Running a not-for-profit means doing big things with a small team and an even smaller budget. Microsoft backs that mission with real software grants and steep discounts across the productivity, reporting, cloud, and security tools you already rely on. Professional Advantage helps you make sense of what's on offer and get set up at no cost to you.
Here's what the right technology can do for your organisation:
- Give your staff and volunteers secure, full mobility so they can serve your community from anywhere.
- Speed up approvals and processing with smart automation, so less time goes to admin and more to impact.
- Make it easier to track funds, expenses, and costs across every department, region, or program.
- Turn complex reporting on donations and fund allocation into something you can actually show your board.
- Protect the sensitive data your community trusts you with, against threats that keep getting harder to spot.
- Help you manage and engage volunteers without another spreadsheet.
Microsoft's not-for-profit program covers Microsoft 365, Azure, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365. If you're not sure what your organisation might be missing out on, this guide is for you.
What Microsoft and Professional Advantage offer not-for-profits
Every offer below is designed to help you do more with what you've got. Pick what matters most to you right now. You don't need to take it all on at once.
1) Give your team the tools to do their best work
Microsoft 365 Business Basic is genuinely free for up to 300 users, and it's a solid starting point: web and mobile Office apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, essential security, and 1TB of storage per user.
When you're ready for more, Microsoft 365 Business Premium brings the full desktop suite together with Teams, Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, and enterprise-grade security, built for small to mid-size teams that need to stay productive and protected. Eligible not-for-profits get it at a 75% discount, currently around US$5.50* per user/month paid yearly. We'll help you map out the migration in a way that actually fits how your organisation works.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is available at a 15% discount (around US$25.50* per user/month, paid annually) for teams who want AI woven right into Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. It’s a step up from the free Copilot Chat now bundled into every Microsoft 365 plan. We can help with everything from use cases to rollout and training, through our Copilot adoption services.
2) See your impact clearly
Microsoft Power BI turns your data into something your board, funders, and staff can actually understand at a glance.
Power BI Desktop is free and lets you connect to your data sources, build visualisations, and publish them wherever you need them. When you need real-time dashboards, collaboration, or wider distribution, Power BI Pro is available to eligible not-for-profits at a discounted rate.
3) Move to the cloud without the cost blowout
Microsoft Azure helps you cut infrastructure costs while gaining the agility and security a hybrid environment demands.
Qualified not-for-profits get US$2,000 in Azure credit every year, unlocking the full range of Azure products and services. If you haven't made the move yet, our complimentary 1-day Cloud Readiness Assessment is a good place to start.
Already on Azure? There's more headroom than most organisations realise — securing your hybrid setup, virtualising desktops, modernising apps, and sharpening your reporting and analytics. Explore what's possible with our consulting support.
4) Build the tools your processes actually need
Microsoft Power Apps lets you build custom apps around how your not-for-profit really operates, without needing a development team. It's free for up to 10 users, with discounted pricing of around US$2.50* per user/month beyond that.
5) Get your finances in order
Dynamics 365 Business Central brings finance, grants, donations, operations, and inventory together in one place, a genuine step up for organisations still juggling disconnected systems. It's now 60% off, currently around US$32.00* per user/month. Not using it yet? Our free assessment will tell you whether it's the right fit.
6) Grow your donor relationships
Dynamics 365 Sales helps you grow and nurture your donor base with connected data, built-in engagement tools, and reporting that actually reconciles, starting at around US$16.25 per user/month.*
Is your organisation eligible?
Microsoft's criteria cover more than just registered charities these days. In broad terms, you're likely eligible if:
- Your organisation has recognised not-for-profit status, or fits one of Microsoft's other eligible categories, including public libraries, public museums, and certain Australian healthcare organisations.
- You operate on a not-for-profit basis with a mission that benefits your community.
- Your licences go to the people doing the work, such as granted licences to paid staff and unpaid executives, discounted licences extending to volunteers and temporary staff too. Beneficiaries, donors, and members aren't eligible.
You can read Microsoft's full eligibility criteria here.
Getting started is simpler than you'd think
- Register through the Microsoft Nonprofit Hub with your organisation's documentation.
- Microsoft reviews your eligibility, usually within about a week, and may reach out if they need more details.
- You'll get an email confirming the outcome.
- Once approved, log in to the Nonprofit Hub to start claiming your grants and discounts.
Ready to get modern?
Better tools mean better services, sharper insights, faster response times, and a more secure organisation overall. With Microsoft's and Professional Advantage's not-for-profit offers, getting there is more achievable and affordable than most organisations expect. Give us a call on 1800 126 499 or drop us an email at [email protected] to get started.
*Please check with Professional Advantage for the latest AUD pricing, as Microsoft's published figures are in USD and subject to change.
