Prospect research & wealth screening
DonorSearch
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DonorSearch is prospect-research software built on a specific bet: a person’s record of actual giving predicts future gifts better than assets do. Pricing is quoted per organization; commonly reported entry figures run about $4,000-$6,000 a year, with per-record screening options for smaller projects. Fundraisers comparing screeners tend to describe it as pricey but readable and genuinely usable.
Who it fits
Development teams that already run cultivation and want to prioritize by proven generosity. Veteran researchers weight demonstrated philanthropy over luxury indicators, and DonorSearch productized that thinking. If your CRM is on its integration list, scores land where gift officers already work, which is most of the practical value.
Pricing
| Route (reported) | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Entry subscription | ~$4,000-$6,000/yr |
| Standard | ~$7,000-$10,000/yr |
| Per-record screening | ~$1-$2 per record |
Plans are quoted; the sales conversation will price your seat count and screening volume.
What it costs
DonorSearch quotes per organization, and the figure tracks the size of the file you screen.
| Engagement | Reported |
|---|---|
| Pay-per-record screen | ~$1-$2 per record |
| Small file, ~5,000 records | ~$4,000/yr |
| 10,000-50,000 records | ~$6,000-$12,000/yr |
| Enterprise | ~$15,000-$22,000/yr |
A one-off per-record screen is the cheaper way to test the data before committing to a year. Clean the file first, since you are paying by the record either way.
How it compares
Kindsight balances wealth indicators with philanthropy data and posts the category’s top satisfaction scores. WealthEngine is the wealth-modeling specialist for large-list triage. DonorSearch is the giving-history specialist, and the one users call easiest to read.
Bottom line
Confirm your CRM integration during the demo, and ask them to screen a sample of donors you already know well. If the scores match your instincts on people you can verify, that’s the trust you need before turning it loose on the rest of the file.
Strengths
- Leads with demonstrated philanthropy, not just wealth markers
- Often described as the most readable, usable screener in the category
- Integrations push scores directly into major donor CRMs
Other options
- Want capacity and wealth indicators weighted heavily? Kindsight is transparent about how its scores are built, which makes them easier to defend in a portfolio meeting. Read our Kindsight (iWave) write-up →
- Not ready for an annual contract? Buy the first screen as a consulting project, around $4,000-$5,000, and subscribe once your team is demonstrably working the list.
- No one owns major gifts yet? Screening only pays when a named person turns the output into visits.
Keep comparing
DonorSearch head to head
Already on DonorSearch and shopping to replace it? DonorSearch alternatives covers why shops leave, what to move to, and when staying put is the right call.
We recommend DonorSearch to shops leaving iWave (Kindsight) and WealthEngine.