Microsoft expands its software donation program for nonprofits
Nonprofits need up to date technology just like other businesses do. Unlike other businesses however, they don’t have a lot of cash lying around for such items. Most nonprofits use donations to provide services and pay for the people to run them. Shelling out hundreds or thousands of dollars for software that makes their programs run more smoothly is not in the budget’s of most nonprofits, at least not these days.
Microsoft has been running its software donation program for nonprofits since 1998. It has provided more than $3.9 billion worth of software to nonprofits in more than 100 countries. You can apply directly to Microsoft or through Techsoup Global, a nonprofit that connects other nonprofits with technology (including software and hardware), know how, and money.
The software donation expansion includes the following:
•The number of different Microsoft software products that can be requested has been expanded from six to 10 to allow nonprofits to get the software they need, such as Windows 7, Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft SharePoint 2010.
•Three new categories of nonprofit organizations are now eligible for software donations, including medical research organizations, private foundations, and amateur sports and recreational organizations.
•The donations program includes a new Get Genuine offering so nonprofits can ensure their existing computers are running genuine versions of Microsoft operating systems to help keep their software up-to-date and security-enhanced.
•Nonprofits can now request a software donation from Microsoft through the TechSoup Global Network whenever they need it instead of the previous limit of only one request per year.
•Nonprofit organizations ordering their donations through the TechSoup Global Network can now easily get key donations details in one place with the Microsoft Donations Center, a new website where organizations can review their donation history and identify products their organizations can request.
Microsoft has an extensive list of its products that are available to eligible organizations including but not limited to: Windows 7 upgrade, and just about every Microsoft Office 2010 program that you can think of and probably a few you can’t like Microsoft Sharepoint Workspace and Lync 2010.
You can also get online training for the various Microsoft products. Through Techsoup you can participate in classes like their latest: TechSoup’s Nonprofit Social Media Page for Beginners. Between Microsoft and Techsoup Global, nonprofits should be able to find the technology and know how that they need to run their organization efficiently.
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August 1st, 2011
“Nonprofits need up to date technology just like other businesses do.”
Which is precisely why they shouldn’t use anything from Microsoft.