One Hundred Nights
    Back to AI Tools
    🔍
    Fundraising & Donor Management

    DonorSearch AI For Non Profits: Predictive Prospect Research

    Spending weeks manually researching major donor prospects only to chase the wrong leads? DonorSearch AI analyzes over 800 data points—from philanthropic giving history to wealth indicators—to automatically identify which supporters in your database are most likely to make a major gift within the next 12 months, with 81% accuracy.

    Visit DonorSearch AIGet Implementation Help

    What It Does (The Problem It Solves)

    Struggling to identify major donor prospects hidden in your database while your development director manually Googles donors one by one? Most nonprofits waste hundreds of hours researching the wrong people—chasing wealthy-looking names who have no connection to your cause, while overlooking committed $100 annual donors who actually have seven-figure capacity and philanthropic history with similar organizations.

    DonorSearch AI solves this by becoming your 24/7 prospect research team. The platform enriches your existing donor database with comprehensive wealth and philanthropy data, then uses machine learning to analyze patterns and predict who is most likely to give—and how much they're capable of giving. Instead of you spending 10 hours researching one prospect, the AI researches your entire database in minutes.

    The platform uses machine learning to:

    • Score every donor's likelihood to give using three custom AI models: acquisition (first-time donors), retention (repeat givers), and upgrades (major gift potential from current supporters)
    • Analyze 800+ wealth and philanthropic indicators including real estate holdings, business affiliations, political donations, foundation giving, nonprofit board memberships, and stock ownership
    • Identify hidden major donors in your existing database who have capacity and affinity but are currently giving small amounts
    • Generate detailed prospect profiles automatically with giving capacity estimates, philanthropic interests, optimal ask amounts, and relationship connection points

    Unlike basic wealth screening that just tells you who has money, DonorSearch AI combines capacity with propensity—identifying donors who are both able and likely to give to your specific organization. It's like having an expert prospect researcher, wealth analyst, and data scientist all working together to prioritize your fundraising pipeline.

    Best For

    Organization Size

    Small to large nonprofits with at least 500 contacts in their database who are ready to build or expand a major gifts program. The platform scales from organizations just starting with prospect research to large institutions managing thousands of donor relationships.

    • Sweet spot: Nonprofits with 2,000-50,000 contacts seeking to identify major gift prospects (typically $1,000-$100,000+ capacity)
    • Also works for: Small organizations with limited staff who need to maximize research efficiency
    • Less ideal for: Organizations with fewer than 500 contacts or those focused exclusively on small-dollar grassroots fundraising

    Best Use Cases

    • Major Gifts Program Launch: Organizations without dedicated prospect researchers who need to identify their first major donor prospects
    • Capital Campaign Preparation: Nonprofits planning capital campaigns who need to identify leadership gift prospects ($25K+ capacity)
    • Donor Upgrade Identification: Organizations with large databases of small donors seeking to identify upgrade potential to mid-level giving ($500-$5,000)
    • Board Member Cultivation: Nonprofits researching potential board members with both philanthropic alignment and financial capacity
    • Lapsed Donor Re-engagement: Organizations wanting to prioritize which lapsed donors to pursue based on capacity and likelihood to return

    Ideal For

    Development Directors, Major Gifts Officers, Executive Directors, and Advancement Teams who own fundraising strategy and donor cultivation but lack dedicated prospect research staff or budget for full-service research firms.

    Key Features for Nonprofits

    AI Prospect Scoring with Three Predictive Models

    Proprietary machine learning analyzes patterns across your donor base to predict giving likelihood with 81% accuracy.

    • Acquisition Model: Identifies prospects most likely to make their first donation from cold/warm lists
    • Retention Model: Predicts which first-time donors will become repeat givers (proven to find repeat donors with 81% accuracy)
    • Upgrades Model: Identifies current donors with capacity and propensity to make substantial one-time gifts of $250+

    800+ Data Point Enrichment

    Automatically appends comprehensive wealth and philanthropic intelligence to every contact in your database.

    • Real estate ownership, property values, and recent transactions
    • Political donations (federal, state, and local campaign contributions)
    • Foundation giving history and board memberships
    • Corporate affiliations, stock holdings, and business ownership
    • Publicly reported charitable gifts to other nonprofits

    Automated Prospect Profiles (ProspectView AI)

    Generate comprehensive, concise prospect reports instantly instead of spending hours compiling research manually.

