About Us
HEPdata has been a pioneer in matching gift solutions for over 20 years, though was most recently known as Affinaquest Matching Gifts.
With the HEPdata brand brought back in 2025, we’re excited to continue to partner with your organization on your matching gift fundraising.
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info@hepdata.com
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Get in touch with our team with any of your matching gift, support, or billing questions.
Double the Donation vs. HEPdata: The Definitive Comparison
When comparing Double the Donation vs. HEPdata, the choice is between a modern, automated growth engine and a stagnant legacy database.Double the Donation provides a daily-updated database, 100+ turnkey integrations, and full automation that maximizes revenue, whereas HEPdata’s tech often leads to missed matches, manual data entry, and a clunky donor experience. By choosing a solution that prioritizes daily data integrity, WCAG accessibility, and SOC 2 security, you can avoid the costs of stale software and ensure every corporate-matching dollar is claimed.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of corporate social responsibility and nonprofit technology, the tools you choose to power your fundraising efforts are the engines of your mission. For decades, matching gifts have represented one of the most accessible yet underutilized revenue streams for nonprofits. Research indicates that while $2 to $3 billion is donated through corporate matching programs each year, an additional $4 to $7 billion is left unclaimed.
However, as the sector’s digital transformation accelerates, the gap between legacy solutions and modern technology has become a chasm. For organizations currently using HEPdata’s matching gift tools or evaluating it alongside modern alternatives, the choice can feel complicated. This comprehensive guide will help you make the right decision for your team.
We’ll cover:
You’ll learn about why the industry has shifted toward Double the Donation, the hidden risks of relying on stagnant technology, and why your choice of a matching gift partner directly impacts your bottom line.
Here’s a quick overview to get started.
The Core Philosophy: Innovation vs. Stagnation
To understand the difference between these two providers, one must look at their trajectory over the last decade.
Double the Donation was built on the premise that matching gift revenue should be automated, integrated, and data-driven. By focusing exclusively on the donor experience and automating the identification-to-submission pipeline, Double the Donation has become the industry standard, powering the matching gift programs of thousands of nonprofits, from local animal shelters to international universities.
HEPdata, conversely, is often viewed as a legacy provider. While they were early pioneers in the space, the platform has not kept pace with the API-driven world of modern fundraising. Many users find that while the tool still exists, it no longer evolves. In a world where corporate giving policies change overnight, a tool that is not constantly innovating becomes a liability rather than an asset.
Database Integrity as the Foundation of Matching Gifts
The single most important component of any matching gift software is its database. If a donor searches for their employer and finds outdated information (or worse, doesn’t find their employer at all), the conversion funnel breaks instantly.
Double the Donation’s Data Advantage
Double the Donation maintains the most comprehensive and up-to-date matching gift database in the world. This isn’t just a marketing claim; it’s the result of a massive, ongoing investment in data science and manual verification.
HEPdata’s Data Problem
In contrast, HEPdata’s database is widely considered stagnant. Reports from former clients suggest that the data is often out of sync with current corporate policies.
Bottom line: Your matching gift database is the single point of failure or success in the donor journey. When you rely on a platform that prioritizes regular program updates, you build trust with your supporters and ensure that no revenue is left behind.
The Integration Ecosystem Comparison
In a modern nonprofit tech stack, your organization’s tools need to talk to each other. Your donation form should talk to your CRM; your CRM should talk to your email marketing tool; and your matching gift tool should sit right in the middle of that conversation. For that reason, it’s important to examine your workplace giving solution’s existing partnership network.
Double the Donation’s 100+ Turnkey Integrations
Double the Donation currently features over 100 turnkey integrations with the leading providers in the space, including:
When a supporter engages via a platform integrated with Double the Donation, the system immediately captures their employer information. No manual data entry is required from your staff.
As a result, the automated donor journey typically looks like this:
HEPdata’s “Manual” Experience
While HEPdata offers a few legacy partnerships, it lacks the deep, bi-directional API integrations that define modern software. Therefore, using HEPdata often requires your nonprofit’s team to:
This batch processing model is a relic of the past. It means your donors aren’t being engaged at the peak of their passion, or the moment they hit the donate button. By the time you send an email three days later, the supporter has likely moved on.
In other words, the journey is often fragmented. The donor might see a link, but there is rarely a sophisticated follow-up sequence. If the individual forgets to submit the match, that revenue is lost. There is no automated nudge to bring them back to the finish line.
