Free Tools Every Not-for-Profit Should Use

Running a not-for-profit means stretching every dollar. The good news is that several of the big tech companies give eligible charities their tools free or heavily discounted. Most groups we meet aren't using half of what they could get.

A note before you start: eligibility rules change, and they differ between programs. Most require you to be a registered charity. In Australia that usually means being registered with the ACNC. Check each program's current rules before you apply.

Google for Nonprofits

Google's nonprofit program can include:

• Google Workspace for Nonprofits: email on your own domain, shared calendars and shared drives for your committee.
• Google Ad Grants: free search advertising for eligible charities, so you can appear when people search for causes like yours.
• YouTube's Nonprofit Program: extra features for charities sharing video.

Apply at google.com/nonprofits. Google checks eligibility through a verification partner, which can take a few days.

Canva for Nonprofits

Eligible not-for-profits can get Canva's paid features free for their team. That includes templates, brand colours and fonts saved in one place, and easy resizing of a design for Facebook, Instagram and print. It's ideal for flyers, posters and social media posts when there's no designer on the team.

Free website security

Cloudflare's Project Galileo offers free protection for organisations doing public-interest work, such as human rights, community and independent journalism, that might be targeted by attacks.

Other things worth a look

• Your accounting software: many providers offer not-for-profit discounts if you ask.
• Email newsletters: most newsletter services have a free plan for small lists, and some discount charities.
• Microsoft: offers discounted Microsoft 365 for eligible not-for-profits.

Keep track of what you sign up for

Free accounts multiply quickly. Use one shared organisation email address to sign up for everything (not a volunteer's personal email), and keep the logins in a shared password manager. When volunteers change, nothing gets lost.

Not sure which of these your group qualifies for, or how to set them up? Book a free chat. We offer a community rate for not-for-profits.