Leveling Up Your Nonprofit’s Tech Stack: A Guide to Discounts Donations, and Grants

For more than half of my career, I worked at a variety of nonprofit organizations, which shaped my understanding of purpose-driven work and the unique challenges organizations face. Today as an IT team lead at Insource, I maintain my connection with the nonprofit sector through helping a wide range of nonprofit clients navigate the complexities of technology. This experience has given me a front-row seat to one of the most critical areas of nonprofit management: securing technology that’s both affordable and effective. A tight budget shouldn’t mean a compromised mission; in fact, technology can be a force multiplier for good. So what deals are out there for nonprofits?

Plenty! It helps to know where to look, as well as where the quick wins might be hiding. This guide breaks down the path to a robust and cost-effective technology infrastructure into three distinct levels which let anyone at any level of technical expertise bring savings back to their organization.

Level 1: The Beginner’s Guide to Quick Wins

If you’re just starting to explore the world of nonprofit tech resources, the best place to begin is with established, well-known platforms. These are your low-hanging fruit, offering immediate and significant savings with minimal effort.

• Discover TechSoup. If you haven’t heard of TechSoup, it’s time to get acquainted. TechSoup is a global network that provides donated and discounted technology products and services to nonprofits. Think of it as a one-stop-shop for everything from software licenses to hardware. The first thing you should do is visit their website and create an account for your organization. Once you’re verified as a legitimate nonprofit, you’ll unlock a treasure trove of offers from major tech companies. For instance, a current good deal to look out for is their program for Meraki equipment. This can include wireless access points, switches, and security appliances, often at a substantial discount or even as a donation. This enterprise-grade equipment can transform your network’s reliability and security, a massive win for any organization.

• Sign up for Google for Nonprofits. Google offers a suite of tools designed to help nonprofits, but one of the most powerful is the Google Ad Grants program. After signing up for Google for Nonprofits, you can apply for a monthly credit of up to $10,000 for Google Search ads. This powerful credit that allows you to run ads on Google’s search engine. This can be a game-changer for fundraising campaigns, volunteer recruitment, and general awareness, helping your mission reach a much wider audience at no cost.

Level 2: Intermediate Moves for the Savvy Administrator

Once you’ve tackled the basics, it’s time to get a little more proactive. These steps require a bit more legwork but can result in ongoing, substantial savings that directly impact your long-term budget.

• Ensure You’re Getting Every Nonprofit Discount. You might already be using popular software or services, but are you paying the nonprofit rate? Many companies have unadvertised or less-promoted discount programs for registered 501(c)(3) organizations. This applies to everything from project management tools to accounting software, and even phone and internet providers. Take a moment to audit your current technology expenses. For each service you pay for, go to the company’s website and search for “nonprofit,” “discount,” or “donation.” You may be surprised to find a hidden page dedicated to these offers.

• Ask Your Vendors Directly. The most powerful intermediate move is simply to ask. Don’t assume that a vendor who doesn’t explicitly advertise a nonprofit discount doesn’t have one. When you’re in a sales conversation, or even after you’ve become a client, make it a point to ask if they offer a special rate for nonprofits. This can be as simple as saying, “We’re a nonprofit organization, and our budget is tight. Do you have any discounts or special pricing available for us?” You’ll find that many companies have an unwritten policy or a willingness to be flexible. This proactive approach ensures you’re not leaving money on the table.

Level 3: Advanced & Specialized Strategies

For organizations with more complex needs and the capacity for long-term planning, there are more advanced and specialized programs that can provide a huge boost.

• Explore Microsoft’s Azure Credits for Nonprofits. Microsoft, a major player in the cloud computing space, offers significant credits for nonprofits to use its Azure platform. This isn’t just about discounted software; it’s about free access to powerful cloud infrastructure. Azure credits can be used for a wide range of services, including hosting your website, managing databases, running analytics, and even leveraging artificial intelligence to analyze donor data or streamline operations. This can be a game-changer for nonprofits that need to scale their digital operations without the prohibitive cost of building and maintaining physical servers. To access these credits, you’ll need to go through Microsoft’s nonprofit program, which requires verification of your organization’s status.

• Seek Out Technology Grants. While discounts and donations are excellent for securing specific products, technology grants can provide funding for larger, more strategic initiatives. These grants are often offered by foundations or corporate giving programs and can be used for everything from a full website redesign to implementing a new donor management system or even a complete hardware overhaul for your staff. Finding these grants requires research; you can use resources like Candid (formerly the Foundation Center) or simply do focused searches for “technology grants for nonprofits,” using keywords tied to your organization’s mission or area of impact. This is a long-term strategy, often requiring a detailed proposal and a clear plan, but the payoff can be immense, allowing you to make a transformative investment in your organization’s future.

The Ever-Changing Landscape

In the world of nonprofit technology, one thing is constant: change. Companies’ policies on discounts and donations can shift, and new programs can emerge while old ones fade away. A deal that was available last year might be gone today, and a new opportunity could pop up tomorrow. This is why it’s crucial to treat your search for affordable tech not as a one-time event, but as an ongoing process. Double-checking your vendors and exploring new resources every 6 to 12 months is a habit that can save your organization valuable resources.

You never know when a new grant or a deeper discount might appear, ready to boost your mission. So stay curious, stay savvy, and let’s keep leveling up your good work!

Insource is here to help guide you through this process! Reach out to us at insource@insourceservices.com or 781-235-1490 to learn how the IT team can work with your organization.