How to Get a Free Non-Profit Office 365 Subscription in Canada

A step-by-step guide on how to check your eligibility then receive a free “Office 365 Enterprise E1 for Nonprofits” subscription in Canada.

If you have already registered with TechSoup Canada, please skip ahead to Step 4:

Step 1: Sign up for a TechSoup Canada account.

1. Sign up for an individual user account using the following form.
2. Verify account by clicking on the link in the email sent to you.
   
   Note: Only one TechSoup Canada member can act as an authorized agent for an organization.

Step 2: Register your non-profit organization.

1. Fill out the registration form – you will need your:
   • Business registration number
   • Operating budget
   • Number of computers for staff

Step 3: Submit your non-profit documentation.

1. Scan and email  your documents to [email protected] or fax them to 1-855-231-1310.
2. Here is a list of the documents required for each type of provincial non-profit.

Note: Confirmation of organization’s eligibility status takes roughly 10 working days after receipt of documents.

Tip: Add TechSoup Canada’s e-mail address ([email protected]) to your safe list.

Step 4: Check Your Qualification Status

1. Check your organization’s qualification status by logging in, selecting “My Account”, and checking out the Qualification Status column under “My Organizations”.

Step 5: Sign up for the free “Office 365 Enterprise E3 for Nonprofits” trial

1. You must first sign up for a free trial of “Office 365 Enterprise E3 for Nonprofits” t apply for your subscription donation.
   • Note: No credit card required. Trial lasts 30 days.
2. Create a user ID. You will use this to sign in to Office 365.

IMPORTANT: The portion of the user ID that appears after the @ is used to generate the URL for your internal SharePoint team site and external “public website” URL – this cannot be changed later. Choose wisely.

ALSO IMPORTANT: The first user that is created is the primary “tenant administrator” (i.e. full control, “god” mode) – this cannot be changed later. Choose wisely.

Tip: Plan ahead. Pick 2 or 3 preferable user IDs in case someone has already taken your top pick. Keep the user ID short, title focused, and organization-focused.

Step 6: Microsoft will verify your organizations’ eligibility for non-profit prices and a subscription donation.

1. You will be required to sign a contract and attest that you are an eligible non-profit.

Tip: Add a reminder in your calendar of the expiry date of your Office 365 E3 trial to ensure you give yourself ample time to cancel if you are not eligible. Throw a couple reminders in there (one week and two weeks before expiry date to ping TechSoup and Microsoft Canada to see the status of your request).

IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION DONATION:

Step 7: Transition from the trial Office 365 E3 offer to a donated Office 365 E1 offer.

If you have questions, you can contact TechSoup Canada (1-855-281-5499) or Microsoft Canada (1-800-642-7676).