Google for Nonprofits is a powerful suite of tools offered by Google to help nonprofit organizations grow and succeed. In this article, we'll cover the basics of what Google for Nonprofits offers, including how to sign up, configure your account, and use the various tools available.
We'll also discuss some of the pros and cons of using Google for Nonprofits, as well as some tips on how to get the most out of this valuable resource. So whether you're just starting out with Google for Nonprofits or you're looking to optimize your organization's usage, read on!
Google for Nonprofits Defined
Google for Nonprofits is a free to use tool from Google that offers premium services to qualifying organizations. These services include $10,000 to spend on Google Ads per month and customizable G Suite accounts. The service also includes a collection of premium applications that would otherwise be out of reach for non-profit organizations.
This allows NPOs to take advantage of Google's vast resources without having to bear the brunt of the cost. Google for Nonprofits is an excellent way for NPOs to get access to valuable resources that they might not otherwise be able to afford. By taking advantage of this program, organizations can greatly improve their chances of achieving their goals and making a positive impact in their communities.
The Google Ad Grants program is popular among nonprofits since it provides them $10,000 per month to allocate to Google Ads. Although it takes some effort to set up and use the applications, it offers a lot of value because the solutions may help your organization's efforts even if you don't pay attention after initial setup.
Google for Nonprofits can provide your organization with a number of benefits, including access to free tools and resources, preferential treatment in Google search results, and the ability to connect with potential donors and volunteers. If you are interested in taking advantage of what the nonprofit grant program has to offer, be sure to visit their website to learn more and see if your organization is eligible.
Google For Nonprofits Products in Detail
The Google for Nonprofits program is made up of ten distinct products, ranging from "most often used" to "extremely specialized." Each has its own set of skills, so the best approach to evaluate them is to consider how relevant they are to your NPO.
G Suite for Nonprofits (Google Workspace)
G Suite provides nonprofits with access to a suite of tools that can help them streamline their operations and improve their productivity. The tools available through G Suite include Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Nonprofits can use these tools to manage their communications, create and share documents, and develop presentations. Additionally, G Suite offers a host of features that are designed to promote collaboration among team members, such as the ability to comment on documents and leave comments on individual slides in presentations. G Suite also provides nonprofits with access to a variety of training resources that can help them get the most out of the tools available.
Features:
As a G Suite administrator, you have access to many features that can help you manage your organization's email and documents. With unlimited Gmail accounts that look something like this: @yourdomain.com, you can give each member of your organization their own email address. You also have access to Google Drive, where you can store documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can allocate each employee in your business their own 30GB of dedicated storage for Drive documents and email hosting. And if you need help, you can contact a 24/7 support person via chat, phone, or email. You may effortlessly keep track of everything that is happening with admin access over all of your company's accounts.
Standout features:
Google Docs is a fantastic product. The feature that gives users complete control over the data they store is Google's finest asset. Organizations can free up space on their servers by allowing users to store data on Google Drive. Most importantly, this provides organizations greater control over their information.
We've observed several businesses auto-forward their mail to their own Gmail accounts because they're used to the user interface. Although this may work well at first, it eventually builds up worries about sensitive information. If an organization relies on Google docs, they won't have to worry about data breaches since everything is in their hands. As a result, the main advantages of Google docs lie in its security and data management for businesses.
More methods for making the most of this resource:
While Google Drive is a great way to store documents, there are other ways to make use of this resource. For example, you can make use of Google Meet for your organization's meetings. This feature allows you to show your screen with others while presenting, which can be essential for remote work. Additionally, you can use the Drive's search function to easily find what you're looking for. Simply type in a keyword and the Drive will locate all files that contain that keyword. This can be helpful when you're trying to track down a specific document. By making full use of the features available in Google Drive, you can help your organization run more smoothly and efficiently.
How you can save:
Here are some ways that you can save money on your Business Standard or Business Pro account:
-If you have a large team, compare the price per person per month between the paid and free versions. You may be able to save money by switching to the free version.
-Make use of Google Drive. This leads to saving and forfeiting paying for other similar products on the market.
-Be sure to cancel any features or services that you're no longer using. This will help you avoid paying for something that you don't need.
By taking these steps, you can save money on your Business Standard or Business Pro account. This will help you stretch your budget and allow you to reinvest in other areas of your business.
Google Grants (Google Adwords)
Google Grants is an amazing opportunity for nonprofits to get free advertising on the world's largest search engine. For organizations that are new to PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, the learning curve can be steep. However, the potential reward of $10,000 worth of free advertising each month is worth the effort. Google has strict policies in place to ensure that grant recipients are using the money effectively, but for organizations that are able to meet these requirements, Google Grants is an incredible resource.
