diff --git a/backend/app/crud.py b/backend/app/crud.py
index 65884bf..b7e491c 100644
--- a/backend/app/crud.py
+++ b/backend/app/crud.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def create_item(
     captured_at: datetime,
     discord_message_id: str | None,
     sender_id: str | None = None,
+    direction: str = "inbound",
 ) -> tuple[Item, bool]:
     if discord_message_id is not None:
         existing = session.scalar(
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ def create_item(
         captured_at=captured_at,
         discord_message_id=discord_message_id,
         sender_id=sender_id,
+        direction=direction,
         stage="new",
     )
     session.add(item)
@@ -66,8 +68,11 @@ def update_item(session: Session, item_id: int, **fields) -> Item | None:
 
     new_type = fields.get("type", item.type)
     new_stage = fields.get("stage", item.stage)
-    if "stage" in fields and not is_valid_stage(new_type, new_stage):
-        raise ValueError(f"'{new_stage}' is not a valid stage for type '{new_type}'")
+    new_direction = fields.get("direction", item.direction)
+    if "stage" in fields and not is_valid_stage(new_type, new_stage, new_direction):
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"'{new_stage}' is not a valid stage for type '{new_type}' direction '{new_direction}'"
+        )
 
     for key, value in fields.items():
         setattr(item, key, value)
diff --git a/backend/app/models.py b/backend/app/models.py
index 2ffb9d5..8f32b2e 100644
--- a/backend/app/models.py
+++ b/backend/app/models.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class Item(Base):
     sender_id: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(String, nullable=True)
     type: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(String, nullable=True)
     stage: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String, nullable=False, default="new")
+    direction: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String, nullable=False, default="inbound")
     notes: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(Text, nullable=True)
     follow_up_date: Mapped[date | None] = mapped_column(Date, nullable=True)
     discord_message_id: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(String, unique=True, nullable=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas.py b/backend/app/schemas.py
index 43a64bb..319e6ca 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ class ItemCreate(BaseModel):
     captured_at: datetime
     discord_message_id: str | None = None
     sender_id: str | None = None
+    direction: str = "inbound"
 
 
 class ItemUpdate(BaseModel):
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ class ItemOut(BaseModel):
     sender_id: str | None
     type: str | None
     stage: str
+    direction: str
     notes: str | None
     follow_up_date: date | None
     discord_message_id: str | None
diff --git a/backend/app/stages.py b/backend/app/stages.py
index 5e9b223..3d2f7f0 100644
--- a/backend/app/stages.py
+++ b/backend/app/stages.py
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 DONATION_STAGES = ["new", "replied", "pickup_scheduled", "picked_up", "logged_in_bookmark"]
 OTHER_STAGES = ["new", "done"]
+OUTBOUND_STAGES = [
+    "new", "reviewed", "outreach_drafted", "outreach_sent",
+    "replied", "pickup_scheduled", "picked_up", "logged_in_bookmark",
+]
 
 
-def valid_stages_for(item_type: str | None) -> list[str]:
+def valid_stages_for(item_type: str | None, direction: str = "inbound") -> list[str]:
+    if direction == "outbound":
+        return OUTBOUND_STAGES
     if item_type == "donation":
         return DONATION_STAGES
     if item_type == "other":
@@ -10,5 +16,5 @@ def valid_stages_for(item_type: str | None) -> list[str]:
     return ["new"]
 
 
-def is_valid_stage(item_type: str | None, stage: str) -> bool:
-    return stage in valid_stages_for(item_type)
+def is_valid_stage(item_type: str | None, stage: str, direction: str = "inbound") -> bool:
+    return stage in valid_stages_for(item_type, direction)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_crud.py b/backend/tests/test_crud.py
index 97b73b9..eba656e 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_crud.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_crud.py
@@ -61,3 +61,37 @@ def test_update_item_rejects_invalid_stage_for_type(db_session):
 
