Connect an integration

Follow these steps to add a system connection in Avid, authenticate it, and confirm your first sync completed.

Use this article when…

• You need to connect a new CRM, email marketing platform, advertising platform, or analytics tool.
• You need to re-authenticate an OAuth integration or update credentials.
• You want to confirm a connection is syncing and producing data sets.

Applies to and prerequisites

Steps

1. Go to Settings → Connections → Systems. 
   You see your existing connection cards and the Avid Integration Checklist card.

2. Start the add flow using either option:

   • Click Add System.
   • In Avid Integration Checklist, click a recommended button like Connect Your CRM, Connect Your Email Marketing, Connect Your Email Capture, Connect Your Advertising, or Connect Your Analytics.

   You see a modal titled Add a System.

3. In Add a System, find your provider:

   • Use the search field with placeholder Search by Name...
   • Use a filter pill: CRM, Email Marketing, Advertising, Email Capture, Analytics, Donation Forms, or Other

   You see the provider you want to connect.

4. Select the provider and complete the connection based on the button shown:

   • If you see “Authenticate” (OAuth):

     1. Click Authenticate.
     2. Sign in to the provider and approve access.
     3. Return to Avid after the provider finishes authentication.

     The connection is created in Avid and appears on the Systems list.

   • If you see “Save” (API key/credentials):

     1. Enter the requested fields (for example an API key, token, username/password, host, or domain).
     2. Click Save.

     The connection is created in Avid and appears on the Systems list.

5. If your OAuth system requires an extra selection step (common for ads, lead, and analytics systems), complete it now. 
   The connection stops showing the “not selected” error and can sync successfully. 
   See: Complete the required selection step

6. Confirm the connection is syncing or active.

   • Active shows Last Synced: {date}
   • Syncing shows Started At: {timestamp} | {N} Rows Synced
   • Error shows an inline error message

   You see Active after the first successful sync completes.

Complete the required selection step

Some OAuth integrations create a connection first and then require you to pick an account, page, or property in Avid. Until you do, the connection can show Error.

1. Go to Settings → Connections → Systems. 
2. Open the connection’s configuration flow (from the card’s details/config UI). 
3. Select the required item for your system:
   • Facebook (Ad Manager): select an ad account
   • LinkedIn Ads: select an ad account
   • Microsoft Advertising: select an ads account
   • Facebook Lead Ads: select a page
   • Google Analytics 4: select an analytics property
   • Google Ads: complete account/customer context selection
4. Return to Systems and confirm status changes from Error to Initializing, Syncing, or Active. 

Sync Now and Update Credentials

After a connection is created, you can manage it from the connection card menu on Settings → Connections → Systems.

Sync Now

1. On the connection card, open the action menu.
2. Click Sync Now.

The status badge changes to Syncing and the card shows Started At: {timestamp} | {N} Rows Synced.

Update Credentials

1. On the connection card, open the action menu.
2. Click Update Credentials.
3. Re-authenticate (OAuth) or update the credential fields (API key/credentials), then save.

The connection returns to Active after the next successful sync.

Validate the connection

Use these checks to confirm your integration is connected and producing usable data.

• Status badge: Active
• Proof of sync on the card: Last Synced: {date}
• While syncing: Syncing with Started At: {timestamp} | {N} Rows Synced
• On the connection view: no “Integration Error” banner, and Data Sets are listed and selectable

What you’ll see

• A new connection card under Systems with a status badge: Initializing, Syncing, Error, or Active.
• Sync proof text on the card:
  • During sync: Started At: {timestamp} | {N} Rows Synced
  • After sync: Last Synced: {date} | Created on: {date}
• If something is wrong, an inline error message (from the integration sync error message or a Pathways-related error when relevant).

Next steps

• Create an audience in Pathways (Audiences). You may be prompted to connect required systems first.
• Use synced data in Insights (and Benchmarks), where missing or disconnected connections can show prompts.
• Launch a Playbook to connected destinations. Connection readiness can affect launch.

Notes and limits

• Multi-step OAuth is common: Some ads/analytics/lead systems stay in Error until you select an ad account/page/property.
• Initial sync timing: On first successful connect, Avid schedules the next sync to “now,” and the background sync typically starts within ~5 minutes.
• Default cadence: Most connections sync daily. Some sync monthly (for example Forwarded Email and Wiland).
• Failures can pause scheduling: After repeated failures, Avid backs off and can stop scheduling future syncs until you reconnect.
• Credential drift: If credentials expire or permissions change, the connection can show Error. Use Update Credentials to restore it.

CRM connector articles

Step-by-step guides for each CRM Avid supports:

• Allegiance CRM
• Bloomerang
• DonorDirect StudioEnterprise
• DonorDock
• DonorPerfect
• NationBuilder
• Neon One
• Raiser's Edge NXT
• Salesforce
• Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
• Virtuous CRM

For sync issues after a CRM is connected, see Fix: Integration is not syncing.