Get validated on TechSoup
Organizational setupTools · about 25 min · Charity owners and admins (after IRS recognition)
TechSoup validation requires IRS 501(c)(3) recognition (EIN + determination letter).
TechSoup is a nonprofit-status validator: it confirms your charity’s 501(c)(3) status once, on your behalf, and many software vendors trust that confirmation to grant you donated or discounted products.
It’s the validator FFC recommends behind Intuit QuickBooks Online (your books), Microsoft 365, Adobe, and others. (A second validator, Goodstack, covers Canva and Google — see the Goodstack guide.)
Validate once, vendors trust it
Instead of proving your nonprofit status to every software company separately, you validate once on TechSoup. Vendors that partner with TechSoup (Intuit/QuickBooks, Microsoft, Adobe, Norton, and more) then accept that “Validated” status to confirm you qualify for nonprofit pricing. Get it done early — several of the charity’s tools depend on it.
- 1
Create the organization’s TechSoup account
Go to techsoup.org, register your organization, and start the verification. You sign in as a real person representing the charity, the same person-not-entity pattern as everywhere else.
- 2
Submit for validation
Provide the charity’s EIN and supporting documents — your IRS determination letter (scan it from your shared drive; see the cloud-storage guides). TechSoup independently confirms you’re a legitimate 501(c)(3), usually within a couple of business days.
Note the difference TechSoup makes between “Validated” (your organization is legitimate) and “Eligible” (you meet a specific vendor’s rules, e.g. budget caps).
- 3
Claim your software
Once “Validated”, claim products through TechSoup. The headline offers for FFC charities are QuickBooks Online (a core benefit — see the QuickBooks guide) and Microsoft 365, plus Adobe Creative Cloud/Acrobat and Norton security.
For Canva and Google for Nonprofits, use the other validator, Goodstack (see that guide) — different vendors trust different validators.
Keep your TechSoup validation handy — many vendor nonprofit programs ask for it to confirm eligibility.
Common questions
What software does TechSoup unlock?
The most popular offers are Intuit QuickBooks Online (steep nonprofit pricing), Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud/Acrobat, and Norton security — plus discounted hardware. TechSoup confirms your 501(c)(3) status to these vendors so you get nonprofit rates.
Is TechSoup the only validator I need?
No. TechSoup covers QuickBooks, Microsoft, and Adobe; a second validator, Goodstack, covers Canva, Google for Nonprofits, and others. FFC charities typically register with both — see the Goodstack guide.
How long does validation take?
Usually a couple of business days while TechSoup independently confirms your legal status. Have your EIN and IRS determination letter ready (scanned in your shared drive) to avoid delays.
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.