 def test_update_item_returns_none_for_missing_id(db_session):
     assert crud.update_item(db_session, 9999, notes="x") is None
+
+
+def test_create_item_defaults_direction_to_inbound(db_session):
+    item, _ = crud.create_item(
+        db_session, modality="bh_email", raw_content="x", captured_at=_now(),
+        discord_message_id="dir-1",
+    )
+    assert item.direction == "inbound"
+
+
+def test_create_item_accepts_outbound_direction(db_session):
+    item, _ = crud.create_item(
+        db_session, modality="lead_found", raw_content="found post", captured_at=_now(),
+        discord_message_id="dir-2", direction="outbound",
+    )
+    assert item.direction == "outbound"
+
+
+def test_update_item_validates_stage_against_outbound_direction(db_session):
+    item, _ = crud.create_item(
+        db_session, modality="lead_found", raw_content="x", captured_at=_now(),
+        discord_message_id="dir-3", direction="outbound",
+    )
+    updated = crud.update_item(db_session, item.id, stage="outreach_sent")
+    assert updated.stage == "outreach_sent"
+
+
+def test_update_item_rejects_inbound_only_stage_for_outbound_item(db_session):
+    item, _ = crud.create_item(
+        db_session, modality="lead_found", raw_content="x", captured_at=_now(),
+        discord_message_id="dir-4", direction="outbound",
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        crud.update_item(db_session, item.id, stage="done")
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_items_api.py b/backend/tests/test_items_api.py
index 685b93f..ced32e0 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_items_api.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_items_api.py
@@ -68,3 +68,21 @@ def test_patch_invalid_stage_returns_422(client):
 def test_get_missing_item_returns_404(client):
     resp = client.get("/items/999999")
     assert resp.status_code == 404
+
+
+def test_create_item_with_outbound_direction(client):
+    resp = client.post("/items", json={
+        "modality": "lead_found", "raw_content": "found on Nextdoor",
+        "captured_at": "2026-07-13T07:00:00Z", "discord_message_id": "out-1",
+        "direction": "outbound",
+    })
+    assert resp.status_code == 201
+    assert resp.json()["direction"] == "outbound"
+
+
+def test_create_item_direction_defaults_to_inbound(client):
+    resp = client.post("/items", json={
+        "modality": "voice", "raw_content": "call",
+        "captured_at": "2026-07-13T07:00:00Z", "discord_message_id": "out-2",
+    })
+    assert resp.json()["direction"] == "inbound"
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_stages.py b/backend/tests/test_stages.py
index 0e934db..d2136be 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_stages.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_stages.py
@@ -33,3 +33,24 @@ def test_is_valid_stage_false_for_mismatched_type():
 
 def test_is_valid_stage_false_for_unknown_value():
     assert stages.is_valid_stage("donation", "archived") is False
+
+
+def test_outbound_stages_in_order():
+    assert stages.OUTBOUND_STAGES == [
+        "new", "reviewed", "outreach_drafted", "outreach_sent",
+        "replied", "pickup_scheduled", "picked_up", "logged_in_bookmark",
+    ]
+
+
+def test_valid_stages_for_outbound_ignores_type():
+    assert stages.valid_stages_for("donation", direction="outbound") == stages.OUTBOUND_STAGES
+    assert stages.valid_stages_for(None, direction="outbound") == stages.OUTBOUND_STAGES
+
+
+def test_valid_stages_for_inbound_unchanged():
+    assert stages.valid_stages_for("donation") == stages.DONATION_STAGES
+
+
+def test_is_valid_stage_outbound_accepts_outreach_stages():
+    assert stages.is_valid_stage("donation", "outreach_sent", direction="outbound") is True
+    assert stages.is_valid_stage("donation", "outreach_sent", direction="inbound") is False
diff --git a/bot/chorus_bot/backend_client.py b/bot/chorus_bot/backend_client.py
index 96bc6d8..6932136 100644
--- a/bot/chorus_bot/backend_client.py
+++ b/bot/chorus_bot/backend_client.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class BackendClient:
         captured_at: datetime,
         discord_message_id: str | None,
         sender_id: str | None = None,
+        direction: str = "inbound",
     ) -> dict:
         payload = {
             "modality": modality,
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ class BackendClient:
             "captured_at": captured_at.isoformat(),
             "discord_message_id": discord_message_id,
             "sender_id": sender_id,
+            "direction": direction,
         }
         async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client:
             resp = await client.post(f"{self._base_url}/items", json=payload, timeout=10)
diff --git a/bot/chorus_bot/cogs/manual_share.py b/bot/chorus_bot/cogs/manual_share.py
index 8741d2a..f5e9c90 100644
--- a/bot/chorus_bot/cogs/manual_share.py
+++ b/bot/chorus_bot/cogs/manual_share.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import discord
 from discord.ext import commands
-from chorus_bot.modality_map import modality_for_channel
+from chorus_bot.modality_map import modality_for_channel, direction_for_modality
 from chorus_bot.ping import build_ping_embed
 
