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This article provides step-by-step guidance for nonprofit organizations that want to register a validated Microsoft 365 tenant through the Microsoft for Nonprofits program.
The registration experience is designed to be clear and guided. You walk through a registration form, followed by a validation process handled by Microsoft and its trusted validation partners. After your request is approved, you can access the Nonprofit Hub to manage your profile, claims, and resources.
Register a new tenant for Microsoft for Nonprofits
Registering a new nonprofit tenant is the first step toward accessing Microsoft's technology grants and discounted offers. This process creates a dedicated Microsoft 365 tenant for your organization. This tenant serves as the foundation for claiming benefits, managing users, and interacting with Microsoft tools like Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365.
To get started, go to the Nonprofit Hub and select Apply.
Step 1: Provide contact information
Enter your contact details, including:
- Full name
- Job title or role
- Email address (used for registration and correspondence)
- Country/region of the nonprofit
When you complete the form, you become the primary email contact for the nonprofit registration. This email address is not used to create the organization's Microsoft domain, but it does receive status updates and important notifications throughout the validation process.
Note
Depending on the country/region that you select, this step might influence how fields are displayed in subsequent steps. For example, a field for employer identification number (EIN) appears for the United States, whereas a field for charity registry number may appear for other regions.
Before you proceed to the next step, you must agree to the Microsoft for Nonprofits terms and privacy policy.
Step 2: Verify your email address
After you enter your contact information, a verification code is sent to the primary email address. This code helps ensure that the email address is accurate and secure.
Enter the 6-digit verification code that you receive. If you don't receive a code, check your junk folder or request a new code.
Step 3: Provide organization information
The next section gathers details about the nonprofit, including:
- Legal name
- Website
- Mailing address
- Phone number (not a VoIP or call-forwarding service)
- Legal identifier
A Microsoft validation partner uses this information to determine whether your organization meets the program's eligibility criteria. The details that you provide should match your organization's legal records and public profile.
Tip
Use a real, public-facing domain for your website (not a social media page) to support faster eligibility validation.
Step 4: Create a Microsoft account
At this stage, you:
- Create a Microsoft 365 username (for example,
admin@yourorg.onmicrosoft.com). - Choose a secure password.
This step creates the core tenant for your organization and enables access to the Nonprofit Hub. This account is used to manage your nonprofit benefits and users.
Register an existing tenant for Microsoft for Nonprofits
If your organization already has a Microsoft 365 tenant, you don't need to create a new one. Instead, you can apply for Microsoft's nonprofit offers by using your existing tenant credentials.
Submit your registration for validation
Go to the Nonprofit Hub and select Sign in to your Nonprofit Hub.
You're prompted to:
- Enter your admin credentials.
- Complete the nonprofit registration form.
- Provide legal identifier and organization profile information.
The registration is submitted for validation while retaining your existing Microsoft 365 environment, licensing, and users.
Common registration errors
Here are frequently reported registration errors and how to resolve them:
| Error message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "This email is already in use" | The email address is tied to an existing Microsoft account. | Sign in instead of creating a new account. |
| "Invalid domain" | The domain that you entered isn't active or valid. | Use a public, working domain (for example, <orgname>.org). |
| "Verification code not received" | A text or email code failed to arrive. | Retry, check your junk folder, or format phone/email information properly. |
Compliance attestation
As part of the registration, you must attest to Microsoft's nonprofit compliance statement. This includes confirming your:
- Commitment to using Microsoft nonprofit offers solely for eligible organizational purposes.
- Agreement to terms of use.
After the attestation, the validation process begins.
Microsoft validation partners
Microsoft partners with independent validation providers who specialize in verifying eligibility status globally. These partners evaluate submitted registrations against Microsoft's eligibility criteria.
These terms apply:
- Microsoft shares submitted registration details only with designated validation partners for the purpose of eligibility determination.
- The identity of validation partners is not shared publicly. Direct all correspondence through the Microsoft Contact Us page.
Wait for the validation process to finish
After you submit your registration (new or existing tenant), the Microsoft validation partner reviews your organization's application. You receive two status emails:
- Eligibility Process Started: Indicates that your submission was received.
- Eligibility Request in Review: Indicates that validation is actively underway.
Validation timelines vary, but the process typically takes up to 3 days, if our validation partner needs more information to confirm nonprofit status, the process could take longer. For more information, see Understanding your eligibility status.
If your registration is approved, you can use the Nonprofit Hub to claim offers and manage your profile.