> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/engage/community-relationships/add-a-contact.md).

# Add a Contact

Learn how to create a new contact record in the Community Relationships module in PEARS.

This article walks through the steps to create a new person record in the Community Relationships (CRM) module.

![Screenshot: The CRM Add Contact form showing the Title dropdown, Name field, Organization combobox, Linked Partners table, phone number fields, email section, and mailing address fields](https://2560412328-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Ff0820LrBGQ9ZA8SC4BR1%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ca2a964a9766828d3f5891f0f63c01e7c0771913%2Fcrm-add-contact-form.png?alt=media)

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** The red asterisk **\*** next to the heading of a field indicates that the field is required.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Navigate to Community Relationships

From the PEARS homepage, hover over the **Engage** menu and click **Community Relationships**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Click Add Contact

On the Community Relationships list page, click the **Add Contact** button.

![Screenshot: The Community Relationships list page with the Add Contact button highlighted in the top-right area](https://2560412328-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Ff0820LrBGQ9ZA8SC4BR1%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-83a1d234ad62c88052a000d4a679526d9644c67e%2Fcrm-list-view.png?alt=media)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Select a Title (optional)

In the **Title** dropdown, select the contact's title if applicable (e.g., Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr.).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Enter the Contact's Name

In the **Name** field, enter the contact's full name. This field is required.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Enter an Organization (optional)

In the **Organization** field, enter the organization this contact belongs to. Start typing to pick from the organizations already used on your other contacts, or type a new name to add it.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**NOTE:** Organization is free text and replaces the old **Site** field. Contacts are no longer tied to a site record, so you can enter an employer, a school, or a community group that does not exist in Manage Sites.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Link Partners (optional)

In the **Linked Partners** table, click **Add Partner** to associate this contact with one or more [partners](/engage/partners.md).

For each row, select the **Partner** and optionally enter the contact's **Role** there — for example, "Primary contact". Click **Remove** to delete a row.

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** Linking a partner here is what makes the partner available when you [log an interaction](/engage/community-relationships/create-an-interaction.md) with this contact, and it is what places the contact on the partner's **Contacts & Interactions** roll-up. This section appears only if your organization has the Partners module enabled.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Enter Phone Numbers (optional)

Enter the contact's phone numbers in the available fields:

* **Mobile phone number**
* **Home phone number**
* **Work phone number**
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Add Email Addresses (optional)

In the **Email** section, enter one or more email addresses for this contact. If you add multiple email addresses, select one as the **Primary** email. Click the **Add Email** button to add additional email addresses.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Enter Mailing Address (optional)

Fill in the contact's mailing address using the following fields:

* **Address line 1**
* **Address line 2**
* **City**
* **State**
* **Zip Code**
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Select Categories (optional)

In the **Categories** field, select one or more categories to organize this contact. Categories are specific to your organization.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Upload a Picture (optional)

In the **Picture** section, click the upload area to attach a photo of the contact.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Add Notes (optional)

In the **Notes** field, enter any additional information about this contact.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Save the Contact

Click **Save** to create the contact record. After saving, you can continue to [Permissions](/engage/community-relationships/contact-permissions.md), [demographics](/engage/community-relationships/contact-demographics.md), and [communication preferences](/engage/community-relationships/communication-preferences.md).
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**NOTE:** A contact only needs a name before it can be saved. All other fields are optional and can be filled in at any time by editing the contact record.
{% endhint %}

## Who Can See the Contact

Saving a contact's general information gives it its first sharing grant, targeting the record owner's unit. Everyone in that unit gets read access; everyone else in your organization sees only the contact's name, organization, city, state, and owner, with email and phone masked.

To widen or narrow that, click **Permissions** in the progress panel. See [Contact Permissions](/engage/community-relationships/contact-permissions.md).

## Draft a Contact with AI

If your organization has AI Entry enabled, you can describe the contact in plain language and have PEARS fill in the form. Click **Fill in with AI** above the form. See [AI Entry](/engage/community-relationships/ai-entry.md).