• Due to the sensitive nature of the information users have access to within AlumniFinder Search, we must verify your organization’s nonprofit status.

Do we have to provide billing information and credit references to take advantage of the free trial?

• No, we do not require billing information or credit references for a free trial of AlumniFinderSearch.

How many clicks will we get with the free trial?

• Your organization will receive 25 free clicks. The free clicks are valid for 30 days after your application is approved.

What constitutes a “click?”

• Any click to find information on a prospect constitutes a click.

What if we decide we want to use the site after the free trial? What’s the process?

• Please notify your AlumniFinder Account Representative. We will need to establish a billing contact and information for your organization.

What if we decide we don’t want to use the site after the free trial? What’s the process?

• Please notify your AlumniFinder Account Representative. Your account will be suspended and further access will be prohibited.

• The prospect data within AlumniFinder Search is provided by LexisNexis.

Are free training webinars offered?

• Yes, we host bi-monthly webinars for our users and administrators. Email invitations will be sent out for all webinars offered.

Are there any “Getting Started” documents to help us get familiar with the site?

• Yes! Please click the “Help” button to explore a variety of resources including getting started guides and demonstration videos.

How do I get my password reset if I’m locked out?

• If you are a general user click “Forgot Password?” on the login screen and enter your user name and email address. An email will be delivered with your password. Should problems persist, please contact your Company Administrator.
• If you are a company administrator click “Forgot Password?” on the login screen and enter your user name and email address. An email will be delivered with your password. Should problems persist, please contact the AlumniFinder Team for assistance.

• Searches performed are valid for 24 hours. To access previously run searches, click the “Recent Searches” pick list that is found on the right-hand side of the screen.

Is there a cost to look at a search I have already performed?

• If you are looking at the same search within a 24-hour timeframe, there is not an additional charge to review the search results. After the stated timeframe, the searches will no longer be available and will need to be recreated at an additional charge.

Sometimes when I run a search, I get an error message that says “Please use Recent Searches box to reload your previous search.” Why is that?

• You will see this message display if you attempt to run the same search back-to-back using the exact same search criteria.

Can I use a prospect’s LexID on all searches?

• While the LexID is available on most searches, it is not available for the following: Phone Search (Basic), Reverse Phone Search, Social Media Search, Company Search, Voter Search and Aircraft Search.

What options do I have for using Social Security Numbers in my searches?

• AlumniFinder Online provides the option to search on full or partial Social Security Numbers. Person Search (Basic) allows you to search by the last 4 or digits of the SSN as well as the full 9-digit SSN. Searches using partial Social Security Numbers will require additional input such as the prospect’s First and Last Name.

What is the purpose of the Two Factor Authentication for date of birth data?

• For enhanced security purposes, AlumniFinder Online utilizes a Two Factor Authentication process for users to be able to view full date of birth information. Users will automatically receive an email with an authentication code to enter for access.

What is the difference between Person Search (Basic) and Person Search (Premier)?

• Person Search (Premier) is the default search for AlumniFinder Search. With Person Search (Premier), there are added search fields that allow you to use a broader range of search criteria including other last names, the first names of relatives, and other cities/states of residence.

What is the difference between Phone Search (Basic) and Phone Search (Premier)?

• Phone Search (Basic) queries and returns results from data sourced from Regional Bell operating companies, local exchange companies, and competitive local exchange companies. Phone Search (Premier) leverages the same sources as Phone Search (Basic), but then also accesses more than 405,000,000 phone numbers not typically published, such as non-electronic Directory Assistance records (which include cell phones and unlisted numbers).

Why would I use the Social Media Search?

• The Social Media Search will allow you to identify the social platforms where your constituents are active based on their email address. Up to three email address fields can be used to perform the search. If you do not have an email address, there is an Email Search option within the Social Media Search.

Can I change my default search to something else?

• Yes, you are able to customize which search is your default search. Users now have an option to set a default search screen for their login that is different from the default Person Search (Premier). This option is located within Settings section of the My Account tab.