    • Single-page AI-generated summaries highlighting key giving indicators, capacity estimates, and recommended ask amounts
    • Philanthropic interest analysis based on past giving patterns to similar causes
    • Connection points and relationship mapping (board memberships, shared affiliations, mutual contacts)

    Enhanced CORE: Entry-Level AI Screening

    Point-and-click prospect screening designed for nonprofits without dedicated research staff.

    • Visual dashboards showing donor capacity distribution across your database
    • Standardized predictive models (less customization than full DonorSearch AI, but faster setup)
    • Export prioritized prospect lists for immediate cultivation action

    Donor Affinity & Capacity Analysis

    Go beyond wealth screening to understand both ability and willingness to support your cause.

    • Philanthropic affinity scores based on giving history to organizations with similar missions
    • Capacity ratings from minor ($1,000-$5,000) to principal ($1M+) gift levels
    • Combined capacity + propensity ranking to prioritize outreach (don't waste time on wealthy people with no connection to your cause)

    Rolling 12-Month Gift Predictions

    AI predicts who is most likely to give within the next year, helping you time cultivation activities optimally.

    • Likelihood scores updated continuously as new data becomes available
    • Prioritized action lists showing "hot prospects" to contact this month vs. longer-term cultivation candidates
    • Historical accuracy tracking so you can measure how well predictions align with actual gifts

    Real-World Nonprofit Use Case

    A regional healthcare foundation with 8,000 donors in their database was frustrated by their major gifts program. Their single development director was spending 15-20 hours per week manually researching prospects—Googling names, checking LinkedIn, reviewing public donation records—yet only securing 3-4 major gifts ($10,000+) per year. The board was pressuring leadership to increase major gifts, but the organization didn't have budget to hire a dedicated prospect researcher.

    After implementing DonorSearch AI, the transformation was immediate and dramatic:

    • Identified 127 hidden major gift prospects already in their database—loyal $500-$1,000 annual donors who had seven-figure wealth capacity and philanthropic history with health-related causes
    • Reduced prospect research time from 15 hours to 2 hours per week by using AI-generated ProspectView profiles instead of manual research
    • Increased major gift closures from 4 to 18 in the first year by focusing cultivation efforts on AI-prioritized prospects with both capacity and propensity
    • Secured $1.2M in major gifts (up from $175K the previous year) by asking the right people for the right amounts at the right time
    • Improved board recruitment by identifying prospects with both philanthropic alignment and leadership potential

    The most surprising discovery? Their single largest gift ($250,000) came from a donor who had been giving $500 annually for 12 years—someone they had completely overlooked until the AI flagged her as a top prospect. The platform revealed she served on three healthcare nonprofit boards, had made six-figure gifts to similar organizations, and owned $15M in commercial real estate. Without AI screening, they never would have identified this opportunity.

    The development director reported feeling "liberated" from tedious research work, now spending cultivation time actually building donor relationships rather than compiling spreadsheets. The platform essentially paid for itself with the first major gift, and ROI exceeded 50:1 within the first year.

    Pricing

    Custom Pricing Model

    Based on organization size, database volume, and service level

    DonorSearch AI uses custom pricing tailored to your organization's needs, database size, and which products you choose (full DonorSearch AI with customizable models, Enhanced CORE for entry-level screening, or ProspectView AI for on-demand reporting).

    Typical Pricing Structure:

    • Enhanced CORE (Entry-Level): Starting around $3,000-$8,000 annually for organizations screening 2,000-5,000 contacts
    • DonorSearch AI (Full Platform): Typically $10,000-$30,000+ annually depending on database size and customization needs
    • ProspectView AI: On-demand prospect reports, often bundled or available per-report
    • Setup/onboarding: May include one-time implementation fee depending on complexity

    Important Pricing Notes:

    • •Contact DonorSearch for a free demo and custom quote based on your database size and research needs
    • •Most cost-effective when you have at least 2,000 contacts and are actively pursuing major gifts
    • •Compare cost to hiring dedicated prospect research staff ($50K-$80K+ salary)—platform is typically 5-10x more affordable
    • •ROI often achieved with just 1-2 major gifts identified through the platform
    Request Demo & Custom Pricing Quote

    đź’° Nonprofit Pricing

    DonorSearch AI was built specifically for nonprofits, and all pricing is designed with nonprofit budgets in mind. The platform is used exclusively by charitable organizations, educational institutions, and foundations—there is no commercial/for-profit version with higher pricing.

