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DonorSearch Costs $600+/Year — But It Can't Collect Donations
Zeffy handles donations, events, and donor tracking in one free platform. No extra tools needed.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
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DonorSearch
Zeffy VS DonorSearch
Pricing
Zeffy:
$
0.
DonorSearch: 
$1,200+/year.
for prospect research
Processing fees
DonorSearch:
N/A.
No processing fees — DonorSearch is a donor research and wealth screening platform, not a payment processor.
Platform fees
Zeffy:
$
0.
Zeffy never takes a cut. Unlike platforms that skim 3–5%, you keep 100% of every donation.
DonorSearch:
$600/year.
Annual subscription: Silver $600/year (750 API calls), Gold $1,140/year (1,500 API calls), Platinum $1,740/year (3,000 API calls). Custom pricing reported around $4,000/year for some packages.
Monthly fees
Zeffy:
$
0/month.
No subscriptions, no paywalls. Every org, big or small, gets full access for free.
DonorSearch:
N/A.
No monthly fees — DonorSearch uses annual subscription pricing only.
Other fees
Zeffy:
$
0.
We've never charged a single cent to nonprofits and we never will.
DonorSearch:
Varies.
No setup fee. Discounted pricing via partners (e.g., INN members: $1,000/year for 12 months, ~60% savings). Some integrations like Eleo offer bundled pricing at $240/year. DonorSearch AI has custom pricing based on organization needs.
Pricing transparency
Zeffy:
10/10.
No platform fees, no credit card fees, no hidden fees, no fees period!
DonorSearch:
3/10.
No public pricing page. Must request a demo to learn costs; fees only available via third-party sites.
Value for money
Zeffy:
5/5.
450+ reviews on Capterra. All-in-one fundraising, zero fees, unbeatable value.
DonorSearch:
N/A.
Features
Zeffy:
5/5.
No training needed. Built for busy nonprofit teams, not tech pros. Launch a campaign in under 30 minutes.
DonorSearch:
N/A.
Prospect research tool, not fundraising software - no donation forms, events, or payment processing
Donations
Zeffy: 
Donations without the cut. Custom forms, tax receipts, donor tracking — all fee-free.
DonorSearch:
Donation forms available through integrations only - requires connecting third-party tools to accept gifts
Ticketing
Zeffy:
Sell tickets, check in guests, track sales — and keep 100%. No fees. No fine print.
DonorSearch:
No event ticketing features - focused on prospect research and donor intelligence, not event management
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Teams or individuals launch fundraising pages in minutes. Track progress, keep 100%. No fees.
DonorSearch:
No peer-to-peer fundraising - provides donor insights but no campaign or fundraising page tools
Auctions
Zeffy:
Run auctions without giving up a percentage. List items, track bids, collect payments — all fee-free.
DonorSearch:
No auction tools - DonorSearch is a prospect research and wealth screening platform, not fundraising software
Raffles
Zeffy:
Host online raffles and 50/50s. Track sales, set ticket limits, stay compliant — all without paying a cent.
DonorSearch:
No raffle or lottery tools - built for donor screening and wealth data, not fundraising campaigns
Online Store
Zeffy:
Skip the tool sprawl. Sell merch and manage your store in one place — no fees, no add-ons.
DonorSearch:
No online store or product sales - designed for donor research and analytics, not transactions
Memberships
Zeffy:
Automate memberships with no per-member fees. Dues go straight to your org — perfect for clubs, alumni, and supporters.
DonorSearch:
No membership management - focuses on donor prospecting and wealth data, not member programs
Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Ditch the expensive CRM. Track donations, send thank-yous, and build donor loyalty — all fee-free.
DonorSearch:
Prospect research with wealth screening and philanthropic data - integrates with your existing CRM
Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Manage contacts and send newsletters from the same place you fundraise. Unlimited sends, no fees.
DonorSearch:
No email marketing tools - data enrichment platform only, requires separate email system
Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Accept donations, ticket sales, and payments — all 100% fee-free. No cuts, no hidden fees, ever.
DonorSearch:
No payment processing - research and analytics platform only, requires separate donation system
Payment Methods
Zeffy:
All-in-one fundraising: donations, events, memberships, email, and donor CRM — 100% free.
DonorSearch:
No payment processing — DonorSearch is a prospect research tool and does not process donations or payments. It offers no fundraising checkout or payment collection features.
Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Accept all major credit cards with zero processing fees. Zeffy covers the cost — you keep 100% of every donation.
DonorSearch:
No payment processing — DonorSearch doesn't accept credit card donations or provide payment collection tools.
Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
One-tap donations and tickets with Apple Pay & Google Pay. No fees, just smooth mobile checkouts.
DonorSearch:
No digital wallet support — DonorSearch doesn't handle Apple Pay or Google Pay and offers no payment processing capabilities.
ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Accept bank transfers with zero fees. Full donation amounts go straight to your mission.
DonorSearch:
No payment capabilities — DonorSearch identifies potential donors but cannot process ACH or bank transfer gifts.
Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Anyone on your team can take payments from their phone. No card reader, no fees, no friction.
DonorSearch:
No in-person payment tools — DonorSearch is strictly a research platform and has no native Tap to Pay or mobile card acceptance.
Support
Zeffy:
5/5.
Real humans, real fast. Free email and phone support — no bots, no paywalls, no runaround.
DonorSearch:
N/A.
Support access varies by subscription tier - priority help and training resources reserved for paid plan subscribers.
Help Center
Zeffy:
Searchable help docs, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides — all free, all the time.
