how to enroll our nonprofit e-learning institute ?

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how to enroll our nonprofit e-learning institute ?

fiona malak 20

looking forward to do so cause we need our students and volunteering educators to get educational benefits

so what should we do ?

we've an official .edu.country domain "country refers to the country extension for the official educational domain for the country"

and it's online already and our students have the emails

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Answer 1

Kai-L 12,150 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Dear @fiona malak,

I understand that you’re looking to empower your students and volunteers with professional tools. From my research, Microsoft has strong programs specifically tailored for nonprofits, especially those focused on education as well as for students and educators. Based on what you’ve shared, your current setup aligns very well with these programs. Advancing education as a nonprofit mission is explicitly supported, and eligibility is not limited to organizations based in the United States; international organizations are also welcome to apply.

Since you already have a verified .edu domain and active student email accounts, you are already well on your way. The key remaining step is demonstrating to Microsoft that your nonprofit status meets their academic eligibility requirements.

Microsoft for Nonprofits: This is the primary Microsoft program designed for nonprofit organizations like yours. It provides grants, discounts, and enterprise‑grade tools to help support and scale your educational mission, particularly valuable for e‑learning environments.

Key benefits:

Azure credits: Eligible nonprofits can receive annual Azure grants (often ranging from USD 2,000 up to USD 10,000 or more, depending on eligibility and renewal). These credits are ideal for hosting your e‑learning platform, managing storage, running virtual labs, supporting AI‑powered learning tools, or enabling student projects.
Microsoft 365 grants and discounts: Donated or significantly discounted licenses for services such as Teams, Outlook, Word, and Excel for staff and volunteers, well suited for educators, administrators, and operational collaboration.
Additional offerings: Discounts on Dynamics 365, access to security solutions, and nonprofit‑focused training and skilling resources.

High‑level eligibility requirements:

Your organization must be a registered nonprofit or NGO with legal charitable status in your country (equivalent to a U.S. 501(c)(3)).
Your mission must benefit the community, including clearly stated goals such as advancing education, which aligns strongly with your e‑learning model.
The organization must operate on a not‑for‑profit basis and must not be a government entity or otherwise excluded organization (such as political groups).
International nonprofit organizations are eligible, not only those based in the U.S.

Recommended next steps:

Go to the official portal: https://nonprofit.microsoft.com/
Use the Eligibility pre-check tool first (quick form to confirm if you likely qualify, select categories like "Education and Research" > "Other Educational or Research Institute").
If it looks good, click Apply for nonprofit grants and discounts.
- Gather: Legal identifier (e.g., registration certificate/number), physical address, contact info.
- Sign in/create a Microsoft account (use a personal or org email).
- Fill out the registration form (provide org details, mission statement focusing on education).
- Upload proof of nonprofit status (e.g., registration docs, certificate from your country's authority).
Submit for Microsoft (or partners) validates (may take 7–10 business days; you'll get email updates).
Once approved, sign in to the Nonprofit Hub (with your @onmicrosoft.com tenant or existing Microsoft 365 admin account) to claim offers like Azure grants.
Activate Azure: In the hub, request the annual Azure grant and link it to your tenant.

Tips:

If you don't have a Microsoft 365 tenant yet, you can create a trial one during/after approval.
For education focus, highlight your nonprofit mission in advancing e-learning in your application.
Contact support via the portal if needed (they have global concierge help).

If you encounter any difficulties during this process, I recommend that the Global Admin in your organization create a service request with Microsoft Support. A technical support engineer can perform a remote session to investigate the situation, verify the backend configurations, and run any necessary synchronization tools to provide a targeted solution. If the issue requires further attention, they can escalate it to a specialized team for deeper analysis. For detailed instructions on how to get support, please refer to Get support - Microsoft 365 admin. If you don't know who your IT administrator is, please refer to this article: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support

For additional assistance, use this link to find the appropriate contact number from your region: Global Customer Service phone numbers - Microsoft Support

I hope this information helps clarify the situation and provides you with a clear path forward. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. The community is always happy to help. Have a wonderful day.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-18T19:25:42.5033333+00:00

our nonprofit private institute is in Poland not US

and it's 100% nonprofit the only donations we accept are the education donations "diplomas/courses/trainings/materials/free BA/PhD" from all across the globe

we're not a nonprofit charity organization but a pure educational institute

so do we have to pay if we unable to ? even our students are educating free and the educators are 100% volunteering for the cause of education for the poor
Kai-L 12,150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-18T20:55:36.9833333+00:00

Dear @fiona malak,
Thank you for your update and for clarifying your situation.
From my research, since your institute is based in Poland, it falls under Microsoft’s European eligibility rules for Microsoft Philanthropies. The important point to understand is that Microsoft generally evaluates organizations under two related but distinct categories: Academic (Education) and Nonprofit. Based on what you’ve described, your institute appears to align strongly with both.

