What you get
Google Workspace for Nonprofits is the free edition of Google's work tools. It gives your whole team email at your own domain, like you@yourgroup.org, plus Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, Meet, and shared Drives.
You get 100 TB of storage pooled across the organization, and room for up to 300 people on a new account. That is far more than most small nonprofits will ever use.
It also comes with an admin console to manage accounts and Google's Gemini assistant with business-grade data protection.
Who qualifies
Google for Nonprofits is open to registered charitable organizations in good standing. In the United States, that means holding 501(c)(3) status.
A few kinds are not eligible: government bodies, hospitals, and healthcare groups. Schools and universities are served by a separate Google program.
You need recognized charity status first. So this is usually a benefit you unlock after the IRS approves your 501(c)(3), not on day one.
How to sign up
The process has two parts: join Google for Nonprofits, then turn on Google Workspace.
- Go to Google for Nonprofits and start an enrollment with a Google account for your organization.
- Get your status verified. Google uses a partner called Goodstack to confirm you are a registered charity, so have your details ready.
- Once you are approved, request Google Workspace for Nonprofits from your Google for Nonprofits account.
- Verify that you own your domain, then create accounts for your team.
Verification can take a few days. Having your EIN, your IRS determination letter, and your organization's basic details on hand makes it go faster.
Free versus paid
The free edition covers what most small nonprofits need. Want longer video meetings or more controls later? Google offers paid Business and Enterprise plans to nonprofits at a discount.
You can start on the free edition and upgrade later without moving anyone off their accounts.
Why it helps with your records
A free Workspace account also gives you Google Drive. It is a simple, safe home for your founding papers: Articles of Incorporation, EIN letter, bylaws, and board minutes.
Keep them in one place from the start. It saves a scramble later, when a bank or a funder asks for them.