Microsoft 365 for Nonprofit Productivity

In this article: Microsoft 365 is the ultimate productivity booster. How do we know this? We use it ourselves. Find out how in this article. 
a young woman working from home with microsoft 365 on her laptop screen

If you thought Microsoft was good before, get ready to be amazed—it's stepping up its game and can boost your nonprofit's productivity like never before. 

How do I know this? I've experienced it myself. 

I wanted to share how I use Microsoft 365 to increase my productivity in my day-to-day work in Marketing: 

I start my day by logging into Teams, my virtual office, and greeting my team members – our virtual office setup means I can quickly talk to my team members without having to book a meeting/go back and forth with emails. Then I check Outlook for any new communications and use Copilot in Outlook to help me draft my responses – which saves about ½ an hour (especially on a Monday morning when the brain is lagging a bit). I then use the List app integrated to Teams - where our social media calendar is located, and plan out next week's posts. For content creation, I collaborate with Copilot to edit and refine post copy and ideas.  

Next, I dive into LinkedIn analytics, export the data to Excel for analysis, and copy the key points into PowerPoint to create a social media report for the week’s meeting. Later in the day, we have a Teams meeting to discuss our digital marketing strategy. Here, I use Speech Coach to improve my presentation skills, which checks I'm not speaking too fast or using too many filler words – and pings me if I do – so I can adjust in real time. 

During the meeting, Copilot helps me summarise key points, suggest follow-up questions, and can even recap the whole meeting (this is especially helpful if I have zoned out a bit –again, Monday brain)!  

Copilot can even generate action items from the meeting for each person, which are immediately added to my to-do list through Microsoft Loop. No more forgetting my follow up tasks from the meeting! 

When I finish the meeting and after a coffee break, (no, coffee isn’t part of the Microsoft suite, but it still does a pretty good job at increasing my productivity levels. Haha.) I get back into creative mode, and work on any upcoming articles. For research, I use Copilot in SharePoint to quickly find specific work-related content. For example, when preparing this article, I asked Copilot, "Why does XP recommend Microsoft to nonprofits?" And here is what it gave me: 

XP's Choice: A Testament to Microsoft's Excellence

XP's decision to choose Microsoft as our software partner was driven by a proactive approach to technology. By employing the same software solutions we recommend to clients, XP ensures a thorough understanding and testing of the products, guaranteeing the best recommendations and support.

XP's partnership with Microsoft, backed by certifications and a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector, allows us to offer unparalleled integration and support services. This synergy between XP and Microsoft is a testament to the effectiveness and reliability of Microsoft 365 as a comprehensive solution for nonprofits.

This information was based off previous documents and presentations prepared by my colleagues at XP – and even provided links to the specific documents it got the information from. This information probably saved me around two hours of searching through our intranet to find documents / asking around / searching google / asking ChatGPT to come up with an answer with no background information.

As you can see, Microsoft 365 is integrated into most of my workflow—well, except for coffee breaks, Canva, and a few other handy tools. But the point is: Microsoft 365 is amazing! I didn't fully realise just how much time it was saving me. With some quick guesstimates, I probably save around 3 hours every Monday using various Microsoft applications—and you can too!

Here are five reasons why Microsoft 365 is the ultimate productivity solution for nonprofits and purpose-led organisations in 2024:

1. Increased collaboration:

Microsoft 365 offers a suite of productivity tools–most of which I have already mentioned–that helps team members collaborate – no matter what part of the world they're in. If you set up virtual offices like ours, you will notice how much easier it is to communicate with your team remotely – and how useful it can be for working from home. No more going back-and-forth in setting up online meetings, no more dreaded trips to the office through peak traffic. Teams - along with its other Microsoft integrations, is the solution.

2. Integrates with Other Microsoft Products:

Integration in technology means connected apps or data. Essentially, it means that many of the Microsoft apps and products can work in unison. Teams has integrated features, such as Lists and Planner, and it also seamlessly connects with Loop, a key component of the Microsoft 365 suite. All these apps integrate with SharePoint, allowing for seamless collaboration.

Want to know something cool? Microsoft's AI tool—Copilot (with the right subscription)—can be used in every single Microsoft application to make your daily tasks easier! Remember when I mentioned using Copilot in Outlook? You can do this too—in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams chat, even Microsoft Forms.

3. Cost Friendly:

Microsoft is very friendly to nonprofits recognising that they have enough financial challenges without worrying about technology or software expenses. As a nonprofit or purpose-led organisation, you may be eligible for Microsoft 365 Business Premium grants, which can save you hundreds of dollars. Also, time is money, so if you're saving three hours on a Monday like I do, technically, you're saving money – just by spending it on the RIGHT tool. Now, that's what I call a return on investment!

4. Scalability:

As you grow as a nonprofit, (which we hope you will) Microsoft 365 grows with you. The platform's scalability ensures that as your organisations needs evolve, your software solutions can evolve too, without the need for a complete change of systems. All it would take would be to change your license or subscription – to give more access to more staff.

5. Security and Compliance:

Never worry about your data! With built-in security features, Microsoft 365 ensures that sensitive data is protected, and compliance with regulations is maintained.

Ready to save valuable hours?

Microsoft 365 is not just a set of tools; it’s a game-changer for nonprofits looking to enhance productivity, collaboration, and efficiency. By integrating Microsoft 365 into your daily operations just like I have, you can focus more on your mission and less on administrative hassles.

If you’d like to give Microsoft 365 a try and experience the difference it can make, reach out to us at XP. We can answer your questions or help you get started and make the most of this powerful suite. Together, we can achieve more and make a greater impact!

Ready to boost your productivity?

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