> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.firstrespondershub.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom lists and the audience builder

> Build filter-based custom lists, preview the match count live, save, edit, and email directly from a list.

A **custom list** is a saved set of filter conditions that resolves live — every time you open it or send email to it, the system recomputes who matches. That means a list like "Interested in EMT and not enrolled" stays correct as contacts join, leave, and enroll.

## Opening the audience builder

From the **Overview** tab on Contacts, click **New custom list**. A side sheet opens with:

* **List name** — Required.
* **Condition rows** — One or more filter conditions, joined with AND.
* **Live preview** — As you edit, the builder shows the match count and sample names with a short debounce.
* **Save** — Writes the list; **Save and email** opens the email composer scoped to the list.

## Filter conditions

Each row has a **property**, an **operator**, and a **value**. Available properties:

| Property                  | Operators                                               | Value                                                     |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Interested in program** | is / is not                                             | A program offering                                        |
| **Enrollment status**     | has enrolled in / has never enrolled in / has completed | A program offering                                        |
| **Cohort**                | is enrolled in / is on waitlist for                     | A cohort                                                  |
| **Source**                | is / is not                                             | Lead form, Waitlist, Enrolled, Imported, Manual           |
| **Email status**          | is                                                      | Active, Unsubscribed, Bounced                             |
| **Tag**                   | has tag / does not have tag                             | An org tag                                                |
| **Date added**            | is in the last / is after / is before / is between      | Relative (7d, 30d, 60d, 90d, 6mo, 1yr) or a specific date |
| **Date enrolled**         | same date operators                                     | Optionally scoped to a program                            |
| **Date completed**        | same date operators                                     | Optionally scoped to a program                            |
| **Date joined waitlist**  | same date operators                                     | Optionally scoped to a program                            |

Conditions combine with **AND** — a contact must satisfy every row to be included.

<Tip>
  To build **OR** logic (e.g. "interested in EMT OR interested in Paramedic"), save separate custom lists and email them in two sends, or use the **Tag** property to consolidate across programs.
</Tip>

## Live preview

The preview updates after a short debounce as you edit. It shows:

* Total matching contact count (excluding unsubscribed and bounced by default)
* A few sample contact names

If the preview is `0`, double-check date ranges and program selections — a common mistake is combining `Interested in program X` with `Has never enrolled in X`, which is valid but narrower than it looks.

## Saving and editing

* **Save** — Stores the list for reuse. It appears under **Saved custom lists** on the Overview tab.
* **Edit** — From the Overview tab, open a saved list to see its resolved contacts. Use **Edit filters** to re-open the builder; your conditions are reloaded exactly.
* **Delete** — From the saved list detail page or the list row menu.

Because lists resolve live, editing a condition changes who will receive future emails sent to that list. Past sends are unaffected — [Send History](/contacts/send-history-and-deliverability) records the exact audience size at send time.

## Emailing a list

Three ways to email a list:

1. From the builder, click **Save and email** — opens the email composer with the list pre-selected.
2. From the Overview tab, use the list's row menu → **Send email**.
3. From the email composer, choose audience type **Custom list** and pick the saved list.

Contacts with status `Unsubscribed` or `Bounced` are always excluded at send time, even if they match the filter conditions.