Google for Nonprofits is a program that helps non-profits take advantage of the products and resources Google has to offer. If you put it to use, Google for Nonprofits can be a powerful tool to help you streamline operations, raise awareness and engage your donors.
Save money with Google Apps
Your organization could save a lot of IT expense by migrating your internal email system to Google’s email system, Gmail. You get all of the features and functionalities of Gmail, but on your organization’s domain. Google Apps offers tools for migrating all of your existing emails and contact to Gmail, as well as 24/7 customer support. You also get access to Google Calendar and the Google Docs. Eligible non-profits with fewer than 3,000 users can apply to use Google Apps for free.
Raise awareness and increase reach with Google AdWords
Google AdWords — the text ads that show up in the right sidebar of a search on Google — is a powerful tool for reaching potential donors who are already searching for something related to your organization. Through the Google Grants program, Google awards up $10,000 in-kind AdWords advertising to qualifying non-profits.
Engage your donors with interactive video
The video-sharing website YouTube was purchased by Google in 2006 and continues to be the 3rd highest trafficked site worldwide. YouTube for non-profits lets eligible organizations have some of the same powerful video tools that the big, for-profit companies have, including customizing your page and adding clickable calls to action inside the video.
Can religious organizations use Google for Nonprofits?
Many faith-based non-profits assume that they will not be able to use Google for Nonprofits because of this section on organizations that are not eligible:
Religious content or proselytizing on website as well as organizations that use religion or sexual orientation as factor in hiring or populations served
Google doesn’t provide any context for this criterion. But, despite its ominous wording, we have seen several Christian non-profits get approval and start using those and the many other benefits Google for Nonprofits has offered.
Don’t let the wording scare you, apply now. The application is simple: contact information, proof of 501(c)(3), Mission statement. And don’t lose heart if you don’t hear back right away, Google doesn’t have a team dedicated to this program and application approvals can take upwards of two months.