DonorScope

Overview

DonorScope is a web-based prospect research platform for nonprofits looking to identify major-gift donors. It is best suited to organizations that work from geographic searches or existing donor lists. Its strongest appeal is pairing donor prospecting with free foundation records, though the annual subscription and transaction charges make it less compelling for teams with occasional needs.

Key features

Search and buy donor prospects

Search for charitable givers with a net worth of $1,000,000 or more by ZIP code, multiple ZIP codes, or radius, then narrow the results with filters. DonorScope provides a custom prospect count before you buy names and contact information for download. Paying only for records purchased gives teams control over the size of a search, but the record price varies with the criteria and availability, so the subscription is only part of the cost.

Enrich existing lists

Upload an existing prospect list to check for wealth overlays and purchase appended data. Accepted inputs are first and last name with city, state, and ZIP, or first and last name with email. Appendable fields include net worth, income range, home value, marital status, children, home ownership, length of residence, business ownership, education, occupation, gender, and age range. Appended data can be imported back into an existing database, which makes the feature more useful for teams with an established prospect workflow. The $350 append minimum, however, is a significant hurdle for a small list or occasional enrichment project.

Foundation records, training, and data

Foundation records can be searched and downloaded free of charge, a practical benefit for nonprofits pursuing grants alongside individual gifts. The training system covers list compilation, segmentation, data management, and prospect research through tutorials, video instruction, and audio trainers. DonorScope says its net-worth model draws on credit reports, deeds, tax assessor files, U.S. Census data, mail-order transactions, and product registrations; it says the data is updated monthly, averaging 200,000 modifications every 30 days and about 2,500,000 records annually. Those update figures describe the provider's process, not a guarantee that every prospect record will be current.

Pricing

DonorScope uses a freemium model, but its free offering is limited to foundation records: the annual subscription plan costs $998 a year. New donor names and addresses start as low as .26¢ /record, emails cost .06/record, phone numbers cost .06/record, and appended data starts as low as .35¢ /Record. The append minimum order is $350. Donor records are charged only when purchased, with price varying according to search criteria and record availability.

The annual plan is the fit for nonprofits that expect to use donor searches, screening, or list enrichment regularly and can budget for the subscription plus data purchases. It offers wealth screening, affinity screening, and CRM integration. Organizations that only need foundation records can use those searches and downloads without charge; those needing purchased donor records or enrichment should weigh the subscription against their likely usage. The annual term is a meaningful commitment, and the $350 append minimum can make one-off list projects expensive.

Platforms

DonorScope is available on the web. The service lists wealth screening, affinity screening, and CRM integration. The homepage provides an email contact for help.

Who it's for

DonorScope suits nonprofits that need geographically targeted major-gift prospect searches, want to enrich an existing list with wealth and demographic fields, or can make use of free foundation records and research training. It is a weaker fit for budget-conscious organizations with sporadic data needs: donor records carry additional charges, the subscription is annual, and append orders start at $350.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free searchable and downloadable foundation records give grant-seeking teams a no-cost research resource.
• Pros: Geographic search, filters, and a custom count before purchase let fundraisers scope prospect buys before committing to records.
• Pros: A broad set of appendable fields and database import support make list enrichment relevant to teams already managing prospect data.
• Cons: The $998 a year subscription is only the starting cost for donor data, which is priced separately per record.
• Cons: The $350 append minimum can outweigh the value of enriching a small or infrequently used list.
• Cons: Donor record prices depend on criteria and availability, making total search cost less predictable in advance.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Nonprofit Donor Prospecting Software. Hatch is worth considering if a free entry point matters: its free plan includes 50 enrichment profiles, five QuickSearch uses in the first month, one seat, and 50 Sir Hatch drafts per month, but no Elevated Profiles. Code-fi may suit teams seeking unlimited access to its tools, data, and knowledge support services, with annual pricing varying by team size.

DonorAtlas is an option for organizations seeking an enterprise plan with unlimited searches and donor profile views, enterprise support, MCP server access, SSO, SCIM, and role-based access; pricing is custom. DonorTrends is another paid alternative for fundraising reports, analysis, and advice. GivingDNA uses fees and subscription terms set in an applicable MSA or Task Order. Insightful Philanthropy may fit teams whose pricing preference is based on contribution level and team size rather than seats or record counts. Orbit is a paid alternative with a free trial. Windfall Wealth Screening is a paid option with pricing based on needs and a demo request.

Verdict

Choose DonorScope if your nonprofit needs major-gift prospect searches, list enrichment, or free foundation records alongside screening and training. Look elsewhere if the $998 a year subscription, per-record charges, or $350 append minimum does not fit your budget.