Who Is Eligible for Google Suites for Non-Profits?

With all the benefits and ubiquity of Google Workspace (previously called Google Suites), it’s no wonder that nonprofits often use them. But getting the system fully set up and optimized so your nonprofit gets the most use from it can be daunting for some. A nonprofit technology helpdesk can get you set up for success with your Google account, but reading this blog will help you get the hang of the basics. In either case, it’s worth looking into what Google for nonprofits church can do for you.

Google for Nonprofits Eligibility

First, let’s go over who is and isn’t able to sign up for Google Workspace for nonprofits. The quick answer is, if you are a registered nonprofit in most countries, you are eligible. There is some fine print, though, so here are all of the details.

According to Google’s Support website, to be eligible an organization has to:

• Be verified as a nonprofit by TechSoup or their local partner.
• Be a registered charity in one of the 80+ approved countries, including the USA.
• Meet additional requirements by country, if applicable (some countries have extra requirements).
• Accept the Terms set out by Google for Nonprofits.

You are not eligible if you are:

•  A school (including universities) – although philanthropic arms of education organizations may be eligible
• A hospital or other healthcare establishment – although charitable causes related to healthcare may be
• A government institution or program

The specific requirements for the USA are:

• The nonprofit must be a recognized, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS
• Even churches, often thought of as automatically tax-exempt, must still be granted 501(c)(3) status
• Must be validated by TechSoup

How Does G Suite for Nonprofits Work?

Now let’s back up a little and talk about what Google Workspace (previously called Google Suite or G Suite) actually is and can do for your nonprofit. Google Workspace is similar to Gmail but designed for groups. You could also think of it as similar to Microsoft Office, but with a company email and everything stored virtually. For example:

• With a standard, free, personal use Gmail, you have 
  • A personal email address in the format of name@gmail.com
  • 15 GB of data storage
  • Access to some Google apps, like Google Docs and Google Sheets. 
• With Google Workspace for nonprofits, 
  • Everyone within the nonprofit would have an email address with the nonprofits domain in the format of name@nonprofitname.com
  • More data storage per person
  • Access to additional Google apps

Google Workspace for Nonprofits Features

We’ve already talked about some of the features that make Google Workspace different from Gmail, but there are special features that may be extra useful for your nonprofit. Google Workspace for nonprofits has several plan options with different pricing, which is why there is a range given for many of the features. We will break down each plan and how they are different in the next section. 

• Non-profit specific domain for all users email addresses
• Video meeting setup through Google Meet of 100-250 people
• Data storage in the cloud of 30 GB – 5TB for each user
• Dashboard for managing the Workspace
• Security controls
• Technology support from Google
• Access to all the following Google apps: Gmail, Drive, Meet, Calendar, Chat, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Keep, Sites, Forms, and Currents

How Much Does G Suite for Nonprofits Cost?

It depends on the plan your nonprofit chooses, but the basic Google Workspace for nonprofits version is totally free and can accommodate up to 2,000 users. It includes 100-person video meetings and 30 GB of data storage and is exclusive to nonprofit organizations. The other three plan types (Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise) are all Business accounts that nonprofits receive a large discount (70% or more) on. 

• Business Standard – $3/user/month, includes 150-person video meetings and 2TB data storage/user
• Business Plus – $5.04/user/month, includes 250-person video meetings and 5TB data storage/user
• Enterprise – 70% off standard pricing, includes 250-person video meetings and unlimited data/user

How Do You Get a Google Suite for a Non Profit?

Once you meet all of the requirements in the nonprofits home country, it is a fairly straightforward process to request your nonprofit Google Workspace. Their website has a Get Started button that walks you through the request process. In order to validate each nonprofit organization, Google partners with TechSoup, who does nonprofit validation services. If your nonprofit has not already been verified through TechSoup, you will need to complete that application process before you can be approved for a Google Workspace for nonprofits.

Computers in Ministry: We Do the Tech So You Can Do the Good

At Computers in Ministry, we believe technology should serve your goals, not the other way around. We offer a variety of tech help so that your nonprofit can fully leverage the power of what’s available to achieve your goals! Whether you just need a little help to get technology set up, or you want a partner to build and run all your technology, we’ve got a solution for you. Check out our full list of services or contact us so we can build a partnership that works for you!