A good IT provider for nonprofits starts by cutting your software costs — then builds the rest of your IT on that foundation. Microsoft 365 Nonprofit, Google for Nonprofits, and Salesforce NPSP are free for qualifying orgs. Most nonprofits don't have them.
These programs exist specifically for 501(c)(3) organizations. If your IT provider hasn't enrolled you, ask why.
| Program | What You Get | Typical Savings | How to Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits | M365 Business Basic free for up to 300 users; Business Premium at ~$5.50/user/month (vs. $22 standard) | $8K–$30K/yr for 50–150 users | Register at microsoft.com/nonprofits or through TechSoup; requires 501(c)(3) verification |
| Google Workspace for Nonprofits | Business Starter tier free; upgrade tiers at 70%+ discount; includes Gmail, Drive, Meet, Docs | $3K–$12K/yr for 50–150 users | Register through Percent (techsoup.org); Google validates eligibility |
| Google Ad Grants | $10,000/month in free Google Search advertising; must maintain 5%+ CTR and other quality requirements | $120K/yr in ad value | Part of Google for Nonprofits registration; requires active grant management to maintain |
| Salesforce.org (NPSP) | 10 free Salesforce Sales Cloud Enterprise licenses for qualifying nonprofits; additional licenses at 75% off | $25K–$100K/yr | Apply at salesforce.org/nonprofit; requires 501(c)(3) and application review |
| Cisco Meraki for Nonprofits | Free Meraki hardware grants for networking equipment; IT providers apply on behalf of nonprofits | $500–$5K in hardware | Through Cisco's nonprofit program; your IT provider must be a Meraki partner to apply |
| Adobe Creative Cloud for Nonprofits | Full Creative Cloud at ~60–70% off standard pricing through TechSoup | $300–$600/user/yr | Purchase through TechSoup Marketplace after nonprofit verification |
| Zoom for Nonprofits | Zoom Pro or Business at 50% off for qualifying nonprofits | $90–$150/user/yr | Apply through Zoom for Nonprofits at zoom.us/nonprofits |
| AWS Nonprofit Credits | $1,000–$25,000/yr in AWS cloud credits depending on size and program | Varies | Apply through AWS Nonprofit Credit Program; annual renewal required |
About TechSoup
TechSoup (techsoup.org) is the central verification and distribution platform for most nonprofit technology discounts. Your organization registers once, verifies 501(c)(3) status, and then accesses discounts from Microsoft, Google, Adobe, Cisco, and hundreds of other vendors. Your IT provider should be familiar with TechSoup and proactively identify which programs you qualify for.
Nonprofits have all the IT problems of a for-profit company — plus several they don't.
IT decisions that would be routine at a business require board-level approval at many nonprofits. Your IT provider needs to understand how to communicate ROI in terms of mission impact — not just technical specs — and support the budget request process.
Nonprofits often have high staff turnover, seasonal volunteers, and part-time workers accessing systems. Onboarding and offboarding at scale — including revoking access promptly — is a security challenge that requires a defined process, not ad hoc action.
Donor databases contain names, contact info, giving history, and often employer information. A breach of donor data is a fundraising catastrophe. CRM platforms (Salesforce NPSP, Raiser's Edge, DonorPerfect) need proper access controls, MFA, and regular access reviews.
Federal grants (federal pass-through, HHS, HUD, DOJ) increasingly include IT security requirements. Some funders require cybersecurity attestations, incident reporting, or specific data handling requirements. Your IT provider should understand how to document compliance for grant audits.
Any nonprofit accepting credit card donations — directly or through their website — has PCI DSS obligations. Most nonprofits use Stripe, PayPal, or Classy and shift most PCI scope to those processors, but residual requirements remain. Your IT provider should understand the scope.
Community health centers, substance abuse programs, mental health nonprofits, and social service organizations that provide health services are HIPAA covered entities or business associates. Standard nonprofit IT isn't enough — HIPAA-trained providers are required.
Your IT provider doesn't need to be a nonprofit software expert, but they should recognize these platforms and know how to keep them secure.
| Software Category | Common Platforms | Security / IT Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Donor Management (CRM) | Salesforce NPSP, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge, DonorPerfect, Bloomerang, Little Green Light, eTapestry | Donor PII requires MFA and access controls; Salesforce NPSP has free licenses but requires configuration; offboarding process must include CRM access revocation |
| Accounting | QuickBooks Nonprofit, Sage Intacct for Nonprofits, Blackbaud Financial Edge, Aplos | Fund accounting requirements; restricted vs. unrestricted fund separation; grant tracking; audit trail for form 990 and funder audits |
| Program Management | Apricot (Bonterra), CharityTracker, ETO (Efforts to Outcomes), Social Solutions | Often contains sensitive client data (social services, mental health, housing); role-based access critical; HIPAA may apply if health data collected |
| Online Fundraising | Classy, Fundraise Up, Give Lively, PayPal Giving Fund, Stripe (for Nonprofits) | PCI DSS scope limited to nonprofit's systems; payment processor handles most compliance; integration security with CRM via webhooks/API |
| Volunteer Management | VolunteerHub, InitLive, Better Impact, Galaxy Digital | High-turnover user population; background check data may be stored; access provisioning/deprovisioning at scale needs automation |
| Email Marketing | Mailchimp for Nonprofits, Constant Contact, HubSpot for Nonprofits | Subscriber list protection; CAN-SPAM and GDPR compliance for international donors; integration security with donor CRM |
These separate providers who understand nonprofit constraints from those who'll apply a standard business IT playbook to your organization.
Tell us about your organization. We'll match you with MSPs who have verified nonprofit experience and understand how to maximize your limited IT budget.
"A federal grant auditor asked to see our data security documentation mid-grant period. We had no written information security policy. Our IT provider helped us build one in three weeks — including evidence of backups, access controls, and staff training. We passed the audit and kept the grant."
"We qualified for Microsoft 365 Business Premium for free through TechSoup and had no idea. We'd been paying $6,400 a year for Office 365 Business Basic. Our IT provider applied for the donation licenses, migrated us in two weeks, and we now have significantly better security tools at no cost. That's $6,400 per year back into programming."
"Our donor database was breached — a phishing attack gave an attacker access to four years of donor records. Because our IT provider had an incident response plan ready, we contained the breach quickly, notified appropriately, and kept donor trust largely intact. Two of our peer organizations had similar incidents and lost major donors. Preparation made the difference."