Most major software companies run programmes for registered nonprofits, from free office suites and email to donated CRM licences and free search advertising. Small organisations miss out mainly because the paperwork looks daunting. In practice, one good validation opens most doors.
Step 1: validate once
Many programmes rely on a verification partner to confirm that your organisation is a registered nonprofit. Getting validated with one service often makes later applications faster. Prepare:
- Your official registration document and number.
- A domain email address for the applicant, not a personal address.
- An up-to-date website that matches your registered name and mission.
- The name of a staff member or board member authorised to apply.
Eligibility rules vary by country and by programme. Some exclude government bodies, hospitals, schools or religious organisations, while others include them. Read each programme’s rules before applying.
Step 2: claim the high-value programmes
- Google for Nonprofits. Workspace for Nonprofits (email, documents, storage), Google Ad Grants for free search advertising, and the YouTube Nonprofit Program. Each product is activated separately after verification.
- Microsoft for Nonprofits. Grants and discounts on Microsoft 365 and Azure.
- TechSoup. A catalogue of donated and discounted software and hardware from many brands, usually for a small administration fee per product.
- Salesforce for Nonprofits. Donated CRM licences for donor, volunteer and programme management.
- Canva for Nonprofits. Premium design features for campaigns and social media.
Browse every programme on our nonprofit deals list.
Pick one workspace
Choose either Google or Microsoft as your main email and document platform. Running both creates confusion over where files live. The other can still be useful for specific tools.
Watch the hidden costs
“Donated” does not always mean free to run:
- Admin fees. Small per-product fees through donation catalogues add up if you request things you will not install.
- Implementation. A donated CRM still needs set-up, data migration and training. Budget time or volunteer help.
- Renewals. Some offers renew annually and need re-verification.
- Paid add-ons. Extra storage, support or premium features may be billed at standard prices.
Ad Grants deserve a plan
Free search advertising can drive real traffic to donation and volunteer pages, but programmes like Google Ad Grants come with compliance rules for account quality. Assign one person to manage the account, track conversions such as donations or sign-ups, and review it monthly.
Giving Tuesday and year-end
Many technology companies promote nonprofit offers around Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after US Thanksgiving. Check our sale calendar for the date.
A simple tech stack for a small nonprofit
| Need | Programme or free tool |
|---|---|
| Email and documents | Google Workspace for Nonprofits or Microsoft 365 nonprofit offer |
| Donor CRM | Salesforce for Nonprofits, or a simpler free CRM while you are small |
| Design | Canva for Nonprofits |
| Website | WordPress, or free static hosting such as GitHub Pages |
| Video calls | Your workspace’s built-in meetings, or Jitsi Meet |
| Project tracking | Asana nonprofit discount or the Atlassian Social Impact License |
Start with email and documents, add a CRM when you have more donors than one spreadsheet can handle, and only then add the rest.