What is the Microsoft Charity Licensing Program?
Microsoft offers deeply discounted rates on tools and applications to nonprofit organizations worldwide.
If you run a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization, you can receive unbelievable discounts in the Microsoft Charity Open Licensing Program.
Donations and discounts are available for Microsoft’s cloud solutions including Microsoft Office 365, Power BI, Azure, and more. Alliance Technology Partners can help you weed through the eligibility requirements.
Why Is Microsoft Proving Discounts To Non-Profit Organizations?
According to Microsoft:
“The demands on nonprofits are perhaps greater today than ever. That’s why, in early 2016, Microsoft Philanthropies committed to donating $1 billion in cloud computing resources, over three years, to help 70,000 nonprofit organizations digitally scale their impact and serve the public good. Today, we’re proud to share that nonprofit demand for cloud solutions has dramatically exceeded our expectations. We have reached our original goal a year early and donated cloud services to more than 90,000 nonprofits.”
How Much Are The Discounts?
Instead of offering a basic discount, Microsoft offers a menu of plans based on the size and needs of your non-profit organization. For example, basic email and cloud services are donated at no cost. Upgrades to popular Microsoft Office 365 applications range from $2.00 to $10.00 per user per month, depending on the size of your organization and number of users.
Who Qualifies?
Most charitable non-profits with a 501(c) (3) designation with the IRS will qualify, including churches, museums, camps as well as nonprofit companies. Some non-profits like private foundations, political, labor, academic, and health care won’t qualify.
What Is Microsoft’s Criteria For Eligibility?
Microsoft provides donated and discounted services to eligible nonprofits. According to Microsoft, to be eligible for any of their nonprofit offers, you must meet ALL 5 of the following criteria as listed below.
1. Organization Eligibility
Organizations must be a nonprofit or non-governmental organization with recognized charitable status in their respective country (such as 501(c)(3) status under the United States Internal Revenue Code).
Organizations must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
Public libraries may qualify as an eligible nonprofit organization without charitable status only for on-premises software donations and only where such software is made accessible to the general public. Please visit the Microsoft Volume Licensing website for more information about licensing programs for public library operations.
2. Mission Eligibility
In addition to the criteria above, eligible organizations must also operate on a not-for-profit basis and have a mission to benefit the local community that could include but is not limited to: providing relief to the poor, advancing education, improving social welfare, preserving culture, preserving or restoring the environment, promoting human rights, establishment of civil society. Any organization that does not meet the criteria outlined above for eligible nonprofit missions is ineligible for Microsoft nonprofit programs. Ineligible organizations include, without limitation:
- Nonprofit organizations that have not obtained recognized charitable status in their respective country;
- Governmental organizations or agencies, including international governmental organizations and United Nations Entities. Visit Microsoft Volume Licensing for Governments for more information;
- Schools, colleges and universities. These formal educational institutions are eligible for offers through Microsoft academic volume licensing programs and are not eligible for Microsoft Nonprofit Programs, including nonprofit schools. Please visit Microsoft Volume Licensing for more information;
- Healthcare organizations included in Microsoft Health Programs are ineligible for Microsoft Nonprofit Programs, including, but not limited to, hospitals, healthcare networks, health plans, ambulatory/outpatient healthcare organizations, nursing homes, retirement centers, assisted living, home health care, and health research organizations and laboratories. Visit Microsoft Volume Licensing for Health for more information. Exceptions include independent nonprofit organizations with the following missions: community, behavioral and women’s health clinics; health research organizations and laboratories; hospices; emergency services; and blood, tissue and organ banks.
- Professional, commerce and trade associations;
- Professional and semi-professional sports organizations;
- Political, labor, and fraternal organizations;
- Refurbishers that will be installing the donated software on refurbished computers to be distributed or donated to nonprofits or schools. Please visit the Registered Refurbisher Program for more information.
3. User Eligibility
Nonprofit offers are intended only for paid nonprofit employees, and unpaid full-time equivalent (FTE) staff who have material day-to-day managerial, operational, and fiduciary responsibilities, and who will not use the license for personal income generation. Volunteers, members and beneficiaries of the nonprofit are NOT eligible for nonprofit licenses and subscriptions.*
*For volunteers, you can utilize discounted volunteer offers.
4. License Restrictions
Organizations cannot share, transfer, or resell nonprofit licenses or subscriptions with other organizations, including partner nonprofits or legally independent sister organizations. Additionally, umbrella organizations, including controlled affiliates or subsidiaries, that maintain shared or centralized IT systems are only eligible for one donation account.
5. Non-Discrimination
Microsoft values and respects individual and cultural differences and is committed to providing an inclusive environment that is welcoming and free from discrimination.Therefore, organizations are not eligible to participate in the Microsoft nonprofit program if they have a policy or mission of discrimination in hiring, compensation, promotion, termination, retirement, training, programs, and/or services based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, or veteran status.The only exception to this policy is for religious organizations that are exempt from laws that prohibit such discrimination.Note: Microsoft reserves the right to grant or deny an organizations application or participation at any time, for any reason, and to supplement or amend these eligibility guidelines at any time without notice. Selections are made at Microsoft’s sole discretion and are not subject to external review.
How To Get Qualified?
As a Microsoft Partner, Alliance Technology Partners can help you weed through the eligibility requirements to see if your nonprofit in the St. Louis, MO area qualify. Get Pre-Qualified for Charity Pricing by emailing or faxing your contact information along with your organization’s 501 (c)(3) letter from the IRS.
To see if your organization qualifies, please contact us, and we’ll confirm your eligibility. Email Alliance Technology Partners by faxing us at (314) 649-8889 or emailing info@alliancetechpartners.com.
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