How to Choose a Nonprofit Employer Append Service (A Guide)
If your nonprofit is seeking to increase revenue from workplace giving, corporate sponsorships, or targeted donor outreach, understanding where your supporters work is crucial. But you might not have that information in all of your supporter records—and that’s where employer append services come in.
However, with multiple providers offering different features, price points, and capabilities, how do you determine which one is best suited for your organization? In this guide, we’ll walk you through what employer appending is, why it matters for fundraising, and how you can evaluate leading providers to find the best fit for your goals and budget. Specifically, we’ll cover:
- What Is an Employer Append Service?
- Key Benefits of Employer Appending for Nonprofits
- What to Look for in an Employer Append Service
- Comparing Top Providers — Double the Donation vs. NPO Info
- Which Employer Append Service Is Right for You?
Selecting the right nonprofit employer append service can significantly enhance your organization’s ability to connect with donors and maximize fundraising efforts, so it’s not a decision you want to make lightly. Dive in to discover how you can power your efforts with the best appends provider possible!
What Is an Employer Append Service?
An employer append service is a specialized data enhancement tool used primarily by nonprofits to enrich their donor databases. By appending (or filling in) employer information to existing donor records, these services help organizations gain deeper insights into their supporters, which can then be used to deepen engagement and unlock new opportunities for giving.
An employer append can include details such as the name of the employer, job title, and industry, which are crucial for tailoring communication and engagement strategies. Not to mention, information surrounding workplace and corporate giving eligibility, which can unlock lucrative opportunities for nonprofit organizations.
In a competitive fundraising landscape, such strategic insights provided by employer append services can be a game-changer for nonprofits striving to maximize their outreach efforts.
Key Benefits of Employer Appending for Nonprofits
Utilizing an employer append service can provide numerous advantages for nonprofits. In this section, we’ll explore the top ways employer appends can drive real impact for your fundraising and partnership strategies. These include:
Unlocked workplace giving potential
Additionally, understanding the employment details of donors can help nonprofits unlock a wide range of workplace giving opportunities. Many companies offer programs such as matching gifts, payroll giving, and volunteer incentives—initiatives that can significantly enhance a donor’s impact. When you know where a supporter works, you can tailor your outreach to highlight the specific benefits they may be eligible for, making it easier for them to take advantage of these programs.
This not only increases the potential for additional funding but also deepens donor relationships by showing that your organization is committed to maximizing their support.
Broader sponsorship opportunities
Another strategic benefit of employer appends is their ability to help nonprofits identify broader corporate partnerships, beyond just matching gifts. When you know where your donors work, you gain valuable insight into which companies already support charitable giving through programs like event sponsorships, in-kind donations, or nonprofit grantmaking.
Not to mention, many companies prioritize supporting organizations that their employees care about. If a donor is already giving to your cause and works for a company with a philanthropic program, that connection can serve as a powerful foot in the door. It allows your development or corporate partnerships team to approach the company with a warm lead, supported by the fact that one (or more!) of their employees is already engaged with your mission.
Advanced segmentation capabilities
The next key benefit of employer appending has to do with enhanced segmentation of donor lists. By knowing where donors work, organizations can categorize their supporters by company or industry, leading to more personalized and effective communication strategies. For instance, a health-focused nonprofit might develop specific outreach initiatives aimed at healthcare professionals, thereby increasing engagement and fostering a stronger connection with those individuals.
This targeted approach not only maximizes the effectiveness of fundraising campaigns but also fosters a sense of community among supporters who share similar professional values and goals.
Improved data accuracy
Moreover, employer appending can improve overall data accuracy. After all, keeping donor information up to date is crucial for effective fundraising. Services that specialize in employer appending often provide regular updates, ensuring that nonprofits have the most current information available. This accuracy not only facilitates effective communication but also supports strategic planning and resource allocation.
What to Look for in an Employer Append Service
When selecting an employer append service, several key factors should be considered to ensure that the chosen provider meets the specific needs of your nonprofit. These include:
- Data accuracy: First and foremost, the accuracy of the data is paramount. Look for services that have a proven track record of providing reliable and up-to-date information. This not only enhances the quality of your outreach but also helps in building trust with your donors, as they appreciate receiving communications that reflect their current circumstances.
- Numerous integrations: A seamless integration process can save time and resources, allowing your organization to focus on what truly matters: engaging with donors and maximizing fundraising efforts.
- Responsive customer support: A responsive and knowledgeable support team can be invaluable, especially when navigating the complexities of data management. Look for services that provide comprehensive training resources, such as webinars or tutorials, to help your staff fully utilize the service.
