Quick Overview
- 1#1: DonorSearch - Delivers wealth screening, philanthropic giving data, and donor analytics to identify top prospects for nonprofits.
- 2#2: iWave - Provides comprehensive prospect research with integrated wealth, capacity, and affinity data for donor identification.
- 3#3: WealthEngine - AI-driven platform for donor wealth screening, predictive modeling, and personalized fundraising insights.
- 4#4: Blackbaud Prospecting - Enterprise-grade donor research tool offering wealth ratings, philanthropy records, and CRM integration.
- 5#5: Arist - AI-powered fundraising intelligence platform that automates donor research and opportunity scoring.
- 6#6: Totem - Generative AI tool for uncovering donor connections, motivations, and personalized outreach strategies.
- 7#7: Gravyty - Prospect research and pipeline management software focused on major gift donor cultivation.
- 8#8: DonorPerfect - Fundraising CRM with integrated prospect research, wealth screening, and donor management features.
- 9#9: Bloomerang - Donor management platform with built-in prospect research and wealth screening capabilities.
- 10#10: Double the Donation - Matching gift research tool that identifies corporate matching opportunities for donors.
Tools were selected based on features (wealth data, predictive modeling, integration), data accuracy, user-friendliness, and overall value, ensuring they deliver robust support for effective fundraising strategies.
Comparison Table
Donor research software is essential for identifying and engaging potential supporters, and this table compares key tools like DonorSearch, iWave, WealthEngine, Blackbaud Prospecting, Arist, and more. Readers will gain insights into features, usability, and suitability to find the right software for their fundraising needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DonorSearch Delivers wealth screening, philanthropic giving data, and donor analytics to identify top prospects for nonprofits. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | iWave Provides comprehensive prospect research with integrated wealth, capacity, and affinity data for donor identification. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | WealthEngine AI-driven platform for donor wealth screening, predictive modeling, and personalized fundraising insights. | enterprise | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | Blackbaud Prospecting Enterprise-grade donor research tool offering wealth ratings, philanthropy records, and CRM integration. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.3/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 5 | Arist AI-powered fundraising intelligence platform that automates donor research and opportunity scoring. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 6 | Totem Generative AI tool for uncovering donor connections, motivations, and personalized outreach strategies. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.2/10 |
| 7 | Gravyty Prospect research and pipeline management software focused on major gift donor cultivation. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 8 | DonorPerfect Fundraising CRM with integrated prospect research, wealth screening, and donor management features. | enterprise | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 9 | Bloomerang Donor management platform with built-in prospect research and wealth screening capabilities. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 10 | Double the Donation Matching gift research tool that identifies corporate matching opportunities for donors. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
Delivers wealth screening, philanthropic giving data, and donor analytics to identify top prospects for nonprofits.
Provides comprehensive prospect research with integrated wealth, capacity, and affinity data for donor identification.
AI-driven platform for donor wealth screening, predictive modeling, and personalized fundraising insights.
Enterprise-grade donor research tool offering wealth ratings, philanthropy records, and CRM integration.
AI-powered fundraising intelligence platform that automates donor research and opportunity scoring.
Generative AI tool for uncovering donor connections, motivations, and personalized outreach strategies.
Prospect research and pipeline management software focused on major gift donor cultivation.
Fundraising CRM with integrated prospect research, wealth screening, and donor management features.
Donor management platform with built-in prospect research and wealth screening capabilities.
Matching gift research tool that identifies corporate matching opportunities for donors.
DonorSearch
specializedDelivers wealth screening, philanthropic giving data, and donor analytics to identify top prospects for nonprofits.
The largest verified philanthropic giving database, providing detailed gift histories from 1.5 million+ donors totaling $500B+ in contributions
DonorSearch is a premier donor research platform designed for nonprofits to identify and prioritize major gift prospects through advanced wealth screening and philanthropy data. It aggregates billions of data points from sources like SEC filings, real estate records, giving histories, and corporate affiliations to deliver verified insights on donor capacity, affinity, and inclination. The tool includes customizable scoring models, prospect management, and seamless CRM integrations to streamline fundraising strategies.
Pros
- Vast, verified database with over 20 million philanthropists and billions of data points
- Advanced analytics including iWave Score and custom propensity models
- Robust integrations with leading CRMs like Salesforce and Blackbaud
Cons
- High cost may deter very small nonprofits
- Steep initial learning curve for advanced features
- Pricing lacks transparency without a quote
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits and higher education institutions pursuing major gifts and capital campaigns.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing starting at around $5,000/year for basic screening, scaling with volume and features; enterprise plans available.
iWave
specializedProvides comprehensive prospect research with integrated wealth, capacity, and affinity data for donor identification.
iWave Score: A proprietary AI-powered metric that holistically rates prospects by blending wealth capacity, philanthropic affinity, and network connections in one actionable score.
iWave is a comprehensive donor research and prospecting platform tailored for nonprofits, aggregating over 5 billion data points from public records, wealth indicators, SEC filings, and philanthropic histories to identify high-potential donors. It offers wealth screening, custom prospecting, donor affinity analysis, and relationship mapping to streamline fundraising efforts. The platform integrates seamlessly with popular CRMs like Salesforce and Raiser's Edge, providing actionable insights through AI-driven scoring and dashboards.
