--- title: "Connect The Old Reader to NGP VAN - APIANT.ai" description: "When \"New item\" fires in The Old Reader, your agent runs \"Add Contact History\" in NGP VAN." canonical: "https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-ngp-van" --- # Connect The Old Reader to NGP VAN When **New item** fires in [The Old Reader](https://apiant.ai/connections/the-old-reader), your agent runs **Add Contact History** in [NGP VAN](https://apiant.ai/connections/ngp-van). Describe the whole flow and it is built, tested on every scenario and kept running. The Old Reader **1** trigger The Old Reader **12** actions NGP VAN **20** actions What the catalog holds today. Ask for anything missing and your agent reads the API documentation and adds it. ## What do you want The Old Reader and NGP VAN to do together? Give your AI client this address. `https://mcp.apiant.ai` One connection does both: ask your client to act in an app once, or have it build an automation that keeps running. Any client that takes a remote MCP server. Nothing to install. Create your free account, then sign in once in your browser. ### Set it up in your client ### Claude Code Run this in the directory you want to work in. `claude mcp add --transport http -s project apiant-ai https://mcp.apiant.ai` Start Claude Code there, approve the server, and sign in in the browser page it opens. [Claude Code guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp/claude-code) ### Claude, web and desktop Open Customize, then Connectors, then Add custom connector, and paste the address. On Team and Enterprise an owner adds it first. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) ### Cursor Add the address to your MCP configuration as a server URL. Cursor signs you in in your browser. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) ### Zed Open Settings, then AI, then MCP Servers, then Add Server, then Add Remote Server. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) ### Codex and the ChatGPT desktop app Open Settings, then MCP servers, then Add server, and choose Streamable HTTP. From the terminal, Codex takes the address with its own add command and then signs you in. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) ### Any other MCP client Paste the address where the client asks for a remote MCP server URL, and name the server apiant-ai where it lets you. APIANT's skills reach the client over the same connection. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) Example flows ## What The Old Reader can start in NGP VAN - When **New item** in The Old Reader then **Add Contact History** in NGP VAN - When **New item** in The Old Reader then **Add Note to Contact** in NGP VAN Starting points drawn from the triggers and actions in the catalog today. Describe the flow you need, at any depth, and your agent builds it and tests every scenario before it ships. Everything your agent can do with The Old Reader and NGP VAN ## Triggers and actions 1 trigger · 32 actions - Trigger **New item** Triggers when a new item arrives in your reading list, a folder or a subscription. - Action **Add subscription** Subscribes the account to a feed or website by its URL and returns the new subscription's stream id. - Action **Delete folder** Deletes a folder in The Old Reader and moves its subscriptions to the default folder. - Action **Delete subscription** Unsubscribes from a feed in The Old Reader. - Action **Get items** Returns the full contents (title, body, author, feed, read/starred state) of one or more items by their ids. - Action **Get unread counts** Returns unread item counts for the whole reading list and for each folder, subscription and friend. - Action **List folders** Returns the list of folders in your The Old Reader account. - Action **List items** Returns the items (articles) in a stream such as your reading list, starred items, a folder or a subscription. - Action **List subscriptions** Returns every feed subscription in your The Old Reader account, with each feed's title, folders, site URL and icon. - Action **Mark all items as read** Marks all items in a stream (everything, a folder, a subscription or a friend's shares) as read, optionally only those older than a given time. - Action **Update folder** Renames a folder in The Old Reader. - Action **Update item** Updates an item's state: marks it read or unread, starred, liked or shared. - Action **Update subscription** Renames a subscription or moves it between folders. - Action **Add a Contribution** Creates a contribution (donation) for a contact in NGP VAN, credited to a designation. - Action **Add Activist Codes** Applies or removes one or more activist codes on a person in NGP VAN. - Action **Add Canvass Responses** Records a canvass interaction on a person in NGP VAN: either a result code such as Not Home, or script responses such as activist codes, survey answers and volunteer activities. - Action **Add Contact History** Records a contact attempt (contact history) on a person in NGP VAN with a result code such as Not Home or Wrong Number, plus optional context like contact type, date and phone. - Action **Add Note to Contact** Adds a free-text note to a person in NGP VAN, optionally with a note category and a contact history record. - Action **Add Survey Responses** Records one or more survey question answers on a person in VAN, optionally with details of how and when they were canvassed. - Action **Create Financial Batch** Creates a financial batch in NGP VAN for grouping contributions under a designation. - Action **Create or Update Contact With a Contribution** Finds a matching contact (creating one if none exists, otherwise updating it) and records a contribution