Google for Nonprofits Blog: Program Alerts

Google Apps for Nonprofits is now free for all nonprofits

Monday, February 25, 2013

Good news! As of today, any nonprofit organization that is part of Google for Nonprofits can get Google Apps for Nonprofits for free. Previously, the free version of this program was only available to nonprofits with fewer than 3,000 users. Now, whether your nonprofit is 10 people or 10,000, you are eligible to start using Gmail, Calendar, Drive and more.

Google Apps for Nonprofits allows your organization to reduce IT costs and helps your team collaborate more effectively. The suite of tools uses cloud computing to securely store and update documents, calendars and email in real-time - meaning you can access data anywhere, anytime. Google manages all of the updating and maintenance in the cloud, so you’ll never be required to install hardware or update software. And if you need help, we have a 24/7 support team available.

If your organization is ready to begin using Google Apps for Nonprofits and is already in the program, just enroll with the instructions in your acceptance email. If you’re new to Google for Nonprofits, start by joining the program. Once accepted, we’ll send you instructions on how to enroll in Google Apps for Nonprofits and other great products.

Need help getting started? Check out our step-by-step getting started guides that can help you get up and running successfully. And, don’t forget to join us tomorrow as we learn best practices for nonprofits from Google Apps experts in a Hangout on Air.
Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team

Crisis response for Pakistan floods

Monday, August 16, 2010

floods in Pakistan get your message to the widest audience possible:

Prioritize your budget so that the majority is going to your disaster campaigns

Build a targeted keyword list with words specific to Pakistan’s floods

Send visitors to the most useful landing page on your website, probably one that accepts donations

please contact our teamPosted by Jessica Vaughan, Google Grants Team

May’s Discussion Forum Hot Topic: Account Review Process

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

previous blogpostdiscussion forumAccount Review processdiscussion forumAccount review timing and status updatesHelp CenterwebformCorrecting errors from the account reviewdiscussionsPosted by AnnMarie Hill, The Google Grants Team

Haiti disaster response

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

One of the challenges now facing Haiti is connectivity.
To help with the search efforts, a team of Googlers worked with the US State Department to create a PeopleFinder gadget that you can embed on your organization's website.
org'sherehereget your word out YouTubeannotationscontact our teamPosted by Jessica Vaughan, Google Grants Team

Grants recipients helping earthquake victims in Haiti

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

earthquake in Haitithe effects of the earthquake

CARE has deployed additional teams to Haiti and plans to begin distributing food from its Haitian warehouses. Read more or donate to help.

Direct Relief International is offering support to partners on the ground in the region by way of two large shipping containers with emergency supplies arriving today. Read more or donate to help.

Save the Children is sending out local teams from Port-au-Prince to provide lifesaving assistance such as food, water and shelter for the victims of the earthquake. Read more or donate to help.

The Red Cross has released all of its emergency supplies from their Panama warehouse to provide relief for approximately 5,000 families. Read more or donate to help.

UNICEF will provide sanitation supplies, safe drinking water and basic health care in coordination with other UN agencies on the ground in Haiti. Read more or donate to help.

contact our teamPosted by Jessica Vaughan, Google Grants Team

2009 Grants Education Wrap-up

Thursday, December 17, 2009

2009 was a big year for educational resources and support! We implemented major changes to our existing support model, while providing new content and additional resources.

Email Support

For direct support requests, we instituted categorized webforms where you can identify your issue prior to contacting our team. This way, your inquiry will be sent to an expert who specializes in troubleshooting the specific issue. Our webform system is designed to increase the efficiency and accuracy of the support you receive.

Help Center

In 2009, we also focused on increasing the content in our Help Center. We identified common themes in your emails and frequently asked questions, and formulated them into more than 10 new Q & A's in our Help Center. Now you can quickly find an answer to your question by simply searching the Help Center.