Capturing All Forms of Workplace Giving
It’s important to recognize that matching gifts, while powerful, are merely a subset of the larger, continuously expanding category of workplace giving. If your organization is only focusing on the standard corporate match, you’re likely missing out on:
Double the Donation is positioned as a comprehensive workplace giving partner. Their tools are designed to identify corporate volunteer opportunities and provide supporters with the specific instructions needed to log their hours. It’s also expanded its database to encompass payroll giving programs and, more broadly, corporate sponsorships and grants (which we explored in more detail in this recent blog).
HEPdata, on the other hand, remains largely focused on the traditional employee matching gift model, leaving these newer, high-growth revenue streams untapped.
The True Cost of Doing Nothing (or the Risk of the Status Quo)
Many nonprofits stay with a legacy software provider, even when it is no longer meeting their needs, because the pain of change feels greater than the pain of staying the same. However, the hidden costs of stagnant technology include:
When CFOs or Development Directors look at software pricing, they often focus on the subscription cost alone. But the true cost of software is as follows:
Let’s break that down a bit further.
Subscription Price
When comparing Double the Donation vs. HEPdata, the initial subscription price often tells two very different stories about value. Double the Donation uses a transparent, tiered pricing model that starts with a pay-per-use Essentials plan for smaller nonprofits and scales to the Standard plan for mid- to large organizations (and to Enterprise for their largest users). This pricing is most often structured as a flat annual fee, meaning costs remain predictable and fixed even as your revenue grows.
In contrast, HEPdata often operates on a custom-quoted legacy model that can appear lower on the surface. However, it lacks the comprehensive value of a modern SaaS platform required to actually move the needle on your fundraising goals.
Opportunity Cost
If your matching gift tool has a lower “capture rate” due to poor data quality or a lack of automation, you are losing money. For example:
By trying to save a few dollars, Nonprofit B actually lost out on $57,000 in potential revenue.
Labor Hours
How much is your staff’s time worth? If your team spends 5 hours a week managing matching gift data because your software doesn’t integrate with your CRM, that equates to an estimated 260 hours a year. At a rate of $30/hour, that’s $7,800 in wasted salary every year. Next-level automation eliminates this cost almost entirely.
Security, Reliability, Accessibility, and Trust
In an era of increased data privacy regulations and a heightened focus on digital equity, how your vendors handle donor data and donor access is paramount. An insecure tool puts your reputation at risk, and an inaccessible tool excludes a significant portion of your donor base.
The Legacy Gap
As a legacy provider, HEPdata often lacks the modern security certifications and rigorous accessibility standards that IT departments now require. Using a tool that hasn’t been updated for modern accessibility standards doesn’t just hurt your conversion rates. It creates a barrier between your mission and a significant portion of your supporters.
Security and SOC 2 Compliance
Double the Donation maintains the highest standards of security in the nonprofit technology industry, understanding that it is a custodian of your donors’ trust. For this reason, it offers:
Leading the Way in Digital Accessibility
Accessibility is no longer an extra feature; it is a paramount requirement for modern nonprofits. If your matching gift tool is not screen-reader or keyboard-only navigation-friendly, you are effectively turning away support. For this reason, Double the Donation has made significant investments to ensure its interface is inclusive and highly accessible.
These include:
A nonprofit’s technology should be a bridge to its mission, not a barrier. By choosing a partner that prioritizes security and accessibility, you aren’t just checking a compliance box. You are safeguarding your organization’s reputation and ensuring that every donor has the opportunity to engage with your cause.
Conclusion: It’s Time to Move Forward
The comparison between Double the Donation and HEPdata is clear. One platform is an active participant in the future of fundraising, investing millions into data accuracy, automation, and integrations. The other is a static tool that largely remained the same while the world around it changed.
If your organization is serious about maximizing corporate revenue, you cannot afford to rely on stagnant data or manual processes. You need a partner who helps you capture every available dollar, not just the ones that are easy to find. The choice is yours: stay with the “good enough” technology of yesterday, or embrace the automated, data-driven future of today (and tomorrow).
How to Secure Corporate Sponsors for University Events
For university advancement and alumni relations departments, the annual calendar is a marathon of high-stakes engagement. From the nostalgia-soaked ceremonies of Homecoming to the networking-heavy atmosphere of Alumni Weekends, these events are the lifeblood of institutional affinity. However, as budgets tighten and expectations for high-production value rise, the “how” of funding these initiatives has shifted.
Securing corporate sponsors for university events is no longer just about asking for a handout; it’s about building a mutually beneficial ecosystem. When done correctly, these partnerships provide the financial runway you need to pull off successful events while giving companies direct access to your community.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore eight proven strategies to help your development team secure, maintain, and grow corporate sponsorships that stand the test of time. These include:
The landscape of higher education fundraising is evolving. While individual giving remains a cornerstone, the corporate sector represents a massive, often under-utilized reservoir of support. To tap into it, your team must move beyond the donation mindset and into a partnership mindset. When done well, this transition involves data-driven outreach, creative packaging, and a deep understanding of what a modern brand actually wants from a university association.
