Set up your charity’s Google Workspace
Organizational setupEmail & Workspace · about 25 min · Charity owners/admins on a Google-based charity (FFC default is Microsoft 365)
Google for Nonprofits requires validated nonprofit (501(c)(3) or equivalent) status.
For charities on Google rather than Microsoft, this is the organization side of the personal Google Workspace guide: the domain, the nonprofit grant, and user accounts.
The Workspace is the charity’s foundation — change it deliberately
The admin console controls every account, identity, and sharing setting. Treat tenant-level changes carefully and lean on FFC, the same way you would for a Microsoft 365 tenant.
- 1
Register for Google for Nonprofits
Once recognized, apply at google.com/nonprofits to unlock Google Workspace for Nonprofits at no cost.
Google verifies your nonprofit status through Goodstack — getting verified there first makes this fast (see the Goodstack guide).
- 2
Verify your domain
In the Google Admin console, add and verify the charity’s domain via DNS (FFC manages the records) so Gmail routes to your charity address.
- 3
Add users and require 2-Step Verification
Create an account for each person (you@yourcharity.org) and enforce 2-Step Verification org-wide. Each person then follows the personal Google Workspace guide to sign in.
Common questions
Should our charity use Google or Microsoft?
FFC’s default is Microsoft 365. Choose Google Workspace only if the charity is already deeply embedded in Google. Don’t run both — pick one home for email and files.
Is Google Workspace free for us?
Google Workspace for Nonprofits is free for eligible verified organizations once you’re approved through Google for Nonprofits.
Next setup guides
Stuck on any step? Text Clarke Moyer at (520) 222-8104 — every step is meant to be simple, so if something doesn't match what you see, ask.