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The free and discounted software every small nonprofit should know about

By the Ember team · August 8, 2026 · Current as of August 2026

The short version

Some of the best tools for nonprofits are free or nearly free — if you know the programs to ask. Here's an honest map of the big ones, with the catch that offers change, so always check current terms.

The big nonprofit tech programs

  1. Google for Nonprofits

    Eligible 501(c)(3)s can get Google Workspace for Nonprofits (email, docs, shared drives) free, plus the Google Ad Grant — up to $10,000/month in free search ads to promote your mission. One of the best deals in the sector.

  2. TechSoup

    A clearinghouse for donated and discounted software from many companies. Small admin fees, big savings. The first place to check before buying almost anything.

  3. Microsoft for Nonprofits

    Discounts and grants on Microsoft 365 and other tools for eligible orgs. The exact offers have shifted in recent years, so check what's currently included before you count on it.

  4. Canva for Nonprofits

    Free access to Canva's paid features for eligible orgs — a genuine win for flyers, social posts, and simple reports without a designer.

How to claim them

  1. Have your 501(c)(3) details ready

    Most programs verify your status, often through a validation service. Have your EIN (the IRS tax ID number) and IRS determination letter handy.

  2. Apply to the big three first

    Google, Microsoft, and TechSoup cover the most ground. Start there before smaller offers.

  3. Re-check yearly

    Programs and eligibility change. What wasn't available last year might be now — and vice versa.

An honest word on "free"

Free is wonderful, but watch two things. Free tiers can shrink or move behind paywalls, so don't build a must-have workflow on one you can't replace. And "free" isn't always the cheapest once your time is counted — a paid tool that saves you hours can beat a free one that costs you a weekend. Choose for fit, not just price.

Where does a tool like ours fit in a list like this? Honestly — as one option among many. Ember has a free plan for the smallest orgs, but the point of this piece is that you have real choices. Claim the big programs first; add paid tools only where they clearly earn it.

Where Ember fits

Meet Ember

One honest option among many — a free plan for small nonprofits, unlimited users, no credit card. Built only for nonprofits, to run programs, grants, volunteers, and donors in one place.

Common questions

What free software can nonprofits actually get?

Quite a lot: Google Workspace for Nonprofits and the Google Ad Grant, discounted software through TechSoup, Microsoft nonprofit offers, and Canva for Nonprofits, among others. Eligibility usually requires 501(c)(3) status.

What is the Google Ad Grant?

A Google program giving eligible nonprofits up to $10,000 per month in free search advertising to promote their work. It has rules to maintain, but it's one of the best free offers in the sector.

Where should we start?

Apply to Google for Nonprofits, Microsoft for Nonprofits, and TechSoup first — they cover the most ground — and re-check your eligibility each year, since programs change.

One calm place for all of it

Ember brings your programs, grants, volunteers, and donors into one place — built only for nonprofits, with a free plan and no credit card.

No credit card · No trial clock · Unlimited users included

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Sources: Google for Nonprofits; TechSoup; Microsoft for Nonprofits; Canva for Nonprofits. Program terms and eligibility change often — confirm current details with each provider. Verified August 2026.