That’s the way it looks at…
http://www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/en-us/office365-for-nonprofits/
Please click Comment at the online version of this item to let us know your experience. If this works, it could not only save a lot of money for missionaries, but also empower a lot of them to become a lot more productive. Check it out and let us know your experience please. (Thanks for the tip, Adam, and all of the team at www.missionaryhealth.net .)
To qualify as an eligible nonprofit organization:
2. Nonprofit Mission Eligibility Eligible
In addition to the criteria above, eligible organizations must also operate on a not-for-profit basis and have a mission to benefit the local community that could include, but is not limited to:
Providing relief to the poor
Advancing education
Improving social welfare
Preserving culture
Preserving or restoring the environment
Promoting human rights
Establishment of civil society
Ineligible
Any organization that does not meet the criteria outlined above for eligible nonprofit missions is ineligible for Microsoft nonprofit programs. Ineligible organizations include, without limitation:
Nonprofit organizations that have not obtained recognized charitable status in their respective country;
Governmental organizations or agencies, including international governmental organizations and United Nations Entities. Visit the Microsoft Volume Licensing for Governments website for more information;
Schools, colleges and universities. These formal educational institutions are eligible through Microsoft academic volume licensing programs and are not eligible for Microsoft Nonprofit Programs, including nonprofit schools. Please visit the Microsoft Volume Licensing website for more information;
Healthcare organizations included in Microsoft Health Programs are ineligible for Microsoft Nonprofit Programs, including hospitals, healthcare networks, health plans, ambulatory/outpatient healthcare organizations, nursing homes/assisted living, home healthcare, and health research organizations and laboratories. Visit the Microsoft Volume Licensing for Health website for more information. Exceptions include independent nonprofit organizations with the following missions: community, behavioral and women’s health clinics; hospices; emergency services; and blood, tissue and organ banks.
Professional, Commerce and Trade Associations;
Sponsorships of events, tables, exhibitions, or performances;
Fundraising events such as luncheons, dinners, walks, runs, or sports tournaments;
Political, Labor, and Fraternal organizations;
Refurbishers that will be installing the donated software on refurbished computers to be distributed or donated to nonprofits or schools. Please visit the Registered Refurbisher Program; and
Individuals.
3. Nondiscrimination Policy Organizations that engage in discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training or services, promotion, termination, and/or retirement based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, or veteran status other than as allowed by law, are not eligible to participate in this program.
Which persons affiliated with the nonprofit organization may receive user licenses?
Licenses are intended primarily for employees of eligible nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit members or beneficiaries are NOT eligible for nonprofit licensing. Nonprofits may license volunteers that have significant fiduciary or managerial responsibilities for the organization, such as members of the Board of Directors. A volunteer of an eligible nonprofit organization can receive a license ONLY if they meet ALL THREE of the following tests:
The volunteer is accountable for specific activities and results within the nonprofit organization that are defined by a written volunteer position description;
The volunteer’s role with the nonprofit is a year-round ongoing role or is seasonal or part-time role that reoccurs annually; AND
The volunteer will not use the license for personal uses that result in income to the person who is volunteering.
More information about Nonprofit Licensing
For more information about Microsoft Nonprofit Licensing Options, including charity sales programs, please visit the Microsoft Volume Licensing site.
Microsoft reserves the right to grant or deny an organization’s application or participation at any time, for any reason, and to supplement or amend these eligibility guidelines at any time without notice. Selections are made at Microsoft’s sole discretion and are not subject to external review.
An interesting offer from Microsoft. Historically, Microsoft has not been overly keen to support non-profits with religious objectives.
I can see that this offer is a little broader but any organisation that limits recruitment on the basis of faith, sexuality or marital status (plus a whole bunch of less contentious stuff) is excluded from the scheme. So this might create some challenges for some agencies.
Plus the free software is the online version so a stable Internet connection will be necessary for the FREE version – there is a discounted price for agencies which would need the software running on a personal computer.
Microsoft recently added a phrase to their “exclusion clause” that says you cannot “discriminate except where allowed by law.” That actually opens the door to most missions; missions are allowed to choose not to hire people based on their sexual orientation and other things.
I have helped a few organizations migrate to Office 365. There are a number of things that they offer which are very nice. Their free offering gives tiny organizations all the main benefits of having a server (email, synchronizing email / calendars with devices, and file storage.) But most people will prefer the $2 per person per month version that gives you the latest version of office for up to 5 devices per person. That is a very good price for the office suite.
It takes a bit of headache to get switched over, but, so long as you have a good Internet connection, it can be a huge blessing once it is set up.
I don’t see why you try yo make people continue to use MS Office when a just as powerful program is completely free: OpenOffice (or LibreOffice). Free change of language, free updates, no obligation of continuous payments, no data disclosure to Microsoft – the far better alternative.
Be aware of the limitations of the online version runing on their servers. If you need much at all in the way of automation you are going to be short of luck. For basic, vanilla exchange email & basic intranet & non-automated sharepoint this is a great deal. The difficulty is it may meet 80% of your needs out of the box (which motivates you to invest in the migration & training) but to get to the 100% mark you may end up having to shell out…
We supposedly live in a connected world. It seems to me that the newer software versions require connectedness. But is that so in missions? Besides traveling in many locations where there is no internet presence in other continents my wife and I have taught this past year in missions training locations in California and Florida that had limited or no functioning internet connections.
Maybe I have misunderstood the MS 365 marketing. I have still chosen use pay-for editions that help me feel in control when I am away from the internet. If budget is the problem maybe we should also consider the Open Office or other software that so many of or national colleagues in other places use?
Randy