Let’s dive in!
Uncover connections with employment data.
One of your university’s most valuable assets is its employment data. When you know where your alumni and other donors work, you can uncover their powerful connections to potential corporate sponsors!
Most corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs or marketing departments are much more likely to greenlight a sponsorship if there is an internal “champion” advocating for the cause. If a Vice President at a Fortune 500 company is a proud alumnus of your Business School, that company is significantly more likely to sponsor your next Entrepreneurship Summit.
The Power of the Inside Track
By leveraging tools that collect and utilize donor employer information, you can segment your outreach. Instead of sending a cold email to a generic “info@company.com” address, you can reach out to your alumnus and say, “We see you’re doing great work at Starbucks. We have a Neighborhood Grant opportunity that fits perfectly with your corporate mission. Would you be willing to introduce us to your community engagement team?”
As shown in the example above, many corporations offer invite-only grants or sponsorship tiers specifically for nonprofit organizations nominated by their team members. Without employment data, these “golden tickets” remain largely invisible to your fundraising team.
Don’t overlook in-kind sponsorships.
It might be tempting to focus solely on securing a big check for your upcoming Alumni Reunion or Homecoming Weekend. But if you’re overlooking non-financial support, you’re surely missing out on some really valuable opportunities.
In-kind sponsorships (or gifts of goods or services instead of cash) can drastically reduce your event’s overhead. Every dollar you don’t have to spend on catering, equipment, or technology is a dollar that stays in your foundation’s pocket.
Here’s a snippet from the University of Florida’s website:
When approaching a tech company, for instance, a request for 50 licensed tablets for an alumni networking event might be easier for them to approve than a $10,000 cash donation, yet the value to your event remains the same.
Take a look at your school’s own vendors.
Your university likely already works with many vendors to maintain successful operations, from your food and beverage provider to your facilities and maintenance services. These companies have a vested interest in your success, and they can make great potential sponsors!
Why? They understand your campus culture and, more importantly, they value the ongoing contract they have with your institution. Sponsoring a high-profile event like Homecoming is a way for them to strengthen their relationship with the university administration while gaining visibility among the students and faculty who use their services daily.
Think about:
These organizations are often eager to show they are more than just a vendor by appearing as a community partner.
Explore peer universities’ corporate partners.
According to NC State University, peer universities are “a collection of universities to be used for benchmarking and comparison.” This is often used to weigh metrics such as enrollment, graduation rates, and tuition/fees. But it can also be a helpful tool for locating potential sponsors! If a company is sponsoring an event at a university with a demographic, size, and geographic location similar to yours, it has already signaled that it values the university event space.
For NC State, whose peer universities include the Georgia Institute of Technology, Michigan State, Purdue, and others, its development team might examine which companies sponsor Georgia Tech’s homecoming weekend to gain inspiration for its own upcoming event. For example, seeing brands like Chick-fil-A, New Realm Brewing Company, or University Credit Union on the college’s sponsor board (as shown in the Alumni Association materials below) can provide a helpful roadmap.
If New Realm Brewing sponsors an alumni event in Atlanta, they might be looking to expand their footprint to Raleigh. Your pitch then becomes: “We saw your fantastic activation at Georgia Tech, and we’d love to help you reach a similar, high-value audience here at NC State.”
Invest in a corporate sponsorship database.
Searching for sponsors manually is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack while blindfolded. To truly scale your corporate giving, your advancement team needs a centralized, searchable repository of corporate philanthropic data.
A corporate sponsorship database allows your team to shift from a reactive, “hope-based” strategy to a proactive, data-driven one. These sponsorship research tools allow you to search for specific companies and locate their available programs, application guidelines, contact information, and more.
Our Top Recommendation: Double the Donation
When it comes to university advancement, Double the Donation is the gold standard. While many know them for their matching gift automation, the company’s underlying database of corporate information has recently been expanded to encompass tons of existing sponsorship opportunities as well.
Not to mention, investing in this type of infrastructure pays for itself the moment your first “found” sponsor signs a contract.
Use real metrics to demonstrate value.
In the past, a logo on a t-shirt was enough to satisfy a sponsor. Today, corporate marketing budgets are under intense scrutiny. To win the sponsorship, you must speak the language of Marketing ROI (Return on Investment).
