Office for Non-Profit through Tech Soup, but no 501(c)(3)?
Posted by roncorepfts@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 12 comments
Hello
We are a Public Library and we do have a TechSoup account, but we cannot get the Microsoft licensing for non-profit pricing because we are not a 501(c)(3), we are a 501(c)(7), which is what most Libraries are.
In 2022 Microsoft expanded their non profit tiers to Public Libraries, but after going through their enrollment, Tech Soup sent us an email saying we needed to attach our 501(c)(3) form, which we do not have because that's not what most public libraries are a part of. I've reached out to TechSoup, with no reply. Any ideas on a situation like this? We were one of the libraries that had our budgets cut because of the whole religious right stuff.
qwertymartes@reddit
Seems like an oportunity to migrate to libreoffice or other alternative
roncorepfts@reddit (OP)
We will definitely be going that route for our public computers, it's just pulling the die hard Excel employees away is proving to be difficult.
qwertymartes@reddit
Not open source, but WPS office is more similar to excel and has a feature that MS office doesnt: having multlipe documents open in the same window (like a browser with tabs)
roncorepfts@reddit (OP)
Thanks! I'll look into it!
rcade2@reddit
You don't need TechSoup anymore, just apply for the non-profit status with MS directly in the tenant.
roncorepfts@reddit (OP)
Did that. It's still tied to tech soup. Got a tech soup email immediately regarding my Microsoft application.
rcade2@reddit
Odd... all the non-profits we deal with have the status and we just add the licenses from the CSP. No TechSoup involvement anymore.
roncorepfts@reddit (OP)
Yeah we immediately got this email.
"We have received a request from Microsoft to validate your organization’s eligibility to receive Microsoft nonprofit offers. We require additional information in order to review your organization’s eligibility and complete the validation process for Microsoft."
Sweet-Sale-7303@reddit
https://www.imls.gov/research-evaluation/surveys/public-libraries-survey-pls
You just need to be listed there. I think they are mistaken. I am IT at a library and use tech soup.
roncorepfts@reddit (OP)
Thank you! We have a tech soup account but the pricing we are getting which I assume is edu pricing is not close to what Microsoft shows on their non profit. For instance I want to say Microsoft lists basic 365 business as free for 300 users on their non profit page, but our tech soup basic is $6 a user? Etc. Definitely not the same tiers, which is why I'm confused.
Sweet-Sale-7303@reddit
If your looking for 365 you can get 365 a1 for free (education). Then you can get the apps per user for really cheap education licenses.
I would look into it. For some microsoft licences education pricing is cheaper. For some of my stuff I piecemeal licences together. So instead of a3 or a5 365 I am paying for 365 apps, intune , and defender for business seperately.
StarSlayerX@reddit
No 501c3, no discounted software...