| How do I save money on software? | Ask for a nonprofit discount! |
What do your morning alarm, your schedule, a policy brief, your nonprofit’s tax submission, and this article have in common?
Here’s a hint: it’s the same thing as the directions to your lunch meeting, the text message from your favourite co-worker, and the social network you’ll probably look at some time today.
Figured it out?
The thing that is everywhere, from the moment you wake up to the moment you wind down, is software.
Software is the set of programs that run on your computer. It’s the apps used to plan your day, get around, and send messages to other people. Software is the tool you use to write documents or pay bills.
Even when you aren’t sitting at a computer or checking your phone, software whirs away in the background of your life. It manages your bank account, carries your message to thousands of people, and organizes your team.
If you run an organization in the 21st Century, you manage software. If you work for a nonprofit in 2023, you use software.
There are 15 different types of not-for-profit software that experts consider “core” to office work:
How many of those tools does your organization need? How many do you personally use on a daily basis?
If you are like most other nonprofits, at least in Canada, you probably don’t feel super comfortable with all of this software.
In a recent survey, Canadian nonprofit respondents said they are comfortable with just two of fifteen types of software organizations use every day: financial reporting and general office software. The majority say their organizations lack expertise in everything else.
Some of the main barriers to using software and digital tools are the need for expertise, confidence, and a better understanding of how to match technology to operations and strategic priorities.
The biggest barrier to using not-for-profit software and digital tools is, of course, funding.
Nonprofit organizations are rarely swimming in funds for operations, training, or experimentation. It’s hard to prioritize money for software, especially if you are unsure whether people will actually use it or if it will serve its purpose. Software can feel complicated, time-consuming, and risky.
Nonprofit managers know how to navigate time and money challenges. They do it every day so their organizations can succeed. Software challenges are no different, if you decide to tackle the challenge.
After all, life without digital tools is pretty grim: Without software, nonprofits can’t create or share advocacy positions. You can’t organize or participate in community conversations.
You need software to change minds and behaviour, to reach people who need to be reached, raise money to fund our work, keep staff and volunteers motivated, and govern organizations responsibly.
Which brings us back to money.
It can be hard to find money for software as a nonprofit. As essential as it is, donors may dismiss it as “overhead” or want their donations tied to on-the-ground impact.
Luckily, a lot of not-for-profit software is available for free or very heavily discounted. If you are a registered nonprofit organization, you should qualify for a discount on virtually every piece of software your organization uses.
There are two ways to save money on software.
First, the TechSoup program is available in both Canada and the USA and provides steep discounts on most software needed to run your organization.
Rather than paying $15 per person per month for Google Workspace, nonprofits can get it for free. Instead of spending $64 a month for Quickbooks, you can get it for a one-time charge of $51. These savings are huge and are unique to nonprofit organizations.
If you are not buying and receiving discounts through TechSoup, you probably are spending way more money than needed.
The second way to save money on not-for-profit software is to ask the company directly for its nonprofit price.
Almost every company offers a nonprofit discount, usually ranging from 10% to 50%. Big companies, like Salesforce, have entire programs set up to give away free licenses to nonprofits. Companies like Mailchimp have a standard 15% discount to any nonprofit who requests it.
Don’t be shy. It’s for a good cause.
The software you choose for your organization reflects your culture and your values. It influences how your people work, how they collaborate, and how the engage with the world.
Your software choices can reinforce your strategic priorities and make the work easier, more enjoyable.
Isn’t it nice to know you don’t have to pay full price for the tools you need to do good work well?
Q: How do I save money on software?
A: Use the discounts offered through Techsoup to save significantly on most software needs.
The Organizer is a newsletter for people working to create equitable and sustainable communities. Whether you are part of a nonprofit, a charity, or a social enterprise, this newsletter is for you.
Each edition, we explore one aspect of social impact work. We answer a common “How do I …?” question, and we tell you about a tool that will help make your work a little easier. Subscribe for free at Entremission.com.