Solving nonprofit-specific challenges through purpose-built technology.
In their mission to tackle the world’s biggest challenges, nonprofit organizations require technology that not only supports the usual day-to-day productivity needs of any business, but can also handle unique scenarios such as managing donors, volunteers, and fundraising. These requirements have only become more urgent in today’s remote landscape, as nonprofits increasingly turn to online engagement and relationship-building.
Enter Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit. By connecting Microsoft’s industry-leading business technology to common nonprofit requirements, Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit “brings together trusted and intelligent cloud capabilities through a connected platform to accelerate mission outcomes.”
Read on to find out how Microsoft has created a solution that solves specific challenges for the nonprofit sector — and how MSPs can leverage it to support their nonprofit clients’ digital transformation.
What is Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit?
Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit was designed to support nonprofit-specific roles, such as fundraisers, volunteer managers, and program managers. It leverages the best of Microsoft Dynamics, Power Platform, Modern Workplace, and Azure licensing. By aligning constituent, donor, and volunteer management with program, finance, and operations reporting, Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit provides powerful insights for data-driven outcomes.
The solution is built on the Nonprofit Common Data Model (CDM) to unify and connect organizational data across functions. Architected by the nonprofit and NGO community, the Nonprofit CDM is an open-source data model built to structure data using a common framework to ensure compatibility across different applications and organizations in the nonprofit ecosystem.
By integrating different systems and apps, Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit helps provide a big picture view of all activities that drive mission outcomes. It also modernizes nonprofit processes by enabling a move from spreadsheets and manual workflows to systems and apps purpose-built for volunteer, donor, constituent, and program management.
What are the nonprofit-specific applications?
Fundraising and Engagement (Built on Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise)
A constituent relationship management (CRM) platform that standardizes data across different systems to provide a holistic view of constituents, donors, volunteers, and programs. Its gateway integrations with Stripe, iATS, and Moneris improve donation and transaction management as well as financial reconciliation and reporting.
Constituent Marketing Journeys (built on Dynamics 365 Marketing and the Nonprofit CDM)
Enables nonprofit marketing teams to personalize their outreach to donors and volunteers based on their previous interactions and behaviors.
Volunteer Management (Power App)
Helps volunteer managers more easily recruit, onboard, and retain volunteers.
Volunteer Engagement (built on Power Platform)
A public-facing portal that helps volunteers discover and raise their hand to participate in opportunities that match their skills, interests, and schedules.
Volunteer Center (SharePoint template built on Office 365 Platform)
Makes it easy to share information and resources with volunteers for training, onboarding, and events.
Manage Volunteers (Teams template)
Increases internal productivity and collaboration by streamlining volunteer management activities, such as document management.
Program Impact Dashboard (PowerBI template)
Improves understanding by interrelating fundraising and program data to show the measurable impact of funds raised, programs delivered, and outcomes achieved. This in turn makes it easier to report to funders, apply for grants, and make informed, data-driven decisions.
Security Program for Nonprofits
Alarmingly, 59% of nonprofits do not provide any cybersecurity training to staff on a regular basis. To help nonprofits improve their security posture, the Security Program for Nonprofits enables them to assess their cybersecurity risk, provide proactive monitoring and notification, and train staff on security strategies.
What does Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit help organizations do?
Gain donor and supporter insights: Nonprofits have better visibility to know who their donors and supporters are and how to personalize outreach efforts for improved engagement.
Deliver effective programming and mobilization: More efficiently manage programs and fundraising events, as well as more efficiently organizing and mobilizing volunteers.
Increase transparency and accelerate impact: Nonprofits gain enhanced analysis of fundraising and program data, which can accelerate mission outcomes. In addition, simplified reporting on program goals helps organizations better understand and optimize their impact.
Provide secure access to data: In today’s threat heavy cyber landscape, security is just as crucial for nonprofits as it is for other businesses. Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit helps organizations securely access volunteer and donor information and strengthen their overall security posture.
What client success benefits are included?
Access to training modules on Microsoft Learn (Basic and Standard Plan): Users can learn how to use these purpose-built nonprofit solutions with specializing learning pathways for functions such as Fundraising and Engagement and Volunteer Management and Engagement.
Industry-specific unlimited 24/7 support (Standard Plan): Less than one-hour response to critical cases, available 24/7, as well as access to technical resources and self-help tools.
Advanced training webinars (Standard Plan): Monthly deep-dive training webinar series shows nonprofits how to maximize their investment, and includes expert panel discussions and live Q&A.
FastTrack program (per program thresholds): The FastTrack program enables eligible organizations to accelerate their Dynamics 365 implementation and receive support for the industry IP that is packaged within Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit.
How do I buy Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit for my clients?
1. Confirm nonprofit eligibility. Learn the eligibility requirements for nonprofit pricing and grants on Microsoft’s Getting Started website.
2. Review capabilities and choose one or more solutions. Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit provides flexibility for organizations to scale at their own pace – learn more about the various components here.
3. Determine license prerequisites. Each capability has specific prerequisites:
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
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- Manage Volunteers (Teams)
- Volunteer Center (SharePoint)
Power Platform
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- Volunteer Management/Engagement (PowerApps)
- Program Impact Dashboard (Power BI)
Dynamics 365
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- Fundraising and Engagement (Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise)
- Constituent Marketing Journeys (Dynamics 365 Marketing)
Azure
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- Fundraising and Engagement (Microsoft Azure)
4. Access grants and purchase prerequisite licenses. To see the price of each license prerequisite, visit Microsoft’s Nonprofit Hub, or talk to your Pax8 account team. You can view the grants available that map to the Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit solutions here.
5. Purchase the Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit add-on license. A quantity of one license gives access to Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit for all employees who have a license prerequisite. Either a Basic or Standard license must be present on the contract to implement the solution.
6. Take advantage of the Tech for Social Impact (TSI) Program. Microsoft’s Tech for Social Impact (TSI) Program provides qualified nonprofits with access to the following Microsoft Cloud licenses:
- 10 free licenses of Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- 10 free licenses of Power Apps
- 5 free licenses of Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise
Download our TSI Playbook to learn how to help your nonprofit clients utilize this program.
Are You Ready to Support Nonprofits in their Modern Cloud Adoption?
Our team at Pax8 is here to help you support nonprofit clients to achieve digital transformation, and to understand the latest changes to cloud products and programs. Schedule a call with a Pax8 consultant today.
