Google for Nonprofits is a program designed to offer free and discounted services to eligible nonprofit organizations. It provides access to a suite of Google products, such as G Suite for Nonprofits, Google Ad Grants, YouTube Nonprofit Program, and Google Earth Outreach, to help organizations increase their impact.
Pros:
- Access to a wide range of Google products and services
- Free or discounted pricing for eligible organizations
- Integration between Google products
- Cloud-based services, accessible from anywhere
- Scalable solutions as organizations grow
Cons:
- Not open-source or self-hosted
- Eligibility requirements may exclude some organizations
- Limited customization options compared to some alternatives
- May require training for team members who are not familiar with Google products
Google for Nonprofits is not open-source, and it cannot be self-hosted.
The program offers cloud-based services that organizations can access through a web browser or mobile app.
Use cases for non-profits and social enterprises:
- Internal communication and collaboration: G Suite for Nonprofits provides tools like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Meet to facilitate communication and collaboration within the organization.
- Fundraising and donor outreach: Google Ad Grants offer free advertising credits for Google Ads, helping non-profits reach potential donors and promote their cause.
- Video content and storytelling: The YouTube Nonprofit Program provides access to unique features, such as donation cards, that help organizations engage with their audience and share their stories through video content.
- Geographic visualization and storytelling: Google Earth Outreach allows non-profits to visualize their impact using Google Earth and Google Maps, creating engaging stories and reports for donors and stakeholders.
- Volunteer and event management: Google Calendar and Google Forms can be used to schedule events, manage volunteer sign-ups, and collect information from participants.
| Benefit | Feature |
|---|---|
| Access to Google products | G Suite, Google Ad Grants, YouTube Nonprofit Program, Google Earth Outreach |
| Free or discounted pricing | Google for Nonprofits program eligibility |
| Integration between products | Google ecosystem |
| Cloud-based services | Accessible from anywhere |
| Scalability | Solutions grow with the organization |
To sign up for Google for Nonprofits, eligible organizations need to apply on the Google for Nonprofits website (Nonprofit Management Resources - Google for Nonprofits). Once approved, they can access the suite of Google products and services available through the program.
Cost-benefit comparison with other popular nonprofit tools:
| Nonprofit Tool | Cost | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Google for Nonprofits | Free or discounted for eligible organizations | Suite of Google products, integration, scalability |
| Microsoft for Nonprofits | Free or discounted for eligible organizations | Suite of Microsoft products, integration, scalability |
| Salesforce for Nonprofits | Free or discounted for eligible organizations | CRM, fundraising, volunteer management |
| Zoho for Nonprofits | Free or discounted for eligible organizations | CRM, email marketing, project management |
| Asana for Nonprofits | 50% discount for eligible organizations | Task management, project tracking |
When choosing a suite of tools for your nonprofit or social enterprise, consider the range of products and services offered, pricing and eligibility, integration capabilities, and scalability to ensure the best fit for your organization’s needs.
Below is a table comparing Google products for nonprofits and their free and open-source software (FOSS) alternatives:
| Google Product | FOSS Alternative | Key Features & Differences |
|---|---|---|
| G Suite for Nonprofits | Nextcloud, Zimbra | Nextcloud: File hosting, document collaboration, calendar, contacts, video calls |
| Zimbra: Email, calendar, contacts, file sharing, chat, video calls | ||
| Google Ad Grants | N/A | No direct FOSS alternative; explore other free marketing tools like social media platforms |
| YouTube Nonprofit Program | PeerTube | PeerTube: Decentralized video hosting, no ads, customizable, upload limits depend on instance |
| Google Earth Outreach | QGIS, Ushahidi | QGIS: GIS software for mapping and spatial analysis |
| Ushahidi: Crowdsourcing and mapping platform for crisis response and human rights advocacy |
Note that the FOSS alternatives may not have the same level of integration as Google products, but they offer more control and customization options. Choosing the right tool depends on your organization’s needs, resources, and technical expertise.
More from their website
Google for Nonprofits can help non-profit organizations in several ways:
- Google for Nonprofits provides access to a suite of Google products and discounts that can help nonprofits find new donors and volunteers, work more efficiently, and get supporters to take action¹.
- Some of the products and discounts available for eligible nonprofits are:
- G Suite for Nonprofits: A set of cloud-based productivity tools such as Gmail, Docs, Calendar, Drive, and Meet that can help nonprofits collaborate and communicate more effectively².
- Google Ad Grants: A program that offers up to $10,000 per month of in-kind advertising on Google Search to help nonprofits reach more people and raise awareness for their cause³⁴.
- YouTube Nonprofit Program: A program that offers special features and resources for nonprofits to create and share engaging videos on YouTube, such as donation cards, link cards, live streaming, and Creator Academy lessons¹.
- Google Earth Outreach: A program that offers tools and training for nonprofits to create compelling maps and stories using Google Earth, Maps, and Street View to showcase their impact and inspire action¹.
You can learn more about Google for Nonprofits by visiting their website or their help center.
Source
(1) Nonprofit Management Resources - Google for Nonprofits. Nonprofit Management Resources - Google for Nonprofits
(2) Google Workspace: Nonprofit Resource Center - Google for Nonprofits. Google Workspace: Nonprofit Resource Center - Google for Nonprofits
(3) What Is Google For Nonprofits? The Complete Run-Down. What Is Google For Nonprofits? The Complete Run-Down
(4) Google for Nonprofits: Your Complete Guide to Google Ad Grants. Google for Nonprofits: Your Complete Guide to Google Ad Grants
(5) About Google for Nonprofits - Google for Nonprofits Help - Google Support. About Google for Nonprofits - Google for Nonprofits Help