Google for Nonprofits
Google for Nonprofits is the front door to four Google programs: Google Workspace for Nonprofits, Google Ad Grants, the YouTube Nonprofit Program, and Google Maps Platform credits. You apply once, Google's validation partner Goodstack verifies the organization, and then you activate each product separately. Verification is not instant and the four programs do not all arrive together.
- Type
- Discount Program
- Team of 10, per year
- $0Workspace for Nonprofits; Business Standard $420 (list $1,680)
- Nonprofit terms
- Required
- Last reviewed
- September 2, 2026
Quick answers
- Where do we sign in?
- Start at google.com/nonprofits and choose "Get started" to request an account. When you activate Google Workspace, Google asks you to sign in with your organization's administrative account. Source
- Is Google Workspace free for nonprofits?
- Yes. Google Workspace for Nonprofits is $0 per user. Upgrades cost $3.50 per user a month for Business Standard and $6.16 for Business Plus on a one-year commitment; Enterprise editions are 70%+ off. Source
- How long does approval take?
- Goodstack verifies your organization first. Google says most requests are reviewed within 3 to 5 business days, though some take up to 14. After approval you activate each product, such as Workspace or Ad Grants, separately. Source
- Who is not eligible?
- Government entities, hospitals and healthcare organizations, and schools and universities, although their charitable arms may qualify. Fiscally sponsored groups without their own 501(c)(3) status can't apply. Source
From the official pages, checked September 2, 2026. Terms change; confirm before you sign up.
What is Google for Nonprofits?
Google for Nonprofits can be a strong foundation for eligible organizations that need email, shared files, meetings, forms, video, advertising support, and online visibility tools in one familiar ecosystem. Use this page to decide whether Google fits your operations, what to verify before applying, and how to avoid common setup problems as your team grows.
Watch: how to apply for Google for Nonprofits
Walkthrough
Two checks, not one.
Best For
Best for registered charitable organizations that want professional email on their own domain plus shared documents, video meetings and forms, and that can work within the free tier's shared storage pool. It fits teams already living in Gmail and Drive. It is a poor fit for government entities, hospitals and health care organizations, and schools and universities, which Google lists as not eligible.
Where it stands out
Google for Nonprofits pairs free Workspace for up to 2,000 users with $10,000 a month in Ad Grants for search ads.
Good fit if: You want free email and shared drives on your own domain, and could use free search ads to reach donors or volunteers.
Watch for: Discounted Business plans need a 1-year commitment; Ad Grants has monthly performance rules; fiscally sponsored groups aren't eligible.
Team of 10, per year: $0 (Workspace for Nonprofits; Business Standard $420 (list $1,680))
Key Features
- Use Google Workspace tools such as Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, Meet, and Forms for team collaboration
- Apply for Google Ad Grants to support eligible search advertising campaigns
- Access YouTube nonprofit features for storytelling, fundraising, and supporter engagement
- Use Google Maps Platform credits where available for location-based nonprofit projects
- Give staff, volunteers, and board members a familiar shared system for daily operations
How It Fits
- Learning curve
- Most staff and volunteers are familiar with Google tools, but admin setup, user permissions, domain verification, and Ad Grants compliance may need careful management.
- Setup timeModerate
- Basic tools can be familiar quickly, but nonprofit verification, domain setup, account migration, security settings, and optional Ad Grants setup can add time.
- Organization sizeSmall to growing nonprofits
- A strong fit for organizations that need shared productivity tools and outreach programs without building a complex IT stack.
- Technical skillLow to moderate
- Daily use is simple, but someone should manage admin settings, user access, security, domains, and any Ad Grants account requirements.
Before You Sign Up
Cost and access
As published by Google and checked 2026-09-02, Google Workspace for Nonprofits is listed at $0 USD per user per month for eligible organizations, with professional email at your own domain and 100 TB of storage shared across all users.
The storage line is the one to read twice. On the nonprofit tier that 100 TB is a shared pool for the whole organization. On the discounted paid tiers the storage is per user: Google lists Business Standard with 2 TB per user and Business Plus with 5 TB per user. A small team rarely notices the difference; an organization with heavy video or archive files reaches the shared ceiling sooner than it expects.
Google Ad Grants is described separately as $10,000 USD of in-kind advertising each month to create text-based ads that appear on Google Search. It is text ads on Search, not display or video inventory.
Eligibility and availability
Google states that an organization must be registered as a charitable organization and meet the full eligibility requirements in its country, and must be verified by Google for Nonprofits' validation partner Goodstack.
Three categories are listed as not eligible: a governmental entity or organization; a hospital or health care organization; and a school, academic institution, or university. Google notes two exceptions inside those categories — the charitable arms or foundations associated with health care organizations, and the philanthropic arms of educational organizations, are eligible. If your organization sits next to a hospital or a university rather than inside one, that distinction is the one to check first.
On timing, Google states that most requests will be reviewed in 2-14 business days. Approval of the account is a separate step from activating each product. Checked 2026-09-02; requirements vary by country, so confirm what applies to your organization on Google's eligibility page.
Check before you apply
- Whether your organization type and country are currently eligible for Google for Nonprofits
- Who will manage domain verification, admin settings, user access, security, and account ownership
- Whether the free Workspace nonprofit tier is enough, or whether your team needs a discounted upgrade
- Whether your team has the marketing capacity to meet Google Ad Grants setup and ongoing policy requirements
- How your organization will organize shared drives, forms, files, board access, and departing staff accounts