Obtaining Microsoft 365 Nonprofit

How Rotary clubs and the District qualify for free Microsoft 365 through the nonprofit programme.

Microsoft offers free and discounted Microsoft 365 licences to eligible nonprofits through its Tech for Social Impact programme. In Australia, nonprofit organisations access these licences through Connecting Up, the authorised intermediary for Microsoft nonprofit subscriptions.

Rotary District 9660 and its clubs can access M365 Business Basic (and other plans) at no cost by qualifying as a nonprofit organisation.

Qualifying for nonprofit pricing

Your organisation must meet three eligibility criteria:

  1. Legally recognised nonprofit or NGO. In Australia, this means one of:

    • Deductible Gift Recipients (DGRs) endorsed by the ATO or listed by name in the tax law
    • Charities registered with the Australian Charities and Nonprofits Commission (ACNC)
    • Income tax-exempt not-for-profit organisations as defined by the ATO

  2. Operates on a not-for-profit basis with a mission to benefit the local community.

  3. Non-discriminatory in its operations and policies.

Which pathway does Rotary use? The District and its clubs qualify under option (iii): income tax-exempt not-for-profit organisations as defined by the ATO. This is the simplest pathway for most Rotary clubs.

Documents you will need

To verify your nonprofit status with Microsoft, you will typically need to provide three documents:

1
Copy of the NFP lodgement with ATO
This confirms your organisation's not-for-profit self-review or ATO endorsement. You can download this from the ATO Business Portal or your tax agent.
2
Extract of the Constitution confirming NFP status
A relevant page or section from your club or district constitution that confirms the organisation operates on a not-for-profit basis. This does not need to be the full document.
3
ABN Extract
Download from the Australian Business Register. This confirms your organisation's ABN and entity type.

How to apply

1
Create a Connecting Up account
Go to connectingup.org and register your organisation. You will need your ABN and basic organisation details.
2
Verify your nonprofit eligibility
Connecting Up will verify your organisation's nonprofit status. Upload the three documents listed above when prompted. Verification can take a few business days.
3
Request Microsoft 365 nonprofit subscription
Once verified, navigate to the Microsoft 365 Nonprofit Cloud Subscription page on Connecting Up and follow the steps to request your licences.
4
Set up your M365 tenant
Once approved, you will receive access to the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre where you can create user accounts, assign licences, and configure your organisation's M365 environment.

Canva nonprofit access

Canva also offers free access to Canva Teams for verified nonprofits. The eligibility criteria are the same as Microsoft's: registered with the ACNC, hold DGR status with the ATO, or be an income tax-exempt NFP as defined by the ATO.

You can apply at canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits using the same documentation.

Need help?

If your club needs assistance with the application process or is unsure which documents to use, email support@rotary9660.org.au and the IT team can help guide you through it.