Microsoft has a history of supporting nonprofits by providing discounted pricing.  Through the Technology for Social Impact program, they offer discounted pricing for nonprofits on a range of products and services. This program is accessible through the Microsoft Nonprofit Hub, a central resource for nonprofits seeking information and support. Their approach is to provide up to a 75% discount on core products for cloud and on-premises products, and up to a 60% discount on premium products.

This post provides an overview of Microsoft pricing for nonprofits, including eligibility requirements, product breakdowns, and additional benefits.

Eligibility

While specific eligibility criteria for Microsoft nonprofit pricing may vary by region, general guidelines include:

• Nonprofit Status: Organizations must be recognized as charitable organizations in their respective countries/regions. In many countries, TechSoup is the organization that provides this certification.
• Mission Alignment: The organization’s mission must align with Microsoft’s philanthropic focus areas, typically excluding political, religious, or discriminatory organizations.

Price Guide

Microsoft offers a variety of products and services at discounted rates for nonprofits. Here is a breakdown of some key offerings:

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based productivity suite that includes applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Nonprofits can access these tools through various plans, each designed to meet different needs and budgets:

In addition to these plans, Microsoft also offers grants for Microsoft Office 365 E1 via Enterprise Agreement.

Other Notable Products

Beyond Microsoft 365, several other Microsoft products are available at discounted rates for nonprofits:

• Microsoft 365 E3: This enterprise plan provides enhanced security and compliance features. The price recently increased from $8.00 to $9.00 per user per month.
• Microsoft 365 E5: The top-tier offering with advanced features, including analytics and voice capabilities.
• Microsoft 365 Copilot: An AI-powered tool that streamlines tasks and enhances productivity, available as an add-on at a discounted price.
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2: An endpoint security solution available at a discounted rate.
• Windows 11 Professional: Available at a discounted rate with downgrade rights to Windows 10 Professional.
• Microsoft Forms: This tool allows nonprofits to gather feedback from customers and employees, which can be valuable for collecting data from beneficiaries or donors.
• Microsoft Bookings: This tool can help nonprofits manage appointments with clients or volunteers by simplifying the scheduling process.

Additional Benefits and Resources

Microsoft offers several additional benefits to nonprofits, including:

• TechSoup: A platform that provides access to discounted Microsoft products and services.
• Microsoft TechSpark: An initiative that partners with local organizations to provide digital skills training and resources.
• Nonprofit Tech Acceleration for Black and African American Communities: A program focused on promoting social justice through technology.

By leveraging Microsoft’s resources, nonprofits can significantly reduce their technology costs, enhance communication and collaboration, improve security, and ultimately, dedicate more time and resources to fulfilling their missions.

Can We Help?

CGNET has worked for many years helping organizations navigate Microsoft licensing.  Reach out to me, g.lindsey@cgnet.com, and I will be happy to forward to our licensing team.