• The search results for Person Search (Premier) feature additional options not available with Person Search (Basic). The first difference is the “More Results” section. More Results allows you to quickly access Email Addresses, Phones (Premier), and/or Properties for your prospect. Additionally with Person Search (Premier), if you have searched by the LexID or Social Security Number, your search results may include additional household members that may be related to your prospect.

Why am I not seeing as many results as I expected?

• There are a variety of explanations for the number of results that a specific search returns, but one of the primary influences is the coverage area. If you are seeing limited results being returned, this may be due to limited coverage. For more information, click on the “Coverage” link on the main search window. The Coverage option will tell you where data is available for your specific search.

Where do I find Relatives, Neighbors, and Associates?

• On the Search Results page, the ability to see Relatives, Neighbors, and Associates is located under “More Options.” Click the “Select Option” pick list and look for the “Next Steps” section to continue. There is also an option to view Relatives, Neighbors, and Associates at once.

If I print (or email the Search Results), will I get the same data that is available on a report?

• No, printing or emailing the Search Results will not provide you with the same data as a report. If you print or email your Search Results, you will receive just the information displayed on the Search Results screen. With a report, you have the ability to customize the fields that are included, set the number of results that are included, and you are able to add attributes to the report.

Are the results that I receive through AlumniFinder Search the same as the results that I would receive using Batch processing?

• The search logic and matching processes applied to AlumniFinder Search single record look-ups (as well as the Accurint search tool) and AlumniFinder’s Batch processing are different and as a result, you could see variances in the records returned. With AlumniFinder Search, we provide you with a great deal of information (based on your search criteria) so that you are able to determine which of the returned records are that of your desired prospect. With AlumniFinder’s automated Batch processing, sophisticated matching logic and business rules are applied to append only the highest confidence matches on your input file. Please note that the same high quality data source, LexisNexis, is used for both processes.

What types of donation information are available through the More Results feature and the Giving History Report? Currently, AlumniFinder Search offers data points on the following donor-related areas:

• Dollars Donated – represented by the dollar amount that a household has donated within the last 36 months.
• Types of Causes – represented by the type of cause(s) to which a household has donated within the last 36 months. Types of Causes available are Animal, Children, Political/Conservative, Political/Liberal, Political/Social, and Veteran.
• Number of Donations – represented by the total number of donations a household has made in the last 36 months.
• Total Charities Donated to – represented by the number of charities to which a household has donated in the last 36 months (1, 2 or 3 plus).

• Prospect Summary reports provide a comprehensive view of your prospect’s current and historical information, including properties owned, licenses, and several legal data fields. The Contact Detail report is much more concise and focuses on address information, telephone numbers, and relations. Company Summary reports feature company name and TIN variations as well as parent company and industry information.

How long are my reports available online?

• Your reports are available for seven days and you are not charged for opening the report more than once. After the stated timeframe, reports will no longer be available and will need to be recreated at an additional charge.

Where do I go to find reports I have created?

• To review reports that you have created, click the “Reports” tab and choose which type of report you are looking for (options include Prospect Summary reports, Company Summary reports, and Contact Detail reports). When the screen refreshes, you will see any current reports as well as the date that the report expires.

• The Data Quality Report helps to assess the overall health of your database by offering insights on how many records within your file can be confirmed or updated with Contact Names, Postal Addresses, Cell Phone Numbers, Landline Phone Numbers, Dates of Births, Dates of Deaths, and Email Addresses.

What is the cost of the Data Quality Report?

• The Data Quality Report is a FREE report offered on AlumniFinder Online.

Where can I access the Data Quality Report?

• To access the Data Quality Report, click the “Data Quality Report” tab and then click “Get Started” to upload your file.

How many records are needed to process a Data Quality Report?

• We require a minimum of 1,000 records to process a Data Quality Report on AlumniFinder Online.

How long does it typically take to run a Data Quality Report?

• Running a Data Quality Report can take 24-48 hours.

How can I obtain the results of the Data Quality Report so I can update the information in my database?

