How nonprofits get 1.8 million NOK in free software every year

Most nonprofits pay for software they could get for free. The big technology vendors run dedicated donation programmes for registered charities, and stacked together the value can exceed 1.8 million NOK a year — savings of up to 98%. Here is the full map, and how to actually bring it home.

Microsoft 365 — free licenses and up to 75% off

Microsoft gives registered nonprofits up to 300 free Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses, plus up to 75% discounts on Business Standard, Business Premium and Office 365 E1. One thing worth knowing: the old grant of 10 free Business Premium licenses was retired on 1 July 2025, so many organisations now see downgrades at renewal — don't panic, but plan the transition. Free licenses cover paid staff and unpaid leadership; discounts cover all staff and volunteers. Azure credits for websites, databases and AI come on top.

Google for Nonprofits — 1.28 million NOK in free advertising

Through Google Ad Grants, eligible organisations receive up to $10,000 per month (around 1.28 million NOK a year) in free search ads, plus Google Workspace for Nonprofits. The requirements are simple: valid charity status, a functioning and informative website, and that you are not a government body, school or hospital.

The rest of the stack

• TechSoup — the gateway that verifies your organisation and unlocks donations from dozens of vendors.
• Canva for Nonprofits — free Canva Premium for graphics, social media and reports.
• Salesforce Power of Us — 10 free CRM licenses for donor management.
• AWS Imagine / credits and Atlassian (free for small teams) for operations and project management.

How to claim it — four steps

1. Register in the Norwegian Frivillighetsregister. It is the key to both donations and Norwegian funding schemes.
2. Verify your status via TechSoup or Goodstack — reused by many vendors.
3. Apply to Microsoft for Nonprofits and Google for Nonprofits directly.
4. Get a partner to help if capacity is tight.