Pros
- Vast data universe with 40+ billion records for unmatched prospect coverage
- Proprietary scoring system combining wealth capacity, affinity, and connections
- Robust integrations with major CRMs and customizable reporting tools
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for very small nonprofits
- Occasional data inaccuracies requiring verification
- Advanced features have a moderate learning curve
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits needing in-depth wealth screening and prospect pipeline management for major gift fundraising.
Pricing
Custom quotes based on organization size and usage; typically $5,000-$25,000+ annually for core plans, with enterprise options higher.
WealthEngine
enterpriseAI-driven platform for donor wealth screening, predictive modeling, and personalized fundraising insights.
Wealth360° predictive analytics, which combines capacity, affinity, and urgency scores into a single donor potential rating
WealthEngine is a comprehensive donor research platform designed for nonprofits, offering wealth screening, philanthropic intelligence, and predictive analytics to identify high-value prospects. It draws from a database of over 500 million profiles, providing insights into net worth, real estate holdings, giving history, and affinity scores. The tool integrates with CRMs like Salesforce and Blackbaud, enabling seamless data enrichment and donor pipeline management.
Pros
- Extensive data coverage across wealth indicators, philanthropy, and demographics
- Advanced AI-driven scoring for donor capacity, affinity, and urgency
- Robust integrations with major nonprofit CRMs and fundraising tools
Cons
- High cost suitable mainly for mid-to-large organizations
- Steep learning curve for full utilization of advanced features
- Data accuracy can vary depending on source freshness
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits with sophisticated fundraising teams needing deep wealth intelligence and predictive modeling.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $10,000+ annually for basic screening, scaling to enterprise tiers in the six figures.
Blackbaud Prospecting
enterpriseEnterprise-grade donor research tool offering wealth ratings, philanthropy records, and CRM integration.
Machine learning-driven prospect scoring that combines wealth, affinity, and giving propensity for prioritized donor pipelines
Blackbaud Prospecting is a comprehensive donor research platform tailored for nonprofits, specializing in prospect identification, wealth screening, and donor analytics. It aggregates data from multiple sources to score potential donors based on capacity, affinity, and propensity to give. The tool excels in integrating with Blackbaud's ecosystem, such as Raiser's Edge NXT, to streamline fundraising workflows and support major gift strategies.
Pros
- Extensive data sources for accurate wealth screening and modeling
- Seamless integration with Blackbaud CRM for efficient workflows
- Advanced predictive analytics for donor propensity and capacity scoring
Cons
- High pricing suitable only for larger organizations
- Steep learning curve and complex interface
- Limited customization outside Blackbaud ecosystem
Best For
Enterprise-level nonprofits with Blackbaud CRM seeking robust, data-driven prospect research for major giving programs.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $10,000+ annually based on user count and data volume.
Arist
specializedAI-powered fundraising intelligence platform that automates donor research and opportunity scoring.
AI-generated hyper-personalized videos that incorporate specific donor insights for unmatched engagement
Arist (getarist.com) is an AI-powered platform tailored for nonprofits to create hyper-personalized donor communications like emails and videos. It analyzes existing donor data from CRM integrations to uncover insights for tailored messaging that enhances engagement and fundraising outcomes. While it excels in personalization driven by donor research, it focuses more on outreach execution than comprehensive prospecting or wealth screening.
Pros
- AI-driven donor insights for quick personalization
- Seamless integrations with CRMs like Salesforce and Neon
- Fast generation of engaging videos and emails
Cons
- Lacks deep external data enrichment like wealth screening
- Dependent on quality of imported CRM data
- Higher pricing limits accessibility for small orgs
Best For
Mid-sized nonprofits with solid CRM data looking to supercharge donor stewardship through personalized outreach.
Pricing
Starter at $99/mo (up to 1,000 contacts), Pro at $299/mo (up to 10,000), Enterprise custom.
Totem
specializedGenerative AI tool for uncovering donor connections, motivations, and personalized outreach strategies.
Proprietary database of 1.2M+ DAF accounts with real-time asset values, grant histories, and donor matching capabilities
Totem is a specialized donor research platform focused on donor-advised funds (DAFs), enabling nonprofits to search for donors with DAFs, analyze their giving histories, and identify grant opportunities. It provides real-time data on DAF assets, distributions, and philanthropic patterns across a vast database. The tool integrates with CRMs like Salesforce and Blackbaud, helping fundraising teams prioritize high-potential DAF prospects.
Pros
- Massive DAF database with over 1.2 million accounts and detailed giving data
- Real-time alerts and CRM integrations for efficient workflows
- Actionable insights tailored specifically to DAF prospecting
Cons
- Limited scope to DAFs only, lacking broader wealth screening or philanthropy data
- Custom pricing lacks transparency and may be costly for smaller organizations
- Steeper learning curve for advanced analytics features
Best For
Mid-sized to large nonprofits focused on major gifts from DAF holders who need specialized intelligence to supplement general donor research tools.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on usage and organization size, typically starting at $5,000+ annually; contact for demo and quote.