According to recent surveys, here are the top sponsorship KPIs companies like to track:
Take a look at how the Florida State University Alumni Association pitches its sponsorship value. They don’t just say “we have a lot of alumni.” They provide hard numbers:
By highlighting its sizable social media following, email engagement, and website visitor traffic, the university makes a strong case for why companies should get involved. When you present a prospective partner with a 50% email open rate, you aren’t asking for a gift; you’re offering a high-performance marketing channel.
Activate social proof by highlighting previous sponsors.
Companies are more likely to sponsor your event if you have a proven track record of successful partnerships. In the corporate world, nobody wants to be the first to try something unproven, but everyone wants to be part of a winning tradition.
Therefore, demonstrate that you can provide real results by showcasing other businesses that have supported your initiatives in the past. If you can get a quote or a testimonial from a satisfied sponsor to feature on your website or sponsorship brochure, even better!
The Power of Testimonials
Carnegie Mellon University’s Integrated Innovation Institute does this masterfully. The organization features video interviews with sponsors (such as Honda 99P Labs) discussing their experiences working with the university.
Hearing a peer executive discuss the value of the corporate sponsor experience is infinitely more persuasive than a sales pitch from the university’s development office. It proves that the university knows how to handle a corporate relationship with professionalism and results.
Encourage customizable packages.
The era of strict “Gold, Silver, and Bronze” tiers is fading. Instead, modern brands desire partnerships that align specifically with their current business goals. A local startup might want booth traffic to hand out product samples, while a national bank might prefer brand impressions via your highly trafficked mobile app.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to offer a range of options to suit various budgets. By offering custom packages, your university can utilize flexibility as a key selling point.
This will:
Take a cue from Boston University’s corporate sponsor page. Their team explicitly states: “We recognize each sponsor’s goals are unique. Let us tailor a package that matches your objectives, from event-by-event opportunities to multi-asset annual plans.”
In conclusion
Gaining corporate sponsors for university events is a sophisticated blend of data science, relationship building, and strategic marketing. By uncovering employment data, looking toward your existing connections, investing in the right tools, and presenting sponsors with hard metrics, you can transform your upcoming event from a line item into a long-lasting partnership.
Remember: the most successful sponsorships are those where the company feels like a hero in your school’s story. By treating sponsors as strategic partners rather than just line items in a budget, you ensure that when the next big event rolls around, they won’t just be on your list; they’ll be the first ones calling you to renew.
Top 5 Tools for Finding Corporate Sponsorships and Grants
Whether you’re a small local nonprofit or a global enterprise organization, the quest for sustainable funding often leads to the same two doors: corporate sponsors and grants. But simply sending out generic proposals and hoping for the best is quickly becoming a relic of the past. Luckily, there are innovative tools for finding corporate sponsorships that ensure the process is relatively quick and easy.
In 2026, corporate philanthropy has evolved into a data-driven field in which businesses seek specific alignment with their overarching goals. Meanwhile, the grant landscape is more competitive than ever. To stay ahead, your development team needs a comprehensive tech stack that does the heavy lifting.
In this post, we’re breaking down 5 tools that will transform your prospecting from a guessing game into a high-yield strategy. These include:
As the digital landscape continues to shift, these five platforms have emerged as “must-haves” for any serious fundraising team. By leveraging these leading tools, your nonprofit or school can move beyond simple discovery and toward creating high-impact partnerships that fuel your mission for years to come.
Let’s dive in with our top suggestion!
Corporate Sponsorship Research Tool #1: Double the Donation
If you’re looking to get more corporate sponsors for your organization, Double the Donation is our #1 pick. Historically known for its matching gift and workplace giving automation services, the platform has recently expanded its industry-leading database to include thousands of corporate sponsorships, including grants and in-kind donations, as well!
Unlocking Opportunities With Double the Donation’s Sponsorships Database
Double the Donation’s comprehensive database tool is meticulously indexed to reveal specific corporate giving opportunities. Therefore, this platform empowers nonprofits and other fundraisers to secure corporate sponsors by providing…
Leveraging the “Warm Lead” Advantage Through Employee Analytics
One of the most overlooked aspects of corporate sponsorship is the internal champion. Double the Donation’s unique position at the intersection of individual giving and corporate data allows nonprofits to easily perform Employee Density Analysis.
By using the fundraising platform to identify which companies have the highest number of employees already donating to your cause, you can approach those businesses with a data-backed proposal. Rather than a cold pitch, your message becomes: “Your employees are already passionate about our mission; a formal sponsorship is the logical next step to amplify their impact.”
Learn more about Double the Donation’s tools for finding corporate sponsorships here.
Corporate Sponsorship Research Tool #2: Candid
Formerly known as Foundation Directory Online, Candid is one of the most comprehensive databases of grantmakers worldwide. If you need to know who a foundation is, what they’ve funded in the past, and who is on their board, this is where you go.
