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Question

We recently qualified for Microsoft 365 Business Basic for our non-profit organization. I need help understanding how to best use teams. I want it to improve communications among board members and committee heads. I also want to know if Azure services are something we can use. Is there any way to have a voice conversation with someone? Moved from: Microsoft 365 and Office | Other

Answer 1

Dear @Bill Hibler,
Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand your nonprofit is qualified for Microsoft 365 Business Basic and you’d like guidance on using Microsoft Teams to improve communication among board members and committee leads, and whether Azure services are available.

In general, Teams is designed as a central hub for messaging, meetings (including audio/video), and collaboration in one place. Microsoft also provides nonprofit-specific guidance and templates for structuring Teams to support nonprofit scenario, please start here: Teams for Nonprofit organizations

Regarding Azure: eligible nonprofits can access the annual Azure grant and activate it via the Nonprofit Hub using Microsoft’s official steps: Activate your Azure grant

For voice conversations, Teams supports audio/video meetings by default. If you need a phone number to dial into meetings, that uses Audio Conferencing, which is licensed for meeting organizers (not attendees), and availability depends on country/region.

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

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Answer 2

To improve communications among board members and committee heads using Microsoft Teams, consider the following best practices:

1. Create Teams for Specific Groups: Set up dedicated teams for your board members and committee heads. This allows for focused discussions and collaboration on relevant topics.
2. Use Channels: Within each team, create channels for different projects or topics. This helps organize conversations and keeps discussions on track.
3. Share Files and Collaborate: Utilize the file-sharing capabilities in Teams to share documents, reports, and other important materials. This ensures everyone has access to the latest information.
4. Schedule Meetings: Use Teams to schedule and conduct meetings. You can easily invite members and share your screen during discussions.
5. Engage in Chat: Use the chat feature for quick communications. This can be particularly useful for informal discussions or quick updates.

Regarding Azure services, as a non-profit organization, you may have access to various Azure services depending on your eligibility and specific needs. Azure can provide additional capabilities for your organization, such as hosting applications or managing data.

For voice conversations, Microsoft Teams supports audio and video calls. You can initiate a voice conversation directly from a chat or schedule a meeting where participants can join via audio or video. This feature allows for seamless communication with both internal members and external guests.

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References:

• Use Microsoft Teams for collaboration
• Set up meetings with Microsoft Teams
• Baseline - Applications, products, and features available with A1 license
• Communication as a Microsoft 365 user
• Get started with Microsoft 365 for healthcare organizations