• Log in to AlumniFinder Online. Click the “Data Quality Report” tab and then click on “Reports.” Next, click the “Shopping Cart” icon and then click “Get Started.” You will land on the Review Selections page. Simply select your payment method (either Invoice or Add a Credit Card), add a Reference Code if needed, click the “Terms and Conditions” box and finally, click “Order.”

  You will receive an email confirming your file has been submitted; please allow 24 hours for the append to complete. Upon completion, you will receive another email with the Job Number, File Name, and Password. Log in to AlumniFinder Online, click the “Data Quality Report” tab and then click on “Appends” to download your file.

What is the cost for obtaining the appended information from the Data Quality Report?

• Pricing for Data Quality Report Appends can be found under the My Account Section – Pricing Link.

How long does it typically take to run the appends from a Data Quality Report?

• Please allow 24-48 hours for the Data Quality Report Appends to complete.

• Batch Append Services, located within AlumniFinder Online, allows you to leverage one of the nation’s largest databases of public and proprietary information to electronically screen and append critical contact details to your alumni or donor database. By performing batch updates, you save both time and money when compared to manual update processes.

Which Batch Appends are available through AlumniFinder Online?

• The following Batch Appends are available through AlumniFinder Online:
  • AlumniFinder Batch
    • AlumniFinder Batch includes updates for Contact Names, Postal Addresses, Telephone Numbers, Email Addresses, Deceased Dates, and Dates of Birth. A LexID is also provided.
  • Single Best Address
  • Cell Phone Appends
  • Landline Phone Appends
  • Waterfall Phone Appends (which include both Cell Phones and Landline Phones)
  • Date of Birth Appends
  • Deceased Appends

When I use AlumniFinder’s Batch Append, how is the data sourced?

• More than 10,000 public and proprietary data sources are used to compile a robust file of more than 20 billion records that are refreshed with one million additional search records each day. Some of the sources include:
  • Thousands of Utility Databases
  • Three Nationally Recognized Credit Databases
  • UCC Filings
  • National Change of Address (NCOA^®)
  • Social Security Administration (including the SSA Death Index)
  • Birth Records
  • Real Estate Property Data
  • Tax Assessor Filings
  • Public Record Information
  • 2010 Census Bureau Data
  • Multiple Telephone Service Providers
  • Driver’s License Records
  • Motor Vehicle Registration Data and Voter Registration Data
  • Demographic Information
  • Multiple Email Address Databases and much more

How many records are needed to perform a Batch Append?

• We require a minimum of 100 records to perform a Batch Append on AlumniFinder Online.

What is the cost for Batch Appends?

• Pricing for Batch Appends can be found under the My Account Section – Pricing Link.

Are there any field or data restrictions to be aware of when running Batch Appends?

• Yes. Please note the following input file restrictions:
  • Please exclude any non-U.S. records from your database before uploading your file
  • AlumniFinder and its partners will not search or update non-U.S. based addresses
  • If included, these addresses will be deleted from the file and not stored in our system
  • Also exclude any records that have only business contact information

How long does it take to receive a completed Batch Append?

• Please allow up to 48 hours for Batch Append jobs to complete.

• For security purposes, user logins with inactivity longer than 90 days will become suspended. Please contact your Company Administrator for assistance in reactivating a suspended account.

How do I know who my AlumniFinder Sales Representative is?

• Your AlumniFinder Sales Representative’s contact information is provided within the Summary section of the My Account tab and contains an active email link to contact your representative.

How do I know who my Company Administrator is?

• Your Company Administrator’s name is provided within the Summary section of the My Account tab. This individual will be your internal point of contact for questions regarding AlumniFinder Search.

How can I see the status of my company’s users?

• Company Administrators will see all Active users by default. The filter can be changed to view additional users that have been flagged as Suspended.

• Pricing is based per search. Please reference the AlumniFinder Search pricing sheet that is located under “My Account.”

Is this site a pay-as-you-go service?

• You pay per search and you will be billed on a monthly basis.

Do invoices come directly from AlumniFinder?

• Your billing will come from AccuData Integrated Marketing, AlumniFinder’s parent company. The email address that the invoice will come from is [email protected].

