What is the correct order for uploading donors' employment information into the NPSP Affiliations object?

When uploading donors' employment information into the NPSP Affiliations object, the process must follow a certain sequence to ensure data integrity and relationship mapping within Salesforce.

First, inserting Organization Accounts for the employer is critical because each donor’s employment information must be associated with a valid organization. This establishes the foundational relationship needed in the NPSP before any affiliations can be created.

Next, you would insert Affiliation records. These records link the Contact (the donor) to their Organization Account (the employer). The Affiliations object serves to represent the relationship between the donor and the organization they are affiliated with, such as their employer, in a structured manner.

Finally, you insert Contact records for the donor, which might be necessary depending on the scenario; however, if the contacts already exist, you would not need to insert them again.

Following this specific order ensures that when you create affiliation records, both the Contact and the Organization reference are intact and valid, leading to accurate and functional data setup within the NPSP environment. This structured approach helps in maintaining relationships between donors and their respective employers, while also facilitating robust reporting and engagement efforts in the future.