For many NGOs, choosing the right mix of technology can be daunting. The tools that you might need may seem expensive and out of reach for your budget. Below we will discuss how you can get ahead with solutions from Microsoft.
From communications platforms to IT services, Microsoft products and service offerings for NGOs are available at special savings to eligible organizations. (Note that offers vary by country and by organization type.)
Below you'll find a brief explanation of TechSoup's Microsoft offerings, from cloud solutions to traditional desktop apps to services and support.
Microsoft 365
The technology world is shifting toward cloud-based applications and services. With that in mind, we recommend that NGOs, if possible, begin to shift to cloud solutions.
We strongly suggest that NGOs opt for the Microsoft 365 Business Premium cloud solution, which gives you the best of Office 2019 and Windows 10, plus much more. Best of all? Your first 10 licenses are free.
You can increase collaboration at your organization with Teams and benefit from online storage and document sharing capabilities provided by tools like OneDrive and SharePoint. Cloud-based email with Outlook is a major plus for a remote workforce, and licenses also include work management tools of Power Apps, Power Automate, Planner, and To Do.
The Microsoft 365 Business Premium plans come with upgrade rights to Windows 10 and the latest Office applications, and you receive updates for as long as you subscribe. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes both cloud and desktop versions of Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Microsoft offers many cloud licenses to suit your needs.
Desktop Productivity Applications
Are you worried that you have not even begun moving to the cloud? No need to stress — although the world is moving to the cloud overall, we also understand that many organizations still need traditional desktop programs. Below are some of the most popular donated and discounted Microsoft products that we offer.
Microsoft Office 2019 Standard Edition
Microsoft's venerable productivity suite is a popular choice among NGOs, and it isn't hard to see why. Office Standard includes the core Office apps — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and OneNote — and is a good option for most users. We offer the Mac version of Office — which includes the above apps minus Publisher — as well.
Office Standard and Office for Mac are both available for an affordable admin fee, a popular choice for smaller organizations that may not yet have all the cloud tools they need. We also offer Microsoft Access, for more efficient tracking and reporting. Through TechSoup, you may request up to 50 licenses for each of these items within a two-year period. If your organization needs more than 50 licenses, you can request the additional licenses through our discount program for Microsoft Office.
Windows 10 Upgrade
Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 back in January 2020, which means no more bug fixes or security updates for this outdated version of Windows. So if you're still running Windows 7, you really should upgrade to Windows 10.
Through TechSoup, you can request up to 50 Windows 10 upgrade licenses for a discounted admin fee, with an option to request additional Windows 10 licenses.
Microsoft Visio Standard
Are you a visual thinker? Microsoft Visio Standard is for you. Use it to create diagrams, flowcharts, office layouts, org charts, and more. Request up to 50 licenses for a discounted per-license admin fee with TechSoup.
Microsoft Project
With Microsoft Project, you can get a better sense of the steps needed to complete a project so you can keep your team on track. Use it to schedule tasks, track progress, share project information, and more. Through TechSoup, you can request up to 50 licenses.
Microsoft Server and Enterprise Products
In addition to productivity software and desktop operating systems, TechSoup also offers discounted and donated on-premises solutions for securing your servers and enterprise-grade applications.
SQL Server Standard Edition
If you host your own SQL-based database apps and need to expand your capacity, we've got you. We offer CAL licensing options for Microsoft SQL Server Standard Edition with low-cost admin fees, with a limit of five donated licenses per nonprofit.
SQL Server Standard Edition includes core features such as SQL Server Management Studio, online transaction processing, SQL data tools, and more. If you need more than five licenses, TechSoup also offers different licensing options for your products through our discount program.
Standalone SQL Server Standard Edition licenses are also available. And you can also access the SQL Server Standard Edition license plus Software Assurance bundle — or request Software Assurance on its own.
Windows Server
Of course, if you need additional Windows Server licenses, we can help you with that, too. We offer various Windows Server options, including Windows Server Standard, Windows Server Essentials, and Windows Server Datacenter. If you need additional licenses or software assurance to cover your current license, you can find them in our discount program.
Microsoft Exchange Server
Microsoft Exchange Server has the tools you need to host your own email, calendaring, and contact management setup, using the Microsoft Exchange standard. We offer license options for both the Standard and Enterprise editions.
Microsoft Training and Services for Your Nonprofit
In addition to the products themselves, TechSoup offers an array of related services and training options to help your organization scale its digital transformation.
Microsoft Digital Skills Center
Part of TechSoup Courses, The Microsoft Digital Skills Center features an array of courses to help you get the most out of the Microsoft products and services that you use every day.
We have courses to help you understand the basics of popular desktop and cloud-based Microsoft applications, including Excel, Teams, and our popular Office 365 Bootcamp, as well as more advanced training. The majority of courses are free, and both staff and volunteers can take them! Create a free TechSoup Courses account and get started today.
VISIT THE DIGITAL SKILLS CENTER
Much More Is Waiting for You
Of course, these are just a few of the affordable Microsoft products that we offer to NGOs. Browse our full catalog to view additional products and licensing options.