    How Nonprofit Pricing Works:

    • All organizations are nonprofits, so there's no "discount" to apply—pricing is inherently nonprofit-friendly
    • Flexible pricing tiers based on budget constraints and organizational capacity
    • Entry-level Enhanced CORE product designed specifically for smaller nonprofits with limited research budgets
    • Monthly payment plans available to spread costs across fiscal year

    Cost Comparison: Hiring a full-time prospect researcher typically costs $50,000-$80,000 annually (salary + benefits). DonorSearch AI provides comprehensive research for your entire database at a fraction of that cost—usually $10,000-$30,000/year for full access, with entry-level options starting under $5,000.

    *Pricing information is subject to change. Please verify current pricing directly with DonorSearch AI.

    Learning Curve

    Beginner to Intermediate

    Non-technical staff can generate basic reports within 1-2 hours; full proficiency with advanced features takes 1-2 weeks

    Time to First Value:

    • Initial setup & data upload: 2-4 hours (DonorSearch team typically handles data import and mapping)
    • First prospect screening: 30-60 minutes to run your first screening and generate prioritized prospect lists
    • First prospect profile: 10 minutes to generate and review an AI-powered ProspectView report
    • Full proficiency: 1-2 weeks to understand advanced filtering, custom AI model tuning, and strategic interpretation of results

    Technical Requirements:

    • Ability to export donor data from your CRM (CSV or Excel format)
    • Basic Excel/spreadsheet skills for reviewing results and exporting prospect lists
    • Understanding of fundraising terminology (major gifts, capacity ratings, gift ranges)
    • No coding or technical expertise required—platform is designed for fundraisers, not data scientists

    Support Available:

    • Dedicated onboarding specialist to guide initial setup and data import
    • Live training sessions and webinars on prospect research best practices
    • Help center with video tutorials and step-by-step guides
    • Account managers for strategic consultation and optimization advice
    • Email and phone support for troubleshooting

    Common Pitfall:

    Many nonprofits upload messy donor data (duplicates, inconsistent formatting, missing information) and wonder why AI predictions aren't accurate. The platform is only as good as the data you feed it. Before uploading, spend 2-4 hours cleaning your CRM: deduplicate records, standardize name formatting, ensure email addresses are current, and include all donation history. Clean data = accurate AI predictions. If your CRM is a mess, consider hiring a data cleanup consultant before implementation to maximize the platform's value from day one.

    Integration & Compatibility

    Connects With:

    CRM/Donor Management:

    DonorPerfect (native integration), Bloomerang, Little Green Light, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge, NeonCRM, EveryAction, any CRM that exports to CSV/Excel

    Data Format:

    Accepts CSV, Excel, and direct API integration with select partners. Can work with virtually any donor database that exports standard contact records.

    Special Integration:

    DonorPerfect users benefit from particularly seamless integration as DonorSearch partners directly with DonorPerfect for wealth screening services.

    Platform Availability:

    • Web-based: Works on all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
    • No mobile app: Platform is designed for desktop research workflows (requires larger screens for detailed prospect analysis)
    • Cloud-hosted: No software installation required, access from any internet-connected device

    Data Portability:

    • Full CSV export of all prospect data, scores, and enriched information
    • ProspectView AI reports export to PDF for sharing with team members
    • You own your data—enriched donor information can be imported back into your CRM
    • Minimal vendor lock-in—data and insights are exportable for use elsewhere

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Uncovers hidden major gift prospects: Identifies high-capacity donors already in your database who are currently giving small amounts—often the best major gift prospects
    • Proven 81% accuracy: AI predictions are backed by real performance data, not marketing claims—mature clients see 81% success in identifying repeat donors
    • Massive time savings: Replaces 10-20 hours/week of manual research with instant AI-generated prospect profiles
    • Nonprofit-focused company: Built exclusively for charitable organizations—understands nonprofit workflows and constraints
    • Scalable pricing tiers: Entry-level Enhanced CORE product makes AI prospect research accessible to smaller nonprofits with limited budgets
    • Excellent ROI: Typically pays for itself with 1-2 major gifts identified through the platform