Features:
The Google Ads platform provides a number of features that can be extremely beneficial for businesses, both large and small. Another appealing feature is the $10,000 / month of free money to spend on pay-per-click advertisements. This can be an excellent way to get your business noticed by potential customers who are actively searching for what you have to offer. In addition, Google Ads provides a robust set of tools for managing and measuring your campaigns. This means that you can track your conversions and ensure that your ads are reaching your target audience. Finally, the ads are text only, which can help to keep costs down while still providing a high level of visibility for your business.
Standout features:
Google Ads can be a powerful tool for nonprofits, allowing them to reach new audiences and promote their work more effectively. With a grant of $10,000 per month, nonprofits can use Google Ads to increase website traffic, grow their email list, attract donors, and more. What's more, Google Ads allows nonprofits to target certain niches and keywords, ensuring that their message reaches the right people. For nonprofits looking to make a bigger impact, Google Ads is a great place to start.
Other methods for making the most of this resource:
If you want to gain authority on a certain topic, producing material that is tailored to it is a smart strategy to stand out. You can use Google Adwords to help you reach your target audience. Another approach to maximize the effectiveness of your adverts is to have Google conversion tracking on your website. When you're done, go to the Campaigns section. You will be able to see which campaigns, ads, and keywords are performing well. You can use automated bidding tools from Google to boost the number of conversions you earn from your campaigns once you've gathered sufficient data. By using these methods, you can make sure that you are making the most of this valuable resource.
How you can save:
Save up to $10,000 per month. You also have the opportunity to get free donations generation.
YouTube Social Impact Program
The YouTube Social Impact Program is a great way for NPOs to get more exposure for their cause. Not only does it elevate your YouTube channel, but it also amplifies donations. You can even develop partnerships with other content creators on YouTube. It's clearly more demanding than some of the other apps in Google for Nonprofits, but it has the potential to create tons of value.
Features:
There are several features provided by YouTube that can help non-profits. One such feature is to include "link anywhere cards" in your videos. These cards are similar to YouTube annotations, but they also allow you to include a link to a different website. This can be used to direct viewers to your donation page or website. Additionally, YouTube’s Creator Academy gives lessons specifically tailored to non-profits. These lessons can teach you how to effectively use YouTube to promote your cause and reach a wider audience. Finally, YouTube does not charge any transactional costs on donations processed through the platform. This means that 100% of all donations goes directly to your organization.
Standout features:
As any nonprofit fundraising professional knows, communicating your organization's story is essential to engage potential donors and get them aligned with your mission. And what better way to tell that story than through video? Video is an incredibly powerful medium that can help connect people with your cause in a very personal way.
Another wonderful approach to utilize video for fundraising is to make brief films about each project your nonprofit manages. Look at it like this, if you're a child sponsorship organization, you could make a short film for each child you sponsor and attach a donation card to the video. This would allow donors to connect with a specific project and child, which would eliminate any barriers to giving. And, more importantly, you'll be able to keep the 3% processing fee that most donation platforms charge.
If you're not sure how donation cards work, check out this helpful video that explains it all: [insert video link here]. Implementing a video fundraising strategy like this is a great way to engage potential donors and raise awareness for your cause.
Other methods for making the most of this resource:
If you're looking to increase the number of subscribers you have and create an epic video, look no further than YouTube Spaces. There isn't much information on how quickly YouTube Spaces responds to requests, or how picky it is, but the software asks if your channel has more than 10,000 subscribers.
YouTube provides a number of other resources for nonprofits as well, such as:
- The Create Change program. This program helps connect creators with social issues they're passionate about
- The YouTube Nonprofit Program. This program provides access to a number of features and resources, such as the ability to add a donate button to your channel
- And last but not least, the YouTube for Good initiative. This is a program that provides resources and support for creators who want to use their platform for social good.
When attempting to get content creators and authority figures to include donation cards on their YouTube channel for your non-profit, create a collaboration scheme.. Many YouTubers with a large following can obtain these donation cards, which they can then use to link to any charity that meets the criteria. So go out and try to form relationships with as many people as feasible. This year's end may be your non-profit's best yet if you put a little effort into it!
How you can save:
YouTube is the second largest website in the world with over 1.5 billion users logging in each day. And, while most people use YouTube to watch videos, an increasing number of businesses and charities are using it as a platform to reach potential donors. One of the benefits of using YouTube for donations is that you avoid the fees charged by other processors. For example, when you use PayPal to process a donation, they charge a 2.9% + $0.30 fee. However, when you donate through YouTube, that fee is waived. This can make a significant difference for charities that rely on donations to fund their operations. In addition, by donating through YouTube, you can reach a vast audience of potential donors who might not be familiar with your charity.