Even though you are not a “charity” in the traditional sense, Microsoft does recognize nonprofit educational institutions whose primary mission is to advance education, especially when education is provided free of charge, educators are volunteers, and the organization operates on a not‑for‑profit basis. Your focus on providing education for underserved communities is fully aligned with the types of missions Microsoft explicitly supports.

Based on everything you’ve shared, your institute is well aligned with these requirements, and there is no indication that your students or volunteers should be forced into paid licensing if approval is granted.

If you encounter any uncertainty during the application or approval process, the next best step is to have the Global Administrator of your organization contact Microsoft Support for confirmation specific to your tenant and licensing options.

I hope this helps clarify your concerns and provides some reassurance. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional assistance. I’m always happy to help. Have a wonderful day.
fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-19T09:21:27.4833333+00:00

we're licensed as private education institute not as nonprofit organization but as nonprofit institute in education

please help
fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-19T10:58:07.26+00:00

@Kai-L please support how to apply and get approved
fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-19T12:15:23.33+00:00

dear @Kai-L how to apply and get approved ?
Kai-L 12,150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-19T14:49:51.8966667+00:00
Dear @fiona malak,

Apologies for the delayed response, I was out of the office.
From my research, Microsoft does not combine categories. They ask: “Is this organization fundamentally a school, or fundamentally a nonprofit organization?”

If your organization:

Does not enroll students formally

Does not operate as a recognized school

Does not issue academic credentials

Microsoft will usually classify you as Nonprofit, not Education, even if your mission is educational.

If you run a school > apply as Education

If you run a nonprofit that provides training or learning programs > apply as Nonprofit

If rejected for Education, Microsoft almost always approves Nonprofit instead
For additional assistance, I recommend that the Global Admin in your organization create a service request with Microsoft Support. A technical support engineer can perform a remote session to investigate the situation, verify the backend configurations, and run any necessary synchronization tools to provide a targeted solution. If the issue requires further attention, they can escalate it to a specialized team for deeper analysis. For detailed instructions on how to get support, please refer to Get support - Microsoft 365 admin. If you don't know who your IT administrator is, please refer to this article: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support
Let me know if you need any further assistance. Have a wonderful day.
Kai-L 12,150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-20T14:39:46.7933333+00:00

Dear @fiona malak,
It has been a while and I am writing to see how things are going with this issue. If there’s anything else I can assist you with or if you need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to let me know, I’m here to help. Looking forward to hearing from you. Wishing you a great day ahead!
fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-20T17:27:41.7366667+00:00

thanks for the response

@Kai-L we're licensed as an online school we enroll students as continuing educations "distance" we grant certificates too and we also bring diplomas and degrees online for students all over the globe from all recognized universities around europe and north america for free since we're serving the cause of education for those who unable to provide for such financially without paying it's all granted to us
fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-20T17:41:36.9866667+00:00

@Kai-L based on that how do we apply through a form

i want to use my educational email to do so and start applying

all we need just free windows free ms 365 for the poor students and volunteering educators
Kai-L 12,150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-20T18:36:54.7733333+00:00
Dear @fiona malak,

Thank you for your update. Since your organization qualifies as an educational institution (not a standard nonprofit for their separate program), you should apply through the Microsoft 365 Education channel. This gives free Office 365 A1 (web versions + Teams, OneNote, etc.) to eligible students and educators, and potentially higher plans (A3/A5 with full desktop apps) depending on verification.

1.Start the signup process (use your educational/school email address):

Go to: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office

Click Get started or Sign up for free.

Enter your educational email (e.g., ******@yourdomain.edu or ******@yourdomain.edu).

2.Fill out the form:

Provide your name, school/organization name, and details about what you do.

Describe your institution clearly: online/distance continuing education school, grants free certificates/diplomas/degrees in partnership with recognized universities across Europe and North America, serves financially disadvantaged students globally, fully nonprofit/charitable mission.

Mention you are licensed as an online school and issue credentials.

3.Domain verification and eligibility check:

Microsoft will check your domain automatically.

If it needs more proof (very common for online-only or newer distance programs), you will be asked to upload documents such as:

Proof of licensing/registration as an educational institution.

Examples of certificates/diplomas you issue.