 
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class ManualShareCog(commands.Cog):
             snippet=snippet,
             raw_content=raw_content,
             captured_at=message.created_at,
+            direction=direction_for_modality(modality),
         )
 
         inbox = self.bot.get_channel(self.config.inbox_channel_id)
diff --git a/bot/chorus_bot/cogs/thread_ingest.py b/bot/chorus_bot/cogs/thread_ingest.py
index 717c608..6278618 100644
--- a/bot/chorus_bot/cogs/thread_ingest.py
+++ b/bot/chorus_bot/cogs/thread_ingest.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ class ThreadIngestCog(commands.Cog):
             captured_at=parsed["captured_at"],
             discord_message_id=str(thread.id),
             sender_id=parsed["sender_id"],
+            direction=parsed["direction"],
         )
         await thread.send(
             "Logged in Chorus - open the app to fill in details and track this one."
diff --git a/bot/chorus_bot/modality_map.py b/bot/chorus_bot/modality_map.py
index a4421ee..083476a 100644
--- a/bot/chorus_bot/modality_map.py
+++ b/bot/chorus_bot/modality_map.py
@@ -3,8 +3,15 @@ CHANNEL_TO_MODALITY = {
     "voice": "voice",
     "fb-messenger": "fb_messenger",
     "nd-messenger": "nd_messenger",
+    "leads-found": "lead_found",
 }
 
+OUTBOUND_MODALITIES = {"lead_found", "magpie_lead"}
+
 
 def modality_for_channel(channel_name: str) -> str | None:
     return CHANNEL_TO_MODALITY.get(channel_name)
+
+
+def direction_for_modality(modality: str) -> str:
+    return "outbound" if modality in OUTBOUND_MODALITIES else "inbound"
diff --git a/bot/chorus_bot/ping.py b/bot/chorus_bot/ping.py
index e6ec946..8a1dd4f 100644
--- a/bot/chorus_bot/ping.py
+++ b/bot/chorus_bot/ping.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ MODALITY_LABELS = {
     "voice": "Voice",
     "fb_messenger": "FB Messenger",
     "nd_messenger": "ND Messenger",
+    "lead_found": "Found Lead",
+    "magpie_lead": "Magpie Lead",
 }
 
 # Discord's API rejects embed field values of length 0 (min 1, max 1024 chars).
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ def _safe_field_value(value: str) -> str:
 
 def build_ping_embed(
     *, modality: str, sender_id: str | None, snippet: str, raw_content: str,
-    captured_at: datetime,
+    captured_at: datetime, direction: str = "inbound",
 ) -> discord.Embed:
     label = MODALITY_LABELS.get(modality, modality)
     embed = discord.Embed(
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ def build_ping_embed(
         description=snippet,
     )
     embed.add_field(name="modality", value=_safe_field_value(modality), inline=True)
+    embed.add_field(name="direction", value=_safe_field_value(direction), inline=True)
     embed.add_field(name="sender_id", value=_safe_field_value(sender_id or ""), inline=True)
     embed.add_field(
         name="captured_at", value=_safe_field_value(captured_at.isoformat()), inline=True,
@@ -64,9 +67,12 @@ def parse_ping_embed(embed: discord.Embed) -> dict:
     if raw_content == _EMPTY_FIELD_SENTINEL:
         raw_content = ""
 
