Just like most for-profit organisations, nonprofits can benefit greatly from IT and productivity software to improve their daily operations and performance. Microsoft is offering various product donations and discounts that are specially catered to nonprofits—tools they can use to maximise their social impact.
Here is a quick guide on how you can apply for these donation and discount bundles, and check if your organisation qualifies for the programme.
Bundles for nonprofits
The Microsoft product donation programme has three bundles: Cloud Services, Software, and Volume Discounts.
Through the Cloud Services bundle, eligible nonprofits can gain access to Microsoft Cloud services and products, such as Office 365 Nonprofit, Power BI Pro for Nonprofits, and Enterprise Mobility Suite for Nonprofits, at a significant discount or even for free.
For the Software bundle, nonprofits can receive software license donations through TechSoup, our partner, as well as their affiliates worldwide, which include Adobe, Amazon Web Services, and Dell. Some of the product donations Microsoft offers as a partner are Windows 10 Office 2016 and Visual Studio 2015.
Finally, the Volume Discounts bundle allows nonprofits to acquire perpetual licenses at a significant discount through Microsoft Licensing for Nonprofits. This includes Open License for Nonprofits, a license programme which offers the flexibility to meet the various needs of nonprofits. For instance, you can make an initial order of five or more licenses, and reorder one license at any time. A wide selection of products can be acquired at reduced prices through any approved Volume Licensing reseller. You can even get more value and assistance through Software Assurance, a programme that helps you deploy, manage, and use Microsoft products more efficiently to reap the most out of your IT investment.
However, some of these bundles are only be available in certain countries. You can do a quick check on the bundles’ availability here.
Eligibility
To be eligible for any of these bundles, your nonprofit must meet all the criteria shown on the website. These may differ from country to country, but they generally include the following:
- Nonprofit organisational eligibility: Organisations need to be registered with or recognised by the country’s local authorities as a nonprofit or non-governmental organisation.
- Nonprofit mission eligibility: Organisations have to operate on a not-for-profit basis and benefit the local community through its mission, which can include providing relief to the poor, advancing education, improving social welfare, preserving culture, restoring the environment, or promoting human rights.
- Anti-discrimination policy: Organisations cannot be eligible if they have a policy or mission of discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training or services, promotion, termination, and/or retirement based on race, colour, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, or veteran status. The only exception is for religious organisations that are exempt from laws that prohibit such discrimination.
In addition, the benefits gained from this programme are only intended for the nonprofits’ employees; members or beneficiaries are not eligible for the nonprofit licenses or subscriptions.
Find out more about country-specific criteria for the programme.
Get started
Once you have verified that your nonprofit is eligible for the programme and that the bundles are available for your country, you can start applying for the programme.
- Get a TechSoup Validation Token: You can register with your local TechSoup provider for a validation token. If you are already registered, you can visit the TechSoup Validation Services for your token. Your token will look similar to this: 1234a567@1a2b3c5d6789999
- Sign in: Use your TechSoup Validation Token to sign in here.
- View programmes: Congratulations! Now you can view and select the programmes and bundles you are eligible for.
Learn how Microsoft product donations are empowering nonprofits to achieve more. You can also find out more about the programme through the FAQs.