Website, student enrollment info, or partnership letters with universities.

Any accreditation or government recognition.

Verification can be instant or take up to 10–30 days (sometimes longer for international/online schools). You can check status in the Microsoft 365 admin center later.

4.After approval:

You get an admin tenant where you can create/manage user accounts (students & volunteering educators).

Students/educators go to office.com, sign in with their @yourdomain school email, and activate free Office 365 A1 (web apps) or install desktop apps if you qualify for A3/A5.

You can then distribute logins for poor students and volunteer educators.

Tips for a successful application

Be as detailed as possible in the application about your mission (free education for the financially unable, global reach, partnerships with recognized universities).

Have supporting documents ready (PDFs of your license, sample certificates, website screenshots, etc.).

If verification is denied or delayed, you can appeal by providing more documentation or contact Microsoft Education support through the admin center.

Test with individual student/educator emails first, many people get personal free access via school email even before full institutional approval.

I hope this helps clarify the process and sets you on the right path. If you run into any issues during the application or verification steps, feel free to share an update here and I’ll be happy to assist further. Wishing you the best of luck with your application and continued success with your educational mission.

Also if you found the answer helpful, I kindly invite you to mark it as the accepted answer. Once marked, it will automatically be pinned to the top. Since many other users also search for information in this community, your valuable contribution will help them easily find the right channel and useful insights more quickly.

Thank you again for being a valued member of the Q&A community and I wish you all the best!
fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-20T20:38:06.6+00:00
@Kai-L thank you so much for your help

our domain is not just .edu

it's .edu.country

so is that okay ?

another point could you please elaborate this point ?

Test with individual student/educator emails first, many people get personal free access via school email even before full institutional approval. the free Office 365 A1 includes windows and office apps and such ?

how many students can apply after we get approved ?
Kai-L 12,150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-20T21:08:46.1766667+00:00
Dear @fiona malak,
Thank you for your update. Yes, using a country‑specific education domain such as .edu.pl is actually better than using a generic .edu domain. These domains are tightly regulated by national authorities, so they act as an immediate green flag in Microsoft’s automated verification process. In many cases, this helps confirm that your organization is a legitimate educational institution even before a manual review takes place.

Does the free A1 plan include Windows or desktop apps?

This is a very common point of confusion, mainly because there are two different “A1” offerings under Microsoft licensing. For a nonprofit or e‑learning educational institution, the free Office 365 A1 plan includes the following:

Web apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook (online versions)

Desktop apps: Not included (you cannot install Word, Excel, etc. on a PC or Mac)

Windows license: Not included

Mobile apps: Full‑featured apps on phones and tablets

Storage: 100 GB OneDrive per user (students and educators)

In short, A1 is a cloud‑only, web‑based offering designed to provide broad access at no cost. Desktop apps and Windows licensing are only included in A3 or A5 plans, which require separate eligibility and approval.

Once Microsoft approves your application, your tenant is typically granted a large pool of Office 365 A1 licenses for students (often starting at several thousand). In practice, A1 licenses are donated licenses. If you ever approach your initial allocation, you can request additional licenses through the Microsoft 365 admin center at no cost.

There is no strict cap on the number of students you can support, as long as users have valid accounts issued under your approved .edu.country domain and your organization continues to meet Microsoft’s eligibility requirements.

I hope this clarifies both the domain question and what’s included with the free A1 plan. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out, I’m always happy to help. Wishing you continued success with your educational program.
fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-21T10:08:50.1266667+00:00

@Kai-L so in other words we can't benefit for anything free for PCs since we're unable to pay subscriptions otherwise the student's would be paying for their own tuitions rather than paying for getting MS products

we need windows for students free and ms office since they can't pay a dime

and we also can't pay

the school is made by the poor for the poor

the government granted the domain freely and we managed to get premium hosting freely as a gift from someone

we can't afford paying to get the educational services

so no chance for the poor right ?
fiona malak 20 Reputation points

2026-03-23T14:13:43.1666667+00:00

@Kai-L
Kai-L 12,150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-30T15:47:12.46+00:00

Dear @fiona malak,

Apologies for my delayed response, I was out of the office. Thank you for your patience.

To address your question directly, Microsoft does provide meaningful free support for educational institutions; however, it does not offer free Windows licenses or desktop Office apps for PCs under the Office 365 A1 plan. This is not a reflection on your mission or your students. It is simply how Microsoft’s licensing model is structured today.

