Getting started: set up your member directory

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a working member directory with the right visibility, displayed fields, and privacy defaults. It takes about 15 minutes.

What you’ll need

An admin account with the directory:configure-instance and directory:configure-privacy-defaults permissions.
At least a few members in your organization (or a plan for which fields you want to display).

Step 1 — Create a directory instance

In the admin sidebar, select Directory.
If this is your first directory, select Use the default member roster. MapleGather creates a members-only directory with standard fields and takes you to the directory’s detail page.

Or select Create custom directory if you want to name it differently or set a different visibility right away.

You should now see the directory’s Overview tab.

Step 2 — Set visibility

On the Overview tab, find Who can see this directory?
Choose one of three options:
- Public — anyone can browse without signing in. Good for prospect-facing associations.
- Members only — only signed-in members can view the directory.
- Restricted — only members with specific levels or tags can access it.
Select Save changes.

You should now see your visibility choice reflected as a badge next to the directory name.

Step 3 — Configure which fields appear

Select the Fields tab.
For each field you want members to see on the directory card, check Show on card.
For each field you want on the member’s full profile, check Show on detail.
For fields you want members to be able to search by keyword, check Searchable.
Drag the ⠿ handle on any row to reorder the fields.
Select Save changes.

You should now see the field count update in the summary line above the list.

Step 4 — Set org-level privacy defaults

Privacy defaults are the visibility members start from for each profile field. A member starts from them when they first save their directory settings; after that, the member’s own choices decide what the directory shows, except for fields you lock.

In the admin sidebar, select Directory, then select Privacy defaults.
For each field, choose Public, Members only, or Hidden as the default.
To stop members changing a field’s visibility, check the lock box for that field below the field list — it’s labelled Lock followed by the field name (for example, Lock Email). The visibility you chose applies to every member as soon as you save.
Select Save. Your defaults are saved.

You should now see “Defaults saved”. Members who have already saved their directory settings keep them, except for fields you lock; to update them too, see Set org-level privacy defaults and lock fields. (v1.2, 2026-10-17: this step said the defaults are saved but not applied to any member, the lock “is saved but not enforced yet”, and “The defaults are not yet applied to any member — not to members who join later, and not to existing members.” All of it is now built.) (v1.1, amended pre-merge r14r: step 4 said “These defaults apply to new members from now on”, and this step opened “Privacy defaults control what visitors see for new members who haven’t set their own preferences”.)

Step 5 — Add filters (optional)

Filters help members narrow the directory to find specific people.

Return to your directory and select the Facets tab.
If you see “No eligible fields — mark fields facet-eligible in the Fields tab,” go to the Fields tab and check Facet-filterable for the fields you want to use as filters, then come back.
On the Facets tab, select the fields you want to offer as filters.
Filters are saved automatically.

What you’ve set up

You now have a working member directory with configured visibility, displayed fields, and privacy defaults. Next, you might want to:

Configure multiple directory instances — if your organization needs a public “Find a Member” directory alongside a private roster.
Preview the directory in admin mode — to confirm it looks right before sharing it with your members.
Set org-level privacy defaults and lock fields — to review your defaults in detail and apply them to members who have already saved their settings.