Google Earth and Maps (Google Maps API)
Google Earth Outreach is a powerful tool that lets non-profits use Google's satellite and map data for global development. With this tool, organizations can get a better understanding of the areas they are working in, plan their work more effectively, and communicate their results to a wider audience. Google Earth Outreach has the potential to revolutionize the way nonprofits do business and make a real impact in the world.
Features:
Google Maps is a powerful tool that can be used to improve the functionality of your website. The Google Maps API allows you to use the premium Google Maps service, which lets you embed plot-sensitive information on a map and keep it private. The Google Open Data Kit helps you link deep map features into proprietary applications and programs. The ability to add Google Maps to your site allows you to show customized visualizations and layers, displaying the impact of your organization's use of the Google Maps and Google Earth platforms. By using these tools, you can improve the way your website looks and functions, and provide valuable information to your visitors.
Standout features:
When navigating to the Google for Nonprofits site, you will see a case study on Action Against Hunger. See how leveraged the Google Maps API to collaborate on a global scale. This allowed donors to see the specific impact their donation would have, increasing donations and perceived impact. This is just one example of how a large, worldwide charity can use the Maps API to manage its geographical data. TheMaps API can be used to track and share data on anything from disaster relief efforts to refugee resettlement programs. By making this data available to the public, NGOs can increase transparency and accountability, as well as engage new supporters in their work.
Other methods for making the most of this resource:
Case studies on the website describe how a humanitarian program minimized barriers to giving. Likewise, the Crime Victims Treatment Center can keep victim details safe and anonymous while staying organized." This suggests that through careful and professional planning, it is possible to reduce or even remove potential barriers that might prevent people from participating in charitable giving or seeking help from service organizations. In other words, by making it easier for people to access services and donate to causes they care about, we can encourage more helping behavior. These examples illustrate the potential of effective organizational design to promote positive social change.
How you can save:
The Google Maps API is a powerful tool that allows developers to access Google’s vast data sets and integrate them into their own applications. While the API is a paid service, the cost is most likely insignificant compared to the data sets it enables access to. For example, the API gives developers access to over 25,000 map tiles per day for free. In addition, the API provides access to Google’s existing data sets, which are constantly being updated with new information. As a result, the Google Maps API is an essential tool for any developer who wants to create applications that make use of Google’s data.
Does Your Organization Qualify for Google For Nonprofits?
While Google for Nonprofits is a great way for many organizations to get access to free tools and resources, there are some ineligible organizations. All government-controlled institutions, public libraries, and 501(c)(4)s are included. However, as we have seen in our experience, Google still approves 501c3 organizations for community organizing and grassroots activities. This means that if you are not sure if your organization is eligible, it is always worth checking with Google. The last thing you want is to miss out on valuable resources because you did not know you were ineligible.
Google for Nonprofits is a program that provides free and discounted access to Google products for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations. Google has teamed up with organizations like the American Red Cross to offer a Google for Education program. Workspace, Classroom, Meet, Assignments, Cloud, Jamboard, and discounted Chromebooks are some of the tools available through Google for Education. According to Google, non-profit organizations backed by educational institutions are qualified for Google for Nonprofits. To be eligible for the program, organizations must have a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS and must provide documentation to prove their status. In addition, they must meet certain activity requirements, such as using Google products to further their mission and having a presence in multiple countries. If approved, organizations will have access to a suite of tools that can help them operate more efficiently and reach a wider audience.
Google doesn't seem to have the same relationship with hospitals and healthcare institutions that it does with other nonprofits. You may not get a Google for Nonprofits healthcare version or any free goods for healthcare firms. The health and wellness industry is seen by Google as a cash cow rather than a cause in need of assistance. However, Google does promote a HIPAA-compliant version of Google Workspace. This is likely the extent of Google's involvement in the healthcare industry.
Charities with 501c3 status can still apply for fiscally sponsored organizations and separate departments within the same organization. You'll use the group's EIN in your application, but the rest of the data should reflect your own company. This will help to ensure that your organization receives the appropriate level of support and funding. Additionally, it is important to remember that 501c3 status does not automatically equate to tax-exempt status. In order to ensure that your organization is able to take advantage of all available benefits, be sure to consult with a professional who can advise you on the best course of action.
The Application Process
The application process for Google for Nonprofits is simple and straightforward. Eligible nonprofits can go to the Google for Nonprofits website and fill out an online application. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes. Once the application is submitted, Google will review it and make a decision about whether or not to approve the nonprofit for participation in the program. In most cases, approval is granted quickly and nonprofits can begin taking advantage of the benefits of Google for Nonprofits right away. However, if an application is rejected, the nonprofit can usually find out why by checking the list of ineligible NTEE codes on the Google for Nonprofits website. By following these simple steps, any eligible nonprofit can easily apply to participate in the Google for Nonprofits program.