- Strong reputation: It’s also wise to explore the provider’s reputation within the nonprofit sector. Reading reviews and testimonials from other organizations can provide insights into their experiences and the effectiveness of the service.
- Flexibility and scalability: As your nonprofit grows or shifts focus, the ability to adapt your data strategies becomes essential. Some providers offer customizable options or additional features that can enhance your data management capabilities over time.
- Cost: In an ideal solution, pricing structures should be transparent and align with your nonprofit’s budget, ensuring that you receive value for your investment.
Choosing the best employer appends provider is about more than just filling in missing data. It’s about selecting a partner that can support your fundraising goals both now and as your organization grows. With the right service in place, you can unlock new giving opportunities, strengthen donor relationships, and build a smarter, more strategic fundraising program.
Comparing Top Providers — Double the Donation vs. NPO Info
With several employer append services on the market, it’s essential to choose the one that aligns most with your nonprofit’s goals, budget, and technical needs.
Two of the most well-known providers in this space are Double the Donation and NPO Info, each offering distinct approaches to helping nonprofits identify where their donors work. In this section, we’ll break down the key features, strengths, and ideal use cases for each platform, enabling you to make a confident and informed decision for your team.
Double the Donation
Double the Donation is a well-known player in the nonprofit sector, primarily recognized for its matching gift software. However, it also offers employer append services that can significantly enhance donor data. Their platform provides detailed employer information, allowing nonprofits to identify potential workplace giving opportunities (like matching gifts and volunteer grants) effectively.
One of the standout features of Double the Donation is its user-friendly interface, which simplifies the process of appending data to existing donor records. The service is designed to integrate seamlessly with various donor management systems, making it a popular choice among nonprofits looking for efficiency and ease of use.
Additionally, Double the Donation offers robust customer support, ensuring that organizations can get assistance when needed. Their commitment to data accuracy and regular updates further solidifies their reputation as a reliable provider in the nonprofit sector.
The platform also includes educational resources, such as webinars and guides, that help nonprofits maximize the potential of matching gifts and understand the intricacies of employer giving programs. This educational aspect not only empowers organizations but also fosters a community of informed users.
NPO Info
While NPO Info positions itself as an employer append solution tailored for nonprofits, it falls short when it comes to supporting deeper workplace giving strategies. Unlike more robust platforms such as Double the Donation, NPO Info primarily offers static, one-time data appends, lacking the real-time integrations and automation needed to power programs like matching gifts, payroll giving, or volunteer incentives at scale.
Although NPO Info emphasizes data accuracy in its appending services, its limited feature set makes it less ideal for nonprofits aiming to grow revenue through dynamic workplace giving programs. It does not offer built-in tools for identifying match-eligible donors or connecting employer data directly to giving platforms, which can result in additional manual work for fundraising teams and lead to missed opportunities overall.
Which Employer Append Service Is Right for You?
Choosing the right employer append service ultimately depends on the specific needs and goals of your nonprofit organization. For those focused primarily on maximizing corporate revenue opportunities, Double the Donation may be the ideal choice due to its strong emphasis on this area and user-friendly interface.
In conclusion, both Double the Donation and NPO Info offer valuable services that can significantly benefit nonprofits. By carefully considering the unique features and advantages of each provider, organizations can make informed decisions that align with their fundraising goals and enhance their overall donor engagement efforts.
Wrapping Up & Additional Employer Append Resources
Choosing the best employer append service can significantly strengthen your nonprofit’s fundraising potential, helping you uncover match-eligible donors, personalize your outreach, and grow your corporate partnerships.
With the right provider in place and a clear plan for using the data, you’ll be well-positioned to maximize the value of employer information and drive more revenue from workplace giving.
Interested in learning more about employer append services and beyond? Check out these additional recommended resources:
- The Ultimate Guide to Employer Appends for Fundraisers. Learn everything you need to know about employer appending—from how it works to why it matters. This comprehensive guide covers strategies, use cases, and tips to help fundraisers leverage employment data for smarter donor outreach and increased corporate giving revenue.
- Avoid These 5 Employer Appending Mistakes Nonprofits Make. Before you invest in an employer append service, make sure you’re not falling into these common traps. This quick-read guide breaks down the most frequent errors nonprofits make and how to avoid them, saving your team time, money, and missed opportunities.
- Enhancing a Donor Profile With Employment Data & More. See how appended employment data can take your donor profiles to the next level. This resource explores how to combine employer information with giving history, engagement data, and more to create highly personalized and actionable donor insights.