What billing options do we have for making payment?

• Your organization can be billed via credit card or invoiced (with credit approval) on a monthly basis.

How do I see user level activity in the system?

• Company Administrators have the ability to run and export detailed invoice information on their users within the “Charges/Invoices” section of the “My Account” tab. Within this section, Administrators can see basic user level data for the total amount of searches and reports run; they can also see advanced user activity down to the specific search criteria used.

• Go to “My Account” and select “Payment Method” to establish how you want to be billed each month. AlumniFinder Online is automatically set to direct bill, so if you would like to use a credit card, you will need to enter your credit card information to be billed accordingly at the end of the month.

How do I add a new user?

• To add a new user, go to “My Account” and click on “Manage Users.” Click the “Add New User” link that appears in the upper right hand corner of the page. Add the requested information, establish the user’s access level, and click “Save” to capture your changes.

How do I suspend a user?

• To suspend a user, go to “My Account” and click on “Manage Users.” A list of user names will display; click the name of the user you would like to suspend. Their account details will display; uncheck “Approved” and click “Suspend.” Click “Save” to capture your changes.

How do I reactivate a suspended user?

• To reactivate a suspend a user, go to “My Account” and click on “Manage Users.” Select “All” from the drop down list so that you are able to see all users on the account, both active and suspended. A list of user names will display; click the name of the user you would like to reactivate. Their account details will display; check “Approved” and uncheck “Suspend.” Click “Save” to capture your changes.

How do I make a user an Administrator?

• To promote a user to an Administrator, go to “My Account” and click on “Manage Users.” A list of user names will display; click the name of the user you would like to promote. Their account details will display; click “Admin.” Click “Save” to capture your changes.

How do I change the searches that certain users have access to?

• To change the searches that a given user has access to, go to “My Account” and click “Company Security.” Select the report that you would like to edit and click the corresponding “Restrict User Access” link. Click the corresponding checkbox for any users that no longer need access to the selected report. Click “Save” to capture your changes.

Where do I enter my PO number if I am paying by invoice?

• To enter your PO number, go to “My Account” and click “Payment Method.” Enter your PO number in the “Invoice Reference” field in the lower left hand corner of the page. Click “Save” to capture your changes.

Am I able to keep my AlumniFinder Online session open longer?

• Yes! Account Administrators have the ability to set an idle time out preference for their company. To do so, go to “My Account” and click “Company Security.” Use the drop down to select the amount of time that users can be logged in before they time out. Click “Save” to capture your changes. Please note that this is a company-level change; individual users cannot set their own idle time out preference.

How do I use the Manage Budget feature?

• You can find the Manage Budget feature, which is also referred to as the Budgeting Tool, under the My Account section. Simply enter the monthly budget amount you wish to set for your organization. This amount will automatically renew each billing month. You can also choose to roll over any remaining dollars into the next billing period. Next, adjust the Budget Notifications section to select the usage level you wish to be notified of during the billing month.

Can I establish a budget amount for certain users?

• Yes! If you want to establish a budget for certain users, simply enter the desired dollar amount and click “Save.”

How can I disable the Budgeting Tool after I have set a monthly budget amount?

• To disable the Budgeting Tool, simply edit the Monthly Budget Amount to $0.00 and click “Save.”

What is the billing cycle on AlumniFinder Online?

• The billing cycle on AlumniFinder Online begins on the last day of the previous month and runs through the second to last day of the current month (for example, July 31 – August 30).

How do I look at last month’s invoice broken down by user?

• To see your invoice broken down by user, go to “My Account” and click “Charges/Invoices.” Change the Display View to “User Activity” and edit the dates to reflect the previous months billing cycle. You will be able to export your report results to Excel if desired.

How do I change the name or mailing address on my invoice?

• To change the name or mailing address on your invoice, you will need to contact the AlumniFinder Support Team at 800-732-1565.

How do I change billing contact and email address for my company?

• To change the billing contact and email address for your company, you will need to contact the AlumniFinder Support Team at 800-732-1565.