for that contact. Returns the contact's VAN ID and the new contribution ID. - Action **Delete code from contact** Removes a single code (tag) from a contact in NGP VAN. - Action **Delete contact** Deletes (suppresses) a contact record in NGP VAN by its VANID. - Action **Find Contact** Finds the person in NGP VAN who matches the VAN ID, name, date of birth, phone numbers or email addresses you provide, and returns that person's full record. - Action **Find Financial Batch** Finds financial batches whose names contain the given text. - Action **Get contact** Returns a person record from NGP VAN by VAN ID, with optional phones, emails, addresses, custom fields and other details. - Action **List activist codes** Returns the activist codes available in your VAN committee, optionally filtered by status, name or type. - Action **List campaigns** Returns the campaigns in your NGP VAN account, with each campaign's name, type and status. - Action **List notes** Returns the notes recorded on a person (contact) in NGP VAN. - Action **Merge contacts** Merges a source contact into a target contact, keeping the target's values on conflicts and deleting the source. - Action **Subscribe Email** Finds or creates a contact by email address and marks that email as subscribed. - Action **Tag a Contact** Applies a tag or source code to an existing contact. - Action **Update note** Updates the text, view restriction and category of an existing note on a person in NGP VAN. ## Each app on its own - [ **The Old Reader** RSS reader](https://apiant.ai/connections/the-old-reader) - [ **NGP VAN** NGP VAN is the leading technology provider to Democratic and progressive campaigns and organizations...](https://apiant.ai/connections/ngp-van) Reviews ## What our customers say ## More from The Old Reader - [ **The Old Reader to Trello** Trello is a visual collaboration tool that organizes projects into boards, lists, and cards.](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-trello) - [ **The Old Reader to Zoom** Zoom unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, group messaging, and a software-based...](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-zoom) - [ **The Old Reader to Twilio** Cloud communications platform for sending SMS/MMS messages, making and managing voice calls, and looking up...](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-twilio) - [ **The Old Reader to Typeform** Build and publish online forms, surveys, and quizzes with Typeform.](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-typeform) - [ **The Old Reader to Webflow** Webflow is a professional website builder and CMS for designing, building, and launching responsive...](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-webflow) - [ **The Old Reader to Wix** The Wix website builder gives businesses of any size the tools to create, manage and grow a fully integrated...](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-wix) ## More into NGP VAN - [ **HubSpot to NGP VAN** HubSpot is your all-in-one stop for all of your marketing software needs.](https://apiant.ai/connect/hubspot-to-ngp-van) - [ **Salesforce to NGP VAN** Salesforce is a leading enterprise customer relationship management (CRM) platform.](https://apiant.ai/connect/salesforce-to-ngp-van) - [ **Slack to NGP VAN** Slack is a messaging platform for teams. Post messages, manage channels, users, reminders, and react to...](https://apiant.ai/connect/slack-to-ngp-van) - [ **Google Sheets to NGP VAN** Google Sheets is Google's online spreadsheet app for creating, editing and sharing spreadsheets.](https://apiant.ai/connect/google-sheets-to-ngp-van) - [ **Gmail to NGP VAN** Gmail is Google’s email service, featuring spam protection, search functions, and seamless integration with...](https://apiant.ai/connect/gmail-to-ngp-van) - [ **Google Calendar to NGP VAN** Google Calendar is a time management tool providing scheduling features, event reminders, and integration...](https://apiant.ai/connect/google-calendar-to-ngp-van) Questions ## The Old Reader and NGP VAN, answered ### ### What can start an automation from The Old Reader? Any of The Old Reader's 1 trigger in the catalog, including New item. Describe the moment in plain language and your agent picks the right one. ### ### What can your agent do in NGP VAN when something happens in The Old Reader? Any of NGP VAN's 20 actions, including Create Financial Batch, Create or Update Contact With a Contribution, Update note and Add a Contribution. Your agent maps the data both ways and tests every scenario before it ships. ### ### Can it also run from NGP VAN to The Old Reader? NGP VAN has no triggers in the catalog today, so automations start in The Old Reader. If you need the other direction, ask: your agent reads NGP VAN's API documentation and adds it. ### ### Do I have to build a connector for The Old Reader or NGP VAN? No. Both are in the catalog with their triggers and actions. You describe the automation; your agent builds it, tests every scenario and keeps it running. ### ### Can my AI client use The Old Reader and NGP VAN without building an automation? Yes. With your AI client connected to APIANT, ask it to do something in either app once and it runs that action on the spot. Ask for an automation and your agent builds it, tests every scenario and keeps it running. One connection covers both. ### ### What happens when something fails? Your agent works that out for you. It plans the failure paths along with the happy path, then tests every scenario before it ships. ### ### Is there a free plan? Yes. Every plan includes the agent, including free, and building from your own AI client spends no assistant credits.