2026)
💡 This sample file acts as the template for future daily imports, so it should be representative of the files you expect to send regularly.
Step 6: Choose the date format used in your file name
After selecting your sample file, choose the date format that appears in the file name.
For example, your file name might include the date like this:
Tatango uses this format to determine what file to look for each day.
For example, if your sample file is named:
20260325_subscribers.csv
and your selected date format is YYYYMMDD, Tatango will look for the next day’s file using that same pattern.
💡 The date format you select here must match the way dates actually appear in your file names.
Step 7: Choose your import settings
Now choose how you want Tatango to handle the records in your file.
You’ll see options like:
Add or Update — adds new subscribers and updates existing ones
Add only — only adds new subscribers
Unsubscribe — unsubscribes matching subscribers
Choose the option that best fits the purpose of your file.
You may also see an option to control whether imported subscribers should receive recurring or automated messages. Review this setting carefully so the import behaves the way you expect.
Step 8: Select the Tatango list you want to import into
Next, choose the Tatango list where this data should go.
This is the list that will receive the subscribers from your CSV file each day.
Make sure you select the correct list before continuing, especially if you manage multiple lists in your account.
Step 9: Map your CSV columns to Tatango fields
This is the step where you tell Tatango which CSV columns should populate which fields.
For each column in your file:
On the left, enter the column header
On the right, select the matching Tatango field
At a minimum, you must map to Phone Number
You can also map:
standard fields like first name, last name, email, zip code, and birthday
custom fields that already exist in your Tatango list
Take your time with this step. Accurate mapping is important to make sure the right data ends up in the right place.
💡 Your CSV column names must match your file headers exactly.
Step 10: Review your setup and enable the integration
Before finishing, review all of your previous steps carefully:
SFTP credentials
Schedule
Folder path
Sample file
Date format
Upload action
Target list
Field mappings
Once everything looks right, click on Finish. You will be redirected to My Apps page where you can manage all your integrations.
After that, the integration will begin running automatically based on the schedule you selected.
What happens after setup
Once your integration is active:
Tatango will check your SFTP server daily
It will look for the correct file based on your file naming pattern
It will import the file into your selected list
You’ll receive an email notification with the result
These notifications help you confirm that everything is working as expected.
Understanding notification emails
Tatango will send email notifications for the following situations:
Successful import - The owner of your account will receive a confirmation when the file is found and processed successfully.
Import failure - You’ll receive an alert if the file is found but the upload fails.
File not found - You’ll receive an alert if Tatango cannot find the expected file for that day. This usually means one of the following:
the file was uploaded late
the file name did not match the expected pattern
the date format was configured incorrectly
Managing your integration later
You can come back and update your integration at any time.
For example, you may want to:
change the import time
update your SFTP credentials
change the file path
update field mappings
point the integration to a different Tatango list
If your file structure changes, it’s a good idea to review the mapping step again to make sure everything still lines up correctly.
Common issues and how to fix them
Tatango cannot find the file
Check the following:
the file was uploaded before the scheduled run time
the file is in the correct folder
the file name matches the expected pattern
the selected date format is correct
The file is found, but the upload fails
Check the following:
the file is a valid CSV
the first row contains headers
a phone number column is present
your mappings match the actual column names in the file
No files appear when selecting a sample file
Check the following:
your SFTP credentials are correct
the directory path is correct
your SFTP user has permission to view files in that folder