    Cons

    • Custom pricing lacks transparency: No published pricing tiers means you must request a demo and quote—can be frustrating if you want to budget before conversations
    • Requires clean data for accuracy: AI predictions are only as good as your CRM data quality—messy databases need cleanup before implementation
    • Limited value for very small databases: If you have fewer than 500 contacts, may not find enough prospects to justify the investment
    • CRM integration varies: While DonorPerfect integration is seamless, other CRMs may require manual CSV uploads and data mapping
    • Not a replacement for relationship cultivation: The AI tells you who to approach, but you still need to do the actual fundraising work—it's research, not magic

    Alternatives to Consider

    If DonorSearch AI doesn't feel like the right fit, consider:

    iWave (formerly Kindsight)

    Comprehensive prospect research with built-in CRM functionality

    More expensive but includes integrated donor management tools alongside prospect research. Good for organizations wanting an all-in-one platform combining CRM and research. Less sophisticated AI scoring than DonorSearch but broader feature set. Best if you need both CRM and prospect research in a single platform.

    WealthEngine

    Enterprise-grade wealth screening and data append services

    Higher cost with more extensive data coverage (particularly strong on corporate affiliations and business ownership). Better for large institutions and universities with dedicated research staff. More data, less AI-powered predictive modeling. Best for large nonprofits ($50M+ budgets) needing comprehensive wealth intelligence.

    Manual Research (LinkedIn, Google, Foundation Directory)

    Free DIY prospect research using publicly available sources

    $0 cost but requires 10-20 hours per week of staff time. Good for very small nonprofits (under 1,000 contacts) not yet ready for paid tools. No AI, no automation, no comprehensive data enrichment. Best for organizations with more time than money and very limited major gift pipelines (under 20 active prospects).

    Why you might choose DonorSearch AI instead:

    Superior AI-powered predictive modeling with 81% proven accuracy, combined with 800+ data point enrichment and affordable entry-level pricing tiers. DonorSearch AI strikes the best balance between comprehensiveness (more data than manual research), intelligence (better AI than WealthEngine), affordability (less expensive than iWave), and nonprofit-specific design. If you want powerful prospect research without enterprise complexity or cost, DonorSearch AI is the strongest choice for most mid-sized nonprofits.

    Getting Started

    Your First Week with DonorSearch AI

    Step 1: Request Demo and Assess Your Needs (1 hour)

    Visit DonorSearch and request a personalized demo. Before the demo, prepare:

    • Approximate size of your donor database (total contacts)
    • Current CRM/donor management system you use
    • Major gift goals for the year (number and dollar amount)
    • Current prospect research process (manual, none, or other tools)
    • Budget range for prospect research tools

    Pro tip: During the demo, ask to see examples relevant to your organization size and cause area. Request to see how the AI handles databases similar to yours in complexity and volume.

    Step 2: Clean Your CRM Data (2-6 hours)

    Before uploading data to DonorSearch AI, invest time cleaning your donor database:

    • Deduplicate donor records (merge John Smith and J. Smith into one record)
    • Standardize name formatting (consistent capitalization, full names vs. initials)
    • Verify and update email addresses and mailing addresses
    • Ensure complete donation history is associated with each donor record
    • Remove test records, deceased donors, and obvious duplicates

    Pro tip: This is the most important step. Clean data = accurate AI predictions. If your database is a mess, consider hiring a data cleanup consultant ($500-$2,000 typically) or using data hygiene tools before uploading to DonorSearch. The AI can only work with what you give it.

    Step 3: Upload Data and Initial Screening (2-4 hours)

    Work with DonorSearch's onboarding team to import your data and run your first screening:

    • Export donor data from your CRM (CSV or direct API connection if available)
    • Upload to DonorSearch platform with support from onboarding team
    • Map fields correctly (ensure names, addresses, emails, donation history align properly)
    • Run initial AI screening and review top-scored prospects
    • Generate 5-10 ProspectView AI reports on your highest-priority prospects to test the platform

    Pro tip: Don't be surprised if the AI identifies prospects you've never heard of. Review the top 20-30 scored donors carefully—many will be "hidden gems" with high capacity who have been overlooked.

    Step 4: Create Action Plan and Start Cultivation (Ongoing)

    Use AI insights to build your major gifts pipeline and start outreach:

    • Export your top 50 AI-scored prospects into a cultivation tracking spreadsheet or pipeline management tool
    • Assign prospects to development staff based on relationship connections and capacity levels
    • Use ProspectView AI reports to prepare for initial cultivation meetings (research talking points, connection opportunities)
    • Set monthly check-ins to review new prospects as the AI continuously updates predictions based on engagement
    • Track conversion rates: which AI-identified prospects become donors? Use this feedback to refine your approach

    Pro tip: Start with prospects scored in the top 10-20% by the AI. Don't try to cultivate everyone at once. Focus on your best leads first, prove the ROI, then expand your major gifts pipeline as capacity allows.

