Important Changes to the Microsoft Donation Program

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Welcome!

If you are reading this guide, you are about to embark on a process that will help your organization harness the potential of technology to deliver your mission and best serve your community. Proactively planning for technology is about more than replacing old computers (although that might be part of your plan!). This process will help your organization fundamentally shift the way you approach technology investments toward greater mission achievement and community impact. It will identify opportunities for technology to help you control costs, reduce risk, raise funds, and empower staff.

Strategic technology planning – much like any strategic planning process – is a comprehensive look at the current state and the desired future state for your organization. If you just need some new computers, this may not be the right process. But if you are ready to treat technology as a mission-critical investment that can accelerate your organization’s impact, you are in the right place! Your nonprofit has much to gain from appropriately integrating technology into your operations, communications, fundraising, and service delivery. This guide offers step-by-step support to help you lead your organization through technology planning, resulting in a roadmap to smart technology use.

Acknowledgements

This guide has been produced through the generous support of the Rasmuson Foundation, a private foundation that works as a catalyst to promote a better life for Alaskans. Learn more at www.rasmuson.org. It was written and edited by Lindsay Bealko of Toolkit Consulting, who helps mission-minded organizations design creative communications, engaging education, and powerful programs.

Special thanks to Orion Matthews and Jeremiah Dunham of DesignPT for their substantial contributions to and reviews of this guide to make it as useful as possible to nonprofit organizations who are ready to harness the strategic potential of technology.

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Important Changes to the Microsoft Donation Program

Some of these changes will impact the current Microsoft Software Donation Program on TechSoup Canada and are worth your close review as you set plans for your nonprofit or library.

Highlights: What is changing?

Aged care organizations now eligible for grants - "Microsoft is expanding eligibility for our nonprofit offers to include nonprofit aged care organizations, providing technology grants and discounts up to 75%, as well as critical IT support and capacity building to help them with their digital transitions. "
Shifting to Cloud-first Grant program - "[B]eginning in April 2022, we are shifting to a cloud-first grant program to ensure that nonprofits of every size in every part of the globe have access to the world-class cloud technology they need to accelerate the work they are doing to accomplish their missions"
Grants for on-premise products no longer available after April 4, 2022 - "We recognize that some nonprofits are not yet ready to move to the cloud. So, while we will no longer provide grants for most of our on-premises software beginning on April 4, 2022, we will continue to provide on-premises software to nonprofits at a discount of up to 75% through Microsoft partners. For nonprofits in markets where Azure is not yet available, we will continue to provide grants for Windows Server and SQL Server."

For more information on these changes, please visit:

Microsoft Tech For Social Impact Announcement

Tech Soup Canada

Aged care organizations now eligible for grants

Microsoft Non-Profit - Eligibility