DonorSearch:
Comprehensive knowledge base with articles and FAQs — some advanced guides and training resources are limited to paid subscribers.
Email Support
Zeffy:
Email us anytime. Most questions answered within hours — not days.
DonorSearch:
Email support available; response times and availability depend on subscription tier, with priority responses for paid plans.
Phone Support
Zeffy:
Need to talk? Call us. Real support from real people who understand nonprofits.
DonorSearch:
Phone support available during business hours but is generally limited to paid plan subscribers.
Onboarding
Zeffy:
Get set up in under 30 minutes. No training required — but we're here if you need us.
DonorSearch:
Dedicated onboarding and setup assistance are offered for enterprise or paid plans, while standard users rely on self-service resources.
Community
Zeffy:
Join thousands of nonprofits sharing tips, templates, and best practices.
DonorSearch:
No public community forum or user groups available; support is handled through official channels and paid programs.
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Research tools don't raise money — fundraising tools do
💰
Research tools don't raise money — fundraising tools do
DonorSearch finds prospects, but you still need separate tools to collect donations, run events, and manage donors. Zeffy does it all, for free.
🎁
Research tools can't collect gifts — you need both
DonorSearch finds prospects, but you'll still need separate tools to accept donations, send emails, and manage campaigns. Zeffy does it all in one place.
📊
Donor data is only useful if you can act on it
With DonorSearch, you pay for insights but still juggle multiple platforms to fundraise. Zeffy gives you donor tracking and donation tools together, for free.
⚡
Start fundraising today, not next quarter
DonorSearch requires demos, annual contracts, and API limits. Zeffy is free to start, takes minutes to set up, and grows with you without gated features.
Does Zeffy work for organizations that need both donor research and fundraising tools?
Yes. Zeffy handles donation collection, donor tracking, event management, and email outreach in one place. If you need wealth screening, you can add research tools later without losing your fundraising setup.
Can I actually collect donations with DonorSearch?
No. DonorSearch is a prospect research tool that helps identify potential donors, but it can't process donations. You'll need to connect separate payment tools to actually collect gifts, which means additional fees and setup.
Do I need to pay for both DonorSearch and a donation platform?
Yes. DonorSearch charges annual subscription fees starting at $600/year for research data, but you'll still need separate tools to accept donations, send emails, and run campaigns. Zeffy combines donor management and fundraising tools in one platform for free.
How long does it take to start accepting donations with Zeffy vs. DonorSearch?
Zeffy takes minutes to set up and you can start accepting donations immediately. DonorSearch requires scheduling demos, signing annual contracts, and integrating third-party payment processors before you can collect your first gift.
Is there a free alternative to DonorSearch for small nonprofits?
Yes. If you need to collect donations and manage donors without paying annual subscription fees, Zeffy offers a 100% free all-in-one platform. DonorSearch focuses on prospect research and starts at $600/year, while Zeffy handles donations, events, and donor tracking with zero fees.
What's the total cost of using DonorSearch plus a payment processor?
DonorSearch charges at least $600/year for research data, and you'll still pay processing fees (typically 2-3%) on a separate donation platform. With Zeffy, you skip both costs and keep 100% of every donation.
Does DonorSearch have hidden fees or require annual contracts?
DonorSearch requires annual contracts starting at $600/year, with custom pricing for advanced features and API access. Zeffy has no contracts, no hidden fees, and no annual commitments.
What's the best DonorSearch alternative for a new fundraising program?
If you're just starting out, Zeffy lets you launch donation forms, track donors, and run events in minutes—all free. DonorSearch is better suited for organizations that already have fundraising infrastructure and need prospect research.
Can I use Zeffy and DonorSearch together?
Yes. Some organizations use DonorSearch for wealth screening and prospect research while using Zeffy to actually collect donations and manage campaigns. This way you get research insights without paying extra processing fees on gifts.
Still undecided?
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
100,000+ nonprofits trust Zeffy — and keep their fees at $0.
For 7+ years, Zeffy has supported nonprofits with free, user-friendly fundraising tools.
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As a startup nonprofit with only two members, and no funding (yet) we’d need something with low (or no) fees. Zeffy was a dream come true.
Masey, Loose Ends.
Read the full story
“We were incurring a ton of fees for our past fundraising platform and Zeffy has helped us receive so much more of our donations.”
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Amy R
Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago
Zeffy has been invaluable in helping me track our donors, sales, events, and revenue in one spot. The coolest thing about Zeffy is it really is free!
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Debra B
Glory to Glory Women's Mentoring Ministry
Everything about Zeffy suits us starting with (of course, NO fees) but also the ease of use and customer experience as well as their client support!!
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Carmen M
DIVINA World Foundation
Zeffy is very easy to use and ensures that every dollar quickly gets into our account.. A huge help to our work!
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Nathan C
Jiwa International
Zeffy is very simple, allows for a lot of customization and seamlessly integrates into our website. The fact that all of this is free is still wild to me.
Ryan S
Jesters Theatre: Youth Unlimited
We couldn't believe there was a free payment platform for our Girl Scout group. Zeffy took ZERO fees from us, which is huge when you run on very small amounts of money.
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Jennifer H
GSCB Troop 144
We were ready to sell tickets in less than 30 minutes. The reporting capabilities were better than some other paid-for sites.
Mark B
Theta Mu Lambda Charitable Foundation
Since using Zeffy, our conversion rate of donations has skyrocketed. It's an easy platform to use. Plus customer support has always been responsive and helpful!
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Stevie C
We Are HER
SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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