    Quick Win: Your First 24 Hours

    Want to see immediate value during your trial or first week? Try this simple experiment:

    1. Upload your donor database (30 minutes)
    2. Run the Upgrades AI model to identify current small donors with major gift capacity (5 minutes)
    3. Generate ProspectView AI reports for your top 10 upgrade prospects (20 minutes)
    4. Pick 2-3 prospects to research manually using Google/LinkedIn to verify AI accuracy (30 minutes)

    What you'll learn: Whether the AI is accurately identifying hidden prospects you've overlooked. Most nonprofits discover at least 3-5 donors in their top 10 who have major gift capacity they never knew about. Time invested: 90 minutes. Potential insight: Years of missed major gift opportunities now uncovered.

    🤝 Need Implementation Support?

    Setting up DonorSearch AI isn't just about uploading data—it's about strategic data cleanup, interpreting AI insights correctly, building major gifts pipelines, and training your team to use prospect intelligence effectively. If you'd like expert guidance implementing DonorSearch AI and translating insights into major gifts, we're here to help.

    One Hundred Nights offers implementation support services including CRM data cleanup, AI interpretation training, major gifts pipeline development, and ongoing prospect research consulting.

    Contact Us to Learn More →

    Resources

    Official Resources

    Related One Hundred Nights Articles

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is DonorSearch AI free for nonprofits?

    DonorSearch AI is not free, but offers nonprofit-focused pricing tailored to charitable organizations. Entry-level Enhanced CORE pricing typically starts around $3,000-$8,000 annually for smaller databases, while full DonorSearch AI ranges from $10,000-$30,000+ depending on database size and customization. This is significantly more affordable than hiring a full-time prospect researcher ($50K-$80K salary) and typically pays for itself with 1-2 major gifts identified through the platform.

    How accurate is DonorSearch AI's predictive modeling?

    DonorSearch AI achieves 81% accuracy in identifying repeat donors using custom AI scores, according to their published performance data from mature client implementations. Accuracy improves as the AI learns from your specific donor patterns over time, and works best when fed clean, comprehensive donor data. AI predictions are most accurate for organizations with at least 2,000 contacts and 2+ years of donation history.

    Does DonorSearch AI work with my CRM system?

    DonorSearch AI works with virtually any CRM system that can export donor data to CSV or Excel format. It has particularly seamless integration with DonorPerfect (native partner integration) and supports Bloomerang, Salesforce, Blackbaud, NeonCRM, and others. Even if your CRM isn't directly integrated, you can export contacts and upload them to DonorSearch for screening and enrichment.

    What's the difference between DonorSearch AI and regular wealth screening?

    Traditional wealth screening tells you who has money (capacity). DonorSearch AI tells you who is likely to give to YOUR organization (capacity + propensity). The platform combines 800+ wealth indicators with machine learning models that analyze philanthropic behavior, giving patterns, and affinity signals to predict which prospects are both able and willing to support your cause. This dramatically reduces wasted time pursuing wealthy people with no interest in your mission.

    How long does it take to implement DonorSearch AI?

    Initial setup and data upload takes 2-4 hours with support from DonorSearch's onboarding team. You can generate your first prospect screening and ProspectView AI reports within the first day. Full team proficiency with advanced features typically takes 1-2 weeks, and the AI model continues improving its predictions over the first 30-90 days as it learns your donor patterns.

    Is DonorSearch AI worth it for small nonprofits?

    DonorSearch AI works best for nonprofits with at least 2,000 contacts and active major gifts goals. If you have fewer than 500 contacts or aren't pursuing major gifts ($1,000+ donations), the platform may be overkill. However, the entry-level Enhanced CORE product is designed for smaller organizations and can be cost-effective if you're building a major gifts program. Compare the annual cost to the value of identifying just one or two major donors—if one $10,000 gift would justify the investment, it's likely worth exploring.

    Ready to Uncover Hidden Major Gift Prospects?

    Join thousands of nonprofits using DonorSearch AI to identify major donor prospects with 81% accuracy, reduce research time by 80%, and build stronger major gifts pipelines. Request a personalized demo to see how AI can transform your prospect research.

    Request Demo & PricingGet Implementation Support