Nonprofit eligibility

Microsoft provides grants and discounted solutions to eligible nonprofits. Determine eligibility for your organization below.

1. Is my organization eligible?

• Nonprofit or non-governmental organization with recognized legal status in their respective country (equal to 501(c)(3) status under the United States Internal Revenue Code);
• Public library that provides general library services without charge to all residents of a given community, district or region; or
• Public museum, including public or private institutions, open to the public, that conserve and exhibit tangible objects for purposes of cultural preservation, education, or aesthetic enjoyment.

If your organization does not meet these criteria, it is not currently eligible.

In addition to the organization criteria, eligible organizations must also operate on a not-for-profit basis and have a mission to benefit the local community that could include but is not limited to - providing relief to the poor; advancing education; improving social welfare; preserving culture; preserving or restoring the environment; promoting human rights; establishment of civil society.

Any organization that does not meet the criteria outlined above for eligible nonprofit missions is ineligible for Microsoft nonprofit programs. Visit Microsoft Licensing for more information about licensing options for ineligible organizations. Examples of ineligible organizations include, but are not limited to:

• Nonprofit organizations that have not obtained recognized legal status in their respective country;
• Governmental organizations or agencies, including international governmental organizations, and United Nations Entities;
• Schools, colleges and universities including formal educational institutions, nonprofit schools, and academic museums;
• Healthcare organizations including, but not limited to, hospitals, healthcare networks, health plans, and ambulatory/outpatient healthcare organizations;
• Public Utilities, including public transportation, telecommunications, and utilities;
• Financial institutions, including banks, insurance providers, and pension and retirement funds;
• Professional, commerce and trade associations;
• Professional and semi-professional sports organizations, including governing bodies, Olympics, and national or international tournaments;
• Political, labor, and fraternal organizations;
• Refurbishers that will be installing the software on refurbished computers to be distributed or donated to nonprofits or schools. Please email oemmar@microsoft.com for more information about the Registered Refurbisher Program;
• Individuals.

If your organization does not meet these criteria, it is not currently eligible.

In additional to the previous criteria, Microsoft values and respects individual and cultural differences and is committed to providing an inclusive environment that is welcoming and free from discrimination.

Therefore, organizations are not eligible to participate in the Microsoft nonprofit program if they have a policy or mission of discrimination in hiring, compensation, promotion, termination, retirement, training, programs, activities, and/or services based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, or veteran status.

If your organization does not meet these criteria, it is not currently eligible.

Microsoft reserves the right to grant or deny an organization's application or participation at any time, for any reason, and to supplement or amend these eligibility guidelines at any time without notice. Selections are made at the sole discretion of Microsoft and are not subject to external review. Microsoft requires that grantees regularly complete an attestation to our donor rules to maintain eligibility. Failure to complete the required attestation may remove eligibility for Microsoft’s nonprofit programs unless/until organization completes the required attestation. Additionally, Microsoft reserves the right to reduce or remove an organization's access to nonprofit offers if the organization is determined to abuse the program. Examples of program abuse include, but are not limited to, intentional user mis-licensing, sharing licenses with ineligible organizations, or failing to remove unused grant licenses from an organization’s subscription (i.e., failure to maintain at least 85% active usage of all granted licenses).