Gravyty
specializedProspect research and pipeline management software focused on major gift donor cultivation.
Proprietary Gravyty Score combining wealth capacity, philanthropy history, and donor affinity for precise prospect prioritization
Gravyty is a donor research platform designed for nonprofits to identify and prioritize major gift prospects through wealth screening, philanthropy data, and real estate ownership insights. It aggregates verified data from public records, SEC filings, and proprietary sources to provide actionable donor profiles and affinity scoring. The tool integrates with CRMs like Salesforce and offers prospect management features to streamline fundraising pipelines.
Pros
- Highly accurate wealth screening with real-time data updates
- Seamless CRM integrations for efficient workflows
- Comprehensive philanthropy and affinity insights
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small nonprofits
- Limited advanced analytics compared to top competitors
- Customization options are somewhat restricted
Best For
Mid-sized nonprofits focused on major gifts that need reliable, verified donor intelligence without extensive in-house research.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on organization size and screening volume; typically starts around $5,000-$10,000 annually for base plans.
DonorPerfect
enterpriseFundraising CRM with integrated prospect research, wealth screening, and donor management features.
Integrated wealth screening and prospect scoring that populates directly into donor records for streamlined pipeline management
DonorPerfect is a cloud-based fundraising CRM primarily designed for donor management, with integrated donor research tools like wealth screening, prospect identification, and giving analytics through partnerships with data providers. It enables nonprofits to enrich donor profiles with wealth indicators, philanthropic history, and capacity ratings directly within the CRM workflow. While not a standalone research platform, its research features support targeted prospecting alongside comprehensive fundraising operations.
Pros
- Seamless integration of research data into core donor management
- User-friendly interface with mobile access
- Robust reporting and segmentation for prospects
Cons
- Limited depth in advanced research analytics compared to specialized tools
- Research features require add-on integrations and extra costs
- Customization can be complex for non-technical users
Best For
Mid-sized nonprofits needing integrated donor management and basic research in one platform.
Pricing
Starts at $99/month for basic CRM (billed annually), with research add-ons and integrations adding $50-200/month; custom enterprise pricing available.
Bloomerang
enterpriseDonor management platform with built-in prospect research and wealth screening capabilities.
Integrated iWave wealth screening directly within donor profiles for quick prospect prioritization
Bloomerang is a cloud-based donor management CRM with integrated donor research tools, including wealth screening, philanthropic history, and affinity scoring powered by iWave. It enables nonprofits to identify high-potential donors by analyzing wealth indicators, past giving, and engagement data within a unified platform. The software combines prospect research with donor tracking, reporting, and segmentation to streamline fundraising efforts.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with seamless CRM-research integration
- Affordable for small nonprofits with strong engagement scoring
- Reliable wealth screening and philanthropic data via iWave partnership
Cons
- Less advanced analytics than specialized research tools like DonorSearch
- Research depth limited without additional integrations
- Pricing scales quickly with contact volume
Best For
Small to mid-sized nonprofits seeking an easy-to-use, all-in-one platform for basic donor research and management.
Pricing
Starts at $119/month (up to 500 contacts), with tiers at $159 (1K), $199 (2.5K), up to custom enterprise pricing.
Double the Donation
specializedMatching gift research tool that identifies corporate matching opportunities for donors.
Real-time matching gift eligibility lookup via embeddable widgets on donation pages
Double the Donation is a specialized donor research tool focused on identifying corporate matching gift opportunities for nonprofits. It maintains the largest database of over 30,000 matching gift programs and offers embeddable widgets, APIs, and integrations to check donor eligibility in real-time during the donation process. The platform also provides automated tools like 360MatchPro for follow-up marketing and claim submission to maximize matching funds.
Pros
- Extensive database of matching gift programs from thousands of employers
- Seamless integrations with donation forms, CRMs, and fundraising platforms
- Free basic tools including search widgets and eligibility checks
Cons
- Narrow focus on matching gifts rather than comprehensive donor prospecting or wealth screening
- Advanced automation and marketing features require paid upgrades
- Effectiveness relies on donors providing accurate employer information
Best For
Nonprofits seeking to increase revenue by automating corporate matching gift identification and claims.
Pricing
Free for basic widgets and searches; premium 360MatchPro plans start at $999/year, scaled by donation volume and features.
Conclusion
The top 10 donor research tools deliver powerful solutions, with DonorSearch standing out as the top choice—boasting wealth screening, philanthropic data, and analytics to identify key prospects. iWave and WealthEngine follow closely, offering integrated data, AI insights, and personalized insights respectively, making them strong alternatives for diverse organizational needs. Together, these tools equip nonprofits to strengthen fundraising strategies.
Take the first step toward more effective donor outreach: explore DonorSearch to leverage its robust capabilities and elevate your nonprofit's efforts.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison