In this guide · 7 sections
Short answer
Microsoft gives eligible nonprofits Microsoft 365 Business Basic free for up to 300 users and Business Premium at US$5.50 per user a month. Google gives Google Workspace for Nonprofits free, with Business Standard at US$3.50. Both verify your organisation first.
Microsoft vs Google nonprofit offers at a glance
Prices below are in US dollars per user per month on an annual commitment, from Microsoft's nonprofit plans page and Google's Workspace for Nonprofits page, as of October 2026. Prices exclude GST and may differ slightly by reseller.
| Plan | Nonprofit price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | Free up to 300 users (grant) | Web and mobile Office, Exchange email, Teams, 1 TB OneDrive |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | US$3.50 | Adds desktop Office apps |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | US$5.50 | Adds Intune, Defender for Business, Conditional Access |
| Google Workspace for Nonprofits | Free | Gmail, Drive, Meet (150 people), 100 TB pooled storage |
| Google Business Standard (nonprofit) | US$3.50 | Meet recording, 2 TB per user |
| Google Business Plus (nonprofit) | US$6.16 | Vault, eDiscovery, advanced endpoint management, 5 TB per user |
Google caps its free and Business-tier nonprofit offers at 2,000 users. For help choosing between the two platforms, our Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace guide compares them for Singapore businesses.
Who qualifies in Singapore
- Microsoft requires a nonprofit or non-governmental organisation with recognised legal status in its country, equivalent to US 501(c)(3) status, per its eligibility page. Public libraries and museums also qualify. A Singapore registered charity or IPC is the clearest case; other bodies should check before relying on it.
- Google lists Singapore as a supported country on its eligibility page and has a verification partner check your organisation first. It does not verify government bodies, hospitals or healthcare organisations, or schools and universities.
Neither programme is the same as IPC status. A registered charity without IPC status can still qualify; IPC status matters for tax-deductible donations, not software discounts.
How to apply and get verified
Get your documents ready
Charity registration details from the Charity Portal, UEN, constitution or governing instrument, and a contact email on your own domain.
Apply as a staff member or key volunteer
Microsoft says the person registering must be an employee or strategic volunteer; a third-party IT provider may not register on the nonprofit's behalf.
Microsoft: register in the Nonprofit Hub
Submit the registration and wait for the eligibility decision by email, then activate the Business Basic grant or buy discounted plans from the admin centre.
Google: request a Google for Nonprofits account
Google says one of its verification partners checks your organisation and your affiliation first. Once verified, activate Workspace for Nonprofits from the Google for Nonprofits dashboard.
Move users and email
Point your domain's MX records to the new service and migrate mailboxes. Plan this for a quiet week and keep the old service until mail flow is confirmed.
Rules that catch charities out
- Microsoft's Business Premium grant ended. Microsoft's discontinuation notice told nonprofits the free Business Premium grant would be discontinued at the next renewal on or after 1 July 2025. Charities still expecting 10 free Premium seats now pay the US$5.50 discounted price, or move users to the free Business Basic grant.
- Granted vs discounted licences. Microsoft's eligibility page says granted (free) licences are only for paid employees and unpaid executive staff such as board members. Volunteers and temporary staff may use discounted licences. Beneficiaries, donors and members may not use nonprofit licences at all.
- No sharing. Microsoft says nonprofit licences cannot be shared, transferred or resold to other organisations, even within the same group.
- Remove unused granted licences. Microsoft expects organisations to remove unused grants regularly and may audit tenants.
- Annual commitment. Discounted plans are paid yearly; plan seat numbers before renewal.
Security settings donor and volunteer data needs
Charities hold sensitive personal data: donor NRIC numbers for tax receipts, volunteer details, sometimes beneficiaries' health or financial information. The PDPA applies in full. The free tiers include enough security to protect it, if you switch it on.
Nonprofit tenant security checklist
Neither platform's recycle bins are a full backup; deleted data is removed after a set period. Our guide to backing up Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace explains the options. For donation records and IRAS submissions, see our guide to charity donation websites.
Do it yourself or get help?
A charity with a confident staff member can apply, get verified and set up either platform in a week or two. The migration and security settings are where volunteers often run out of time.
IT Sorted can help after you are verified. Business Email Setup (S$249) sets up the domain, mailboxes and email security records. Microsoft 365 / Google Security Lockdown (S$590) enforces MFA, cleans up admin roles and limits file sharing. Backup & Ransomware Recovery (S$290) adds a backup of donor email and files. The nonprofit registration and the licences stay in your charity's name.
Frequently asked questions
Microsoft 365 Business Basic is free for eligible nonprofits for up to 300 users under Microsoft's grant, as of October 2026. It includes email, Teams and web and mobile Office apps. Desktop apps need Business Standard at US$3.50 or Business Premium at US$5.50 per user a month. Your organisation must pass Microsoft's eligibility check first.
Yes, for eligible organisations. Google Workspace for Nonprofits is free and includes Gmail on your domain, Drive, Meet and 100 TB of pooled storage. Singapore is a supported country. Google does not verify government bodies, hospitals or healthcare organisations, or schools, so some charities may not qualify.
Not for Microsoft. Its eligibility rules say the person registering must be an employee or strategic volunteer of the nonprofit, and a third-party IT provider may not complete registration on its behalf. A provider can help with setup afterwards. Keep the admin account and billing in the charity's name.
Not the granted ones. Microsoft says granted licences are only for paid employees and unpaid executive staff such as board members and officers. Volunteers and temporary staff may use discounted licences. Beneficiaries, donors and members may not use nonprofit licences.
Microsoft discontinued the Business Premium grant at each nonprofit's next renewal on or after 1 July 2025. It still offers Business Premium at a nonprofit price of US$5.50 per user a month on an annual commitment, and the Business Basic grant for up to 300 users continues.