Nonprofit Communications: Writing For A Better World

By James D’Ambrosio

In early September, Microsoft expanded its nonprofit donation program offering free and deeply discounted versions of Office 365, providing anywhere access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Exchange Online (cloud-based e-mail, calendar and contacts), Sharepoint Online (cloud-based service for creating sites to connect with colleagues and customers), Lync Online (cloud-based instant messaging, screen sharing, voice and videoconferencing), and more. These applications are useful if your agency has several locations, employees that work remotely and/or travel frequently. You can also create a public Web site without additional hosting fees, and an Intranet site for collaboration.

Office 365 For Nonprofits is available in the U.S. and 41 countries for qualified nonprofits (see terms below), and will be expanded to 90 countries by July 2014. Product donations are received through Tech Soup Global and their global partners.

4 PLANS TO CHOOSE FROM 

1) Office 365 Enterprise E1 For Nonprofits:  (FREE)

2) Office 365 Small Business For Nonprofits: (FREE)**

3) Office 365 Enterprise E3 For Nonprofits:  ($4.50 PER USER, PER MONTH)

4) Office 365 Small Business Premium For Nonprofits: ($2 PER USER, PER MONTH)**

**Software coming soon, not yet available

IMPORTANT DETAILS: Free plans do not include the full installed version of Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) You can request the latest version of Office through TechSoup — Office Standard 2013 ($24), and Office Professional Plus 2013 ($32). Agencies can also upgrade to discounted plans offering desktop Office apps that can be used on up to five devices per user. Small Business is designed for agencies with 1-10 users and no IT staff; Small Business Premium allows up to 25 users. Enterprise plans are geared towards all-size organizations running a server-client network such as Windows Server.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS / GUIDELINES

Agencies must meet these requirements to participate: A) a recognized charitable agency operating on a nonprofit basis; B) a mission benefiting the community including, but not limited to: relief for the poor, advancing education, improving social welfare, preserving culture, preserving and/or restoring the environment, promoting human rights; C) sign a contract attesting eligibility.

ORGANIZATIONS NOT ELIGIBLE 

Those without full nonprofit status  /  government organizations (including U.N. entities)  /  schools, colleges and universities  /  some health care organizations  /  commerce and trade organizations  /  political, labor and fraternal organizations  /  religious or faith-based organizations without charitable status  /  organizations that discriminate  /  individuals.

Note: The above covers most exclusions, but not all. Click here for a complete, detailed listing 

HOW TO GET STARTED

To obtain software, you first sign up for a free trial. Once eligibility is confirmed, you can access the plan you’d like. (Microsoft can verify eligibility at any time during the trial.) (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP)

QUESTIONS TO READERS

Do you have experience with Microsoft’s nonprofit donation programs? If so, what is your impression?

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Microsoft Nonprofit Donation Program, Microsoft Office 365, Office 365, Office 365 For Nonprofits, Office 365 Free |