+    direction = values.get("direction") or "inbound"
+
     return {
         "modality": values["modality"],
         "sender_id": sender_id,
         "raw_content": raw_content,
         "captured_at": datetime.fromisoformat(values["captured_at"]),
+        "direction": direction,
     }
diff --git a/bot/tests/test_manual_share.py b/bot/tests/test_manual_share.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ca7747
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/tests/test_manual_share.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
+import pytest
+import discord
+from chorus_bot.cogs.manual_share import ManualShareCog
+from chorus_bot.ping import parse_ping_embed
+
+
+class _FakeConfig:
+    inbox_channel_id = 111
+    triage_role_id = 222
+
+
+def _make_message(*, channel_name, content="hello", author_bot=False, channel_id=999):
+    message = MagicMock(spec=discord.Message)
+    message.author.bot = author_bot
+    message.channel.id = channel_id
+    message.channel.name = channel_name
+    message.content = content
+    message.created_at = __import__("datetime").datetime(2026, 7, 13, 7, 0, 0)
+    return message
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_leads_found_channel_forwards_with_outbound_direction():
+    bot = MagicMock()
+    inbox = AsyncMock()
+    bot.get_channel.return_value = inbox
+    cog = ManualShareCog(bot, _FakeConfig())
+
+    message = _make_message(channel_name="leads-found", content="Neighbor posting about book giveaway")
+    await cog.on_message(message)
+
+    sent_embed = inbox.send.call_args.kwargs["embed"]
+    parsed = parse_ping_embed(sent_embed)
+    assert parsed["direction"] == "outbound"
+    assert parsed["modality"] == "lead_found"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_existing_modality_channel_still_forwards_with_inbound_direction():
+    bot = MagicMock()
+    inbox = AsyncMock()
+    bot.get_channel.return_value = inbox
+    cog = ManualShareCog(bot, _FakeConfig())
+
+    message = _make_message(channel_name="voice", content="call about donation")
+    await cog.on_message(message)
+
+    sent_embed = inbox.send.call_args.kwargs["embed"]
+    parsed = parse_ping_embed(sent_embed)
+    assert parsed["direction"] == "inbound"
diff --git a/bot/tests/test_modality_map.py b/bot/tests/test_modality_map.py
index 9ae9e06..4b9537c 100644
--- a/bot/tests/test_modality_map.py
+++ b/bot/tests/test_modality_map.py
@@ -15,3 +15,17 @@ def test_unknown_channel_returns_none():
 def test_inbox_and_general_channels_are_not_mapped():
     assert modality_map.modality_for_channel("inbox") is None
     assert modality_map.modality_for_channel("general") is None
+
+
+def test_leads_found_channel_maps_to_lead_found_modality():
+    assert modality_map.modality_for_channel("leads-found") == "lead_found"
+
+
+def test_direction_for_modality_outbound_for_leads():
+    assert modality_map.direction_for_modality("lead_found") == "outbound"
+    assert modality_map.direction_for_modality("magpie_lead") == "outbound"
+
+
+def test_direction_for_modality_inbound_for_everything_else():
+    assert modality_map.direction_for_modality("bh_email") == "inbound"
+    assert modality_map.direction_for_modality("voice") == "inbound"
diff --git a/bot/tests/test_ping.py b/bot/tests/test_ping.py
index e668117..20c0289 100644
--- a/bot/tests/test_ping.py
+++ b/bot/tests/test_ping.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
+import discord
 from chorus_bot import ping
 
