There are a lot of ways nonprofits can leverage cheap or even free resources to help run their organization. Here are our first three recommended steps for every nonprofit organization.
#1 Register with TechSoup
TechSoup helps Canadian nonprofits, charities and libraries achieve greater impact. They do this by connecting nonprofit organizations with affordable technologies, so they can invest the majority of their resources into what counts: their mission.
Let’s get your nonprofit setup with TechSoup by following 3 basic steps!
1. Register Your Organization
Your organization needs to be a Canadian charity, federal or provincial nonprofit organization or public library. Individuals cannot register.
2. Submit Qualification Documents
Nonprofits will need to provide copies of your official documents for verification purposes. We will also contact you if we require any further documentation to verify your status, budget, address, or activities.
Manage Organization’s Documents >
3. Request Products
To your organization, accessing the technology donations program will look a lot a regular online store. You’ll be able to pick out products you’re eligible for, add them to your cart, and check out.
#2 Order Microsoft Licensing
Microsoft provides grants and discounts for eligible nonprofit organizations, including cloud services such as Microsoft 365, Azure, and Dynamics 365.
Let’s get you licensed with Microsoft 365’s comprehensive productivity and security solutions:
1. Register Your Organization
To register with Microsoft for Nonprofits, visit the link below and click “Register Now“. Follow the steps to complete the registration. Once approved, you will hear back from the Microsoft Nonprofits team.
Register >
2. Order Licenses.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant available free for up to 10 users and discounted pricing for additional users. Best for small and mid-sized nonprofits that need email, applications, cloud file-storage and sharing, web conferencing and simple device management and advanced security features.
Order Licenses >
3. Assign Licenses
Apply the licenses to users so that they can start benefiting from the enhanced features!
#3 Get your Azure Grant
Microsoft also provides a grant for nonprofits to leverage $2,000 (USD) Azure services credits per year and access the complete portfolio of Azure products and cloud service. (And yes, it was $3,500 (USD) previously!)
It’s very easy once you have completed step #2 to claim your Azure Grant.
1. Claim the Azure Grant Offer
From within the Nonprofit Portal for Microsoft, the “Claim Now” button is in many places. Use the link below to click for your convenience.
Here’s how you set those credits up after you’ve been approved as a nonprofit.
Claim Now >
2. Add a Payment Method
Once the Azure Credits run out, your payment method will be charged to continue the service. Microsoft require a payment method be added for this purpose.
Add Payment Method >
3. Start utilizing the Microsoft Azure Sponsorship
Once it is active, you can start adding resources such as Virtual Machines.
Don’t forget that the grant expires and you have to renew the Microsoft Azure Sponsorship!
We’re here to help!
We’ve gone through the steps with many nonprofits over the years and know the process like the back of our hands. Remember, these are just the first few steps to take in your journey to making meaningful impact to your nonprofit through technology grants and donations.
Feeling overwhelmed? Let us guide you.