The Ultimate Nonprofit Guide to Choosing the Right Microsoft Subscription

2. Microsoft 365 Business Standard: A Sweet Spot for Growing Nonprofits

Price: NZ$4.90/month per user (at time of writing) 

As your nonprofit grows, so do your tech needs. The Business Standard plan is the next step, offering more tools and flexibility. It’s perfect for hosting webinars, managing customer appointments, and handling bigger projects with desktop apps. 

What you get: 

• Everything in Business Basic, PLUS: 
• Desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook: Say goodbye to waiting for online docs to load mid-meeting. 
• Webinar hosting with Teams: Perfect for fundraising events or community Q&A sessions, complete with registration and reporting tools. 
• Customer appointment management: If you offer job training or legal aid, this tool is your new best friend. 

Ideal For: Nonprofits on the rise that need more powerful tools but aren’t ready for the enterprise-level plans. 

Examples: 

• A mental health nonprofit hosting educational webinars. 

• A human rights organisation offering legal consultations through Teams. 

• A mid-sized nonprofit that’s scaling and needs reliable desktop apps. 

Need more than just the basics? Reach out to us and let’s talk about getting you set up with Microsoft 365 Business Standard! 

3. Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Big Goals, Bigger Data

Price: Free (Grant) for up to 10 users, NZ$8.90/month per user after that 

Business Premium is like the deluxe version of Microsoft’s nonprofit plans. It has everything from the Standard plan but adds advanced security and device management. If you’re a larger nonprofit or deal with sensitive data, this one’s for you. 

What you get: 

• Everything in Business Standard, PLUS: 
• Advanced security features: Protect sensitive donor and client information from cyberattacks. 
• Cyberthreat protection: Block suspicious links and attachments (goodbye phishing emails). 
• Advanced device management: Manage devices remotely and keep software up-to-date securely. 

Ideal For: Larger nonprofits or those handling sensitive information, like health data, who need to prioritise security. 

Examples: 

• A healthcare nonprofit handling patient data. 
• A large charity with a global team. 
• An education nonprofit needing to protect the personal information of students and volunteers. 

Want to keep your data secure while giving your team the tools they need? Contact us, and we’ll help you get set up with Microsoft 365 Business Premium. 

4. Microsoft 365 E3: The Enterprise Powerhouse

Price: NZ$15.40/month per user 

If your nonprofit is growing fast and starting to operate like a corporate enterprise (without the corporate budget), Microsoft 365 E3 offers enterprise-level tools at a reasonable price point. 

What you get: 

• Everything in Business Premium, plus: 
• Full suite of Desktop apps: You get the whole suite for your staff. 
• Webinar hosting for up to 1,000 attendees: Great for hosting large events or virtual conferences. 
• Device and identity management: Control access to your organisation’s data and tools. 
• Data Protection: Prevent data leaks with Data Loss Prevention (DLP). 

Ideal For: Large nonprofits with a wide-reaching impact, hosting major events, or handling sensitive data. 

Examples: 

• A global humanitarian nonprofit hosting large virtual conferences. 
• A major educational foundation with a distributed workforce. 
• An organisation handling highly sensitive data, such as health or financial information. 

Want to run your nonprofit like a business? Reach out to us, and we’ll help you implement Microsoft 365 E3!

5. Microsoft 365 E5: The All-in-One Nonprofit Solution

Price: NZ$36.90/month per user 

Finally, if you need the best of the best, Microsoft 365 E5 offers everything E3 does but with more advanced security and data analysis tools. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of nonprofit solutions. 

What you get: 

• Everything in Microsoft 365 E3, PLUS: 
• Advanced eDiscovery tools: Perfect for nonprofits dealing with legal compliance or large data sets. 
• Analytics with Power BI: Get real-time insights to drive better decisions. 
• Microsoft Teams Phone: Manage calls efficiently with this unified calling system. 

Ideal For: Very large nonprofits or those handling complex data, requiring advanced security and analytics. 

Examples: 

• A global research nonprofit using Power BI to track impact. 
• A legal aid organisation needing advanced tools to manage case data. 
• A large nonprofit requiring top-level security and compliance tools. 

Ready for the all-in-one solution for your nonprofit’s tech needs? Get in touch with us today, and we’ll help you implement Microsoft 365 E5 for your organisation!

Final Thoughts

Microsoft offers fantastic tools for nonprofits of all sizes, whether you're looking for something simple and free or an enterprise-level solution. The right plan can make all the difference in your nonprofit’s ability to collaborate, manage data, and stay secure. 

Wondering how you can use Microsoft to set up remote work? Check out our guide to implementing remote work for nonprofits. 

And when you’re ready to get your nonprofit set up with the perfect Microsoft 365 plan, contact us. We’re here to help every step of the way!