Windows itself, along with the desktop versions of Office apps, requires A3 or A5 licenses, which are paid subscriptions. At this time, Microsoft does not provide a completely free option for Windows plus desktop Office on PCs, even for nonprofit or education‑focused institutions. This policy applies globally and consistently, not just to your organization.

I fully understand that this may not be the answer you were hoping for, and I truly wish the situation were different. As a forum moderator, I don’t have the ability to change licensing policies or grant exceptions, but I do want to be transparent so you can plan realistically and avoid unnecessary effort.

Your work is meaningful, and it deserves respect. Within Microsoft’s ecosystem, Office 365 A1 is the maximum free offering available, and using it effectively is the most practical path forward without cost. If circumstances ever change and paying even a small amount becomes possible, upgrading to A3 or A5 would unlock Windows and desktop Office apps. Until then, A1 remains the supported free option.

I sincerely wish you and your students strength and continued success, and I respect the mission you’re carrying forward. I wish you all the very best.

Answer 2

To enroll a nonprofit e‑learning institute and enable benefits for students and volunteer educators, there are two main tracks to consider based on the context: Microsoft Learn for Educators (MSLE) and Microsoft 365 Education offers.

Confirm educator eligibility for MSLE
- Educators can join Microsoft Learn for Educators if they are:
  - Faculty members at higher education institutions offering accredited programs, or
  - Educators at secondary schools with a STEM-focused curriculum.
- Having an official academic domain (for example, @institute.edu.country) helps verify that the organization is an eligible educational institution.
Have individual educators sign up for MSLE
- Each educator first creates a Microsoft account using a personal email address (for example, Outlook or Gmail) at https://account.microsoft.com.
- Then, they go to the Microsoft Learn for Educators Program portal at https://aka.ms/msleport and choose Sign up.
- During profile creation, they must enter the institute’s official school email address (with the .edu.country domain) in the Institution email field so their educator status can be verified.
- They will receive an email from Microsoft Vetting Services titled "Action needed: Verify your email account with Microsoft" at their school address and must follow the link within 5 days to complete verification.
Handle unrecognized or blocked school domains
- If the system shows Action Required or reports that the institute domain is blocked or unverified, educators should:
  1. Sign in to the MSLE portal.
  2. Select Help and open a support ticket.
- The support team may request:
  - Domain ownership proof (domain registration records, purchase receipts, or screenshots from the domain management portal).
  - Academic accreditation proof (accreditation certificates, letters from the Ministry/Board of Education, or official government URLs with verification codes).
- This manual verification can take up to seven business days.
Nominate the institute for the MSLE Educational Institution option
- After at least one educator has joined MSLE as an Individual Educator, the institute can be nominated for the Educational Institution option.
- When educators sign up or update their profile, if the institute already participates, it will appear in the institution drop‑down list.
- As an Educational Institution in MSLE, the organization can receive:
  - Free access to Microsoft Official Curriculum (cloud, data, AI, security, business applications).
  - Free lab environments for teaching.
  - Free and discounted certification exam vouchers for educators.
  - Benefits for students such as access to interactive labs, exam prep, and discounted Microsoft certification exams.
Ensure institutional requirements are met
- The institute must meet the Qualified Educational User requirements defined for MSLE Educational Institution participation.
- A Program Advisor must be appointed to manage the program internally and act as the primary contact with Microsoft. The Program Advisor is responsible for:
  - Coordinating educator participation (and adding more Program Advisors if more than 10 faculty join).
  - Ensuring educators comply with Microsoft License Terms for instructor‑led courseware.
  - Managing any required reporting (such as surveys and exam group numbers) if using certification tracking.
Provide Microsoft 365 Education access for students
- If the institute’s domain is recognized as an academic domain and the school is part of the Microsoft 365 Education program, students can sign up for Microsoft 365 Education using their school email addresses at the Microsoft education site and gain access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Teams.
- If unsure whether the institute is already enrolled for Microsoft 365 Education, the IT or admin team should verify this with a Microsoft representative and, if necessary, work with Microsoft to onboard the domain.
Communicate availability to students and educators
- Once the institute is set up for Microsoft 365 Education and/or MSLE, use the Office 365 Campus Marketing toolkit to inform students and volunteer educators about the benefits and how to sign up with their school email addresses.

In summary, use the .edu.country domain to verify educators through MSLE, escalate via the MSLE portal if the domain is not recognized, nominate the institute for the Educational Institution option to unlock broader benefits, and coordinate with Microsoft (through a representative or support) to ensure the domain is enabled for Microsoft 365 Education so students and educators can access the full set of educational benefits.

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how to enroll our nonprofit e-learning institute ?

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