 
@@ -90,3 +91,36 @@ def test_build_ping_embed_truncates_long_raw_content():
     raw_content_field = next(f for f in embed.fields if f.name == "raw_content")
     assert len(raw_content_field.value) <= 1024
     assert "truncated" in raw_content_field.value
+
+
+def test_build_and_parse_round_trip_includes_direction():
+    captured_at = datetime(2026, 7, 13, 7, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+    embed = ping.build_ping_embed(
+        modality="lead_found", sender_id=None, snippet="found post",
+        raw_content="Someone posted about donating books on Nextdoor",
+        captured_at=captured_at, direction="outbound",
+    )
+    parsed = ping.parse_ping_embed(embed)
+    assert parsed["direction"] == "outbound"
+
+
+def test_build_ping_embed_direction_defaults_to_inbound():
+    embed = ping.build_ping_embed(
+        modality="bh_email", sender_id="jane@example.com", snippet="hi",
+        raw_content="hi", captured_at=datetime(2026, 7, 13, 7, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc),
+    )
+    parsed = ping.parse_ping_embed(embed)
+    assert parsed["direction"] == "inbound"
+
+
+def test_parse_ping_embed_defaults_direction_when_field_missing():
+    """Regression guard: embeds built before this change have no direction
+    field at all -- parsing one must not raise and must default to inbound."""
+    embed = discord.Embed(title="bh_email", description="hi")
+    embed.add_field(name="modality", value="bh_email", inline=True)
+    embed.add_field(name="sender_id", value="jane@example.com", inline=True)
+    embed.add_field(name="captured_at", value="2026-07-13T07:00:00+00:00", inline=True)
+    embed.add_field(name="raw_content", value="hi", inline=False)
+
+    parsed = ping.parse_ping_embed(embed)
+    assert parsed["direction"] == "inbound"
diff --git a/bot/tests/test_thread_ingest.py b/bot/tests/test_thread_ingest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05b439d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/tests/test_thread_ingest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
+import pytest
+import discord
+from chorus_bot.cogs.thread_ingest import ThreadIngestCog
+from chorus_bot.ping import build_ping_embed
+
+
+class _FakeConfig:
+    inbox_channel_id = 111
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_thread_create_passes_direction_to_backend_client():
+    bot = MagicMock()
+    backend_client = AsyncMock()
+    cog = ThreadIngestCog(bot, _FakeConfig(), backend_client)
+
+    embed = build_ping_embed(
+        modality="lead_found", sender_id=None, snippet="found post",
+        raw_content="Someone posting about book donation",
+        captured_at=__import__("datetime").datetime(2026, 7, 13, 7, 0, 0,
+                                                      tzinfo=__import__("datetime").timezone.utc),
+        direction="outbound",
+    )
+    parent_message = MagicMock()
+    parent_message.embeds = [embed]
+
+    thread = MagicMock(spec=discord.Thread)
+    thread.id = 555
+    thread.parent_id = 111
+    thread.parent.fetch_message = AsyncMock(return_value=parent_message)
+    thread.send = AsyncMock()
+
+    await cog.on_thread_create(thread)
+
+    backend_client.create_item.assert_awaited_once()
+    assert backend_client.create_item.call_args.kwargs["direction"] == "outbound"
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ItemModal.vue b/frontend/src/components/ItemModal.vue
index a1e406a..2be0896 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ItemModal.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ItemModal.vue
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ const followUpDate = ref('')
 
 const DONATION_STAGES = ['new', 'replied', 'pickup_scheduled', 'picked_up', 'logged_in_bookmark']
 const OTHER_STAGES = ['new', 'done']
+const OUTBOUND_STAGES = [
+  'new', 'reviewed', 'outreach_drafted', 'outreach_sent',
+  'replied', 'pickup_scheduled', 'picked_up', 'logged_in_bookmark',
+]
 
 watch(() => props.item, (item) => {
   if (!item) return
@@ -24,6 +28,7 @@ watch(() => props.item, (item) => {
 }, { immediate: true })
 
 function stagesForType() {
+  if (props.item?.direction === 'outbound') return OUTBOUND_STAGES
   if (type.value === 'donation') return DONATION_STAGES
   if (type.value === 'other') return OTHER_STAGES
   return ['new']
diff --git a/frontend/tests/ItemModal.spec.js b/frontend/tests/ItemModal.spec.js
index 855f68b..c3131a6 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/ItemModal.spec.js
+++ b/frontend/tests/ItemModal.spec.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ function makeItem(overrides = {}) {
     stage: 'new',
     notes: '',
     follow_up_date: '',
+    direction: 'inbound',
     ...overrides,
   }
 }
@@ -53,4 +54,28 @@ describe('ItemModal', () => {
 
     expect(wrapper.findAll('select')[1].element.value).toBe('new')
   })
+
+  it('offers outbound stages when item.direction is outbound, regardless of type', () => {
+    const wrapper = mount(ItemModal, {
+      props: { item: makeItem({ direction: 'outbound', type: 'donation', stage: 'new' }) },
+    })
+    const options = wrapper.findAll('select')[1].findAll('option').map((o) => o.element.value)
+    expect(options).toEqual([
+      'new', 'reviewed', 'outreach_drafted', 'outreach_sent',
+      'replied', 'pickup_scheduled', 'picked_up', 'logged_in_bookmark',
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('does not reset an outbound item stage when type changes', async () => {
+    const wrapper = mount(ItemModal, {
+      props: { item: makeItem({ direction: 'outbound', type: 'donation', stage: 'outreach_sent' }) },
+    })
+    const stageSelect = wrapper.findAll('select')[1]
+    expect(stageSelect.element.value).toBe('outreach_sent')
+
+    const typeSelect = wrapper.findAll('select')[0]
+    await typeSelect.setValue('other')
+
+    expect(wrapper.findAll('select')[1].element.value).toBe('outreach_sent')
+  })
 })