Google for Nonprofits is a free program offered that gives nonprofits access to powerful Google products for free. Nonprofits can use these free Google products to work smarter and connect with their audience. In the United States, this program is open to tax-exempt organizations.
What Does Google for Nonprofits Cost?
Google for Nonprofits and G Suite for Nonprofits are absolutely free, outside of any administrative cost to set it up and manage it. If you had to pay for it, this service would cost your nonprofit $12 per user per month! That cost adds up fast and is a substantial headache, especially for smaller organizations.
G Suite for Nonprofits
G Suite is Google’s zero-cost answer to Microsoft Office. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet program, and presentation software. A new addition to this lineup is Google Meet, a video conferencing system that competes with Zoom. This software is stored on Google’s servers so your files can be accessed from any computer.
G Suite also includes Google Drive and 30 gigabytes of cloud storage for your organization’s important documents. Staff members can easily share files and collaborate, even when they are physically located hundreds of miles apart.
And if your nonprofit doesn’t have a dedicated tech person, that’s ok. G Suite for Nonprofits includes 24/7 phone, email, and live chat tech support with Google staff.
Google for Nonprofits Email
Using Gmail or another free email provider for your organization’s email doesn’t just look unprofessional. It can lead to exposure of confidential information like donor giving.
With Google for Nonprofits, you can easily give staff members, trustees, and volunteers organizational emails that are as easy to use as Gmail.
Google Meet Takes the Place of Zoom
The newest addition to Google for Nonprofits is Google Meet. This video-conferencing software lets your organization host and join video-conferencing meetings. It’s the perfect solution to host board and committee meetings while practicing social distancing. Since Google Meet lets you host meetings for free, it is the better option for Nonprofits.
Google Ad Grants for Nonprofits
Imagine what you could do if your nonprofit had an extra $10,000 in its marketing budget. How many more people would hear your story? How many more donors would you get?
Google Ad Grants lets you advertise Google’s search engine, the most visited website globally. This in-kind grant lets you place text ads on search engine result pages when users search for specific terms related to your nonprofit.
Is my Organization Eligible for Google for Nonprofits?
Essentially, to be eligible for a Google for Nonprofits grant, your organization needs to be a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS. If you are a charity fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3), you are ineligible. Churches and other organizations that are exempted under the IRS’s group exemption are eligible but need to ask the IRS for a qualifying letter stating they are under a group exemption.
Some organizations are excluded from Google for Nonprofits, even if they are 501(c)(3)s. The following are excluded from the grant for various reasons:
- A governmental entity or organization
- A hospital or healthcare organization
- A school, academic institution, or university
Google has a similar program for K-12 schools. You can find out more here.
Register your Google for Nonprofits Account Today
Interested in signing your nonprofit up to take full advantage of G Suite, Gmail, and Google Ad Grants? You’ll need to register your nonprofit with Google. Next, you’ll be asked to validate your nonprofit through TechSoup. (TechSoup is a great resource for nonprofits to get free or reduced-priced software.)
- Register your nonprofit with Google.
- Validate your nonprofit through TechSoup. (TechSoup is a great resource for nonprofits to get free or reduced-priced software.)
- Wait for the Application to process. Generally, it takes about a week for your nonprofit to be validated.
- Enroll in the Google services. You’ll be able to enroll in G Suite, Google Ad Grants, and even Youtube for Nonprofits. Google’s documentation will walk you through how to configure your existing email domain through your new Gmail setup.
Your Org is Now Powered by Google
Your organization now has access to Google’s powerful productivity software. Every member of your team will have access to Google Drive to securely store files on the cloud. You’ll be able to collaborate on word-processing documents and spreadsheets too. You can leverage this free software into a real game-changer for your office.