The Power of Candid’s “Professional” Access
While Candid offers a basic tier, the Professional subscription is where the real corporate sponsorship magic happens. This level provides access to more than 240,000 grantmakers, including corporate giving programs that don’t always have a public-facing website.
It also offers…
Decoding Funder Personas with “Key Staff & Board” Insights
Beyond the raw numbers of a 990 form, Candid’s platform allows you to build a Relational Map of a foundation’s leadership. Successful sponsorship seekers can then use this to identify shared values at the executive level.
For instance, if Candid reveals that a corporate foundation board member also sits on the board of a local university or museum, you can tailor your pitch to highlight your organization’s educational or cultural impact. This biographical prospecting ensures that when your proposal reaches a human desk, it resonates with the personal and professional interests of the decision-makers.
Learn more about Candid’s tools for finding corporate sponsorships here.
Corporate Sponsorship Research Tool #3: GrantWatch
If you are looking for a tool that balances a massive database with user-friendly accessibility, GrantWatch is a powerhouse. It is designed specifically to help nonprofits, small businesses, and even individuals identify live funding opportunities that are currently accepting applications.
Why GrantWatch Is a Sponsorship Game-Changer
This platform excels at real-time tracking. While some databases focus on historical data (i.e., who gave what five years ago), GrantWatch focuses on the now. It scans thousands of sources daily to ensure that the open grants you see on your screen are actually active.
GrantWatch also provides…
Navigating the “Small Business” Sponsorship Frontier
While many tools focus on the Fortune 500 giants, GrantWatch provides a unique window into local and Small-to-Medium-Sized Business (SMB) grants. These sponsorships are often less competitive and offer a higher ROI on your time. Additionally, the platform identifies “Micro-Grants,” or small, quick-turnaround funding bursts that are perfect for supporting immediate needs, such as a new community garden or a local event.
Learn more about GrantWatch’s tools for finding corporate sponsorships here.
Corporate Sponsorship Research Tool #4: Instrumentl
In 2026, the trend in nonprofit tech is automation, and Instrumentl is the poster child for this movement. It isn’t just a database; it’s a personal assistant that finds grants for you while you sleep.
Instrumentl’s Smart Matching Initiative
Unlike other tools that require manual searching, Instrumentl first asks you to set up a project. After defining your mission, location, and funding needs, the platform’s AI algorithm matches you with active Requests for Proposals.
Instrumentl also offers:
Master Your Data-Backed Strategy With Insight Reports
While many platforms provide data, Instrumentl provides intelligence. This sponsorship research tool offers a number of invaluable Insights Reports, which represent deep-dive analyses that help your team decode the specific behaviors of corporate and other grantmakers. Instead of guessing where the money is, these reports (including on Regional Corporate Powerhouses, Success Rate Analytics, Operational Efficiency, and more) allow you to align your sponsorship and grant-seeking strategy with actual market trends.
Learn more about Instrumentl’s tools for finding corporate sponsorships here.
Corporate Sponsorship Research Tool #5: LinkedIn
It might seem unconventional to list a social network alongside dedicated grant and sponsorship databases, but in the world of corporate giving, interpersonal relationships are the currency.
How to Use LinkedIn for Corporate Sponsorship Prospecting
While the other tools tell you who gives, LinkedIn tells you how to get in. Corporate sponsorships are rarely awarded via unsolicited email; rather, they are secured through conversations with CSR Managers, Marketing Directors, and Community Relations Officers.
LinkedIn helps by offering…
Leveraging the “Sales Navigator” for Philanthropic Intelligence
While the free version of LinkedIn is powerful, development teams can use LinkedIn Sales Navigator as a high-octane prospecting engine. By setting up lead lists for CSR executives at target companies, you can receive real-time alerts when they post about their new social impact goals. From there, you can reach out with a relevant, timely sponsorship proposal.
Learn more about LinkedIn’s tools for finding corporate sponsorships here.
Bonus: A Quick Comparison Overview
Interested in examining the pros, cons, and standout features for each of the above-referenced research tools? Check out this helpful table:
Final Thoughts on Finding Corporate Sponsorships and Grants
Securing a lucrative corporate sponsorship or grant isn’t about luck. It’s about alignment.
Ready to get started? Pick the tool (or tools) that fit your current budget and growth goals, and begin building the pipeline your mission deserves. We recommend adopting a three-step approach:
Investing in the right software to uncover strategically aligned opportunities is an investment in your mission’s future. By moving away from manual spreadsheets and embracing data-driven prospecting, your organization can spend less time searching and more time doing the work that matters.