Nonprofit programs & benefits

By joining Google for Nonprofits, your organization will be approved to enroll in our exclusive nonprofit products, which include:

• Google Grants: Free AdWords advertising to promote your website on Google through keyword targeting.
• YouTube for Nonprofits: Premium branding capabilities on YouTube channels, increased uploading capacity, the ability to select custom thumbnail images, and Call-to-action overlay on your videos.
• Google Earth Outreach Grants: Free licensing for Google Earth Pro, Google SketchUp Pro and Maps API Premier.
• Google Apps for Nonprofits: Free version of Google Apps for Nonprofits with fewer than 3,000 users, or a 40% discount ($30/user/year) on Google Apps for Business for organizations which have over 3,000 users.

You will also receive the following benefits regardless of whether you enroll in our exclusive product programs:

• Monthly Google for Nonprofits newsletter
• Access to our Google for Nonprofits online resources
• Special offers and events
• Access to online training material targeted towards nonprofits

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Google for Nonprofits program, organizations must meet our legal and policy guidelines and be headquartered in the United States.

We only allow one membership per organization. However, branches of umbrella organizations that share Employee Identification Numbers (EIN) numbers with their parent organizations are eligible for individual memberships. Branches must indicate that they are applying as a "related organization" during the application process and go through additional screening.

To be eligible for the Google for Nonprofits program, organizations must meet our legal and policy guidelines and be headquartered in the United States. Organizations headquartered in other countries can view Google's country-specific programs for nonprofits.

Legal Guidelines

US Organizations must have current 501(c)(3) status, as assigned by the Internal Revenue Service, to be considered for the Google for Nonprofits program. If you do not have a valid 501(c)(3) status then you are not eligible for this program.

Note that it can take some time from when your organization receives your IRS notification of this status until your EIN appears and is updated in the online database. To be considered for the Google for Nonprofits program, your tax status must first be updated in the online database; copies of IRS letters are not sufficient for this requirement.

Policy Guidelines

When we consider your organization’s application for the program, we’ll review the content of the application as well as your website and any other links that you provide.

Ineligible nonprofits include, but are not limited to, those whose websites or missions are identified in the “Restrictions” below.

We only allow one membership per organization. However, branches of umbrella organizations that share EIN numbers with their parent organizations may be eligible for individual memberships. Branches must indicate that they are applying as a "related organization" during the application process and go through additional screening.

Restrictions

The following organizations are not eligible for Google for Nonprofits:

Commercial / Goods and Services

• Car, boat and real estate donation websites
• Websites with a primary focus on selling goods, products or services
• Consumer credit counseling

Communities and Groups

• Programs requiring membership and/or providing benefit solely to members, such as clubs, sports teams, alumni, networking and other membership organizations
• Religious content or proselytizing on website as well as organizations that use religion or sexual orientation as factor in hiring or populations served
• Groups serving a primarily political function such as lobbying, think tanks and special interests
• Schools, childcare centers, academic institutions, and universities, unless the organization’s sole (entire) purpose entails serving a disadvantaged community (e.g., the blind, hearing impaired, low-income members, etc.) or the organization is a philanthropic arm of a school (e.g. research programs)
• Places or institutions of worship (e.g., churches, ministries, temples, synagogues)

Other

• Promotion of illegal or disruptive tactics
• Governmental entities and organizations
• Hospitals, unless the organization is a philanthropic arm of a hospital
• Websites serving solely as a portal or directory
• Websites participating in Google AdSense program
• Websites of poor quality, an unclear mission statement or that result in a poor experience for the viewer

Google reserves the right to award or deny the application of any organization, and to supplement or amend these eligibility guidelines at any time. Selections are made at Google’s sole discretion, and decisions regarding award recipients are final.

Updated: 10/2011