Discussion Forum

We found that one of our most valuable educational resources this year was our Discussion forum. The learnings gained from other non-profits shed a different light on the Google Grants program. Not only can you post questions and learn from others' experiences, you can gather tips and best practices based on the success of other nonprofits.

In the past 12 months, the forum has grown immensely in number of users. People are coming back to regularly to ask and answer questions, like:

How can we tell how our application is progressing?

Have recently been accepted by Google Grants, followed the instructions but account still not activated?

Any suggestions for goals to track other than donations?

Looking ahead

As the year comes to a close, we are strategizing on different forms of educational materials for 2010. Here is a sneak peak of what we are working on:

The image depicts the lifecycle of a Google Grants application, describing each step in the application and account activation process. Visit our Help Center next month to see this visual graphic in more detail.

Thanks for a great year and we wish you the happiest of holidays!

Posted by AnnMarie Hill, The Google Grants Team

Google Grants Survey

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Is this survey really from Google Grants?phishing attempt.How do I know if my response was received?

URGENT: Safe practices for accessing your Google Grants account

Friday, April 10, 2009

As you know from our recent email and blog post, we are now requiring organizations participating in Google Grants to actively manage their account and login at least once monthly. Please note that we will never email you with a link to your Google Grants AdWords account unless we are replying to an email you sent our team directly; you should always login on your own at adwords.google.com and never click on a link contained in an unsolicited email to access your account or update any personal information.
We've received reports from concerned grantees regarding a recent email asking the recipient to login to their AdWords account from a link included in that email. Please do not click on this link to access your account. Emails such as this are not sent by our team but are instead phishing emails from illegitimate sources. Also, keep in mind that emails from our team will always come from an email address with the google.com domain. Notice that we do not use a gmail.com domain, nor do we use a googlegrants.com domain when sending out emails to our grantees. Please review more information and tips to avoid getting hooked by phishing attacks on the Official Google Blog. Here are a few high-level tips to steer clear of phishing attacks:

Be careful about responding to emails that ask you for sensitive information.

Go to the site yourself, rather than clicking on links in suspicious emails.

If you're on a site that's asking you to enter sensitive information, check for signs of anything suspicious.

Be wary of the "fabulous offers" and "fantastic prizes" that you'll sometimes come across on the web.

Use a browser that has a phishing filter.

Posted by Kristie Ferketich, Google Grants Team

Active account management

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

active engagement active management of your AdWords accountGoogle Grants Help Forumcontact our teamPosted by Jessica Vaughan, Google Grants Team

Update on Google Checkout for Grantees

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Perhaps you've already heard about the changes to the Google Checkout fee structure, but we wanted to bring it to your attention here as well.

Google Checkout has been free for non-profits, and will continue to be for all Google Grantees until 2010. However, all non-profits using Checkout who are not Google Grantees will transition to Checkout's standard fee structure on March 1, 2009.

A few things you should know:

If you have questions about Checkout or need assistance, please refer to the Google Checkout Merchant Help Center.
If you're a Google Grantee currently using Google Checkout, you need to link your Grants account to your Checkout account by 2/15/09 to continue your free donation processing until 2010.
If you're a Google Grantee interested in using Google Checkout with your Grants account, you can sign up and get started today.
If you're a non-profit but not a Google Grantee and you're interested in Google Grants with Checkout, apply for a Google Grant by March 1, 2009 and if you're accepted, Google Checkout will retroactively credit you for any Checkout fees incurred while your Google Grants application was pending.
To display Google Checkout badges on your ads you must:

Sign up for Google Checkout and provide a valid public business website URL along with the other required information.
Complete one of the integration options.
Comply with Google Checkout badge requirements. (You may also wish to check your website against our Integration Checklist as following these guidelines will ensure a positive buyer experience.)
Completely process several orders.

After you complete these steps, your badges will be reviewed by a Checkout specialist and activated. (Remember, your ads must direct users to the public business website URL you specified for Google Checkout in order to display badges.) Need help? View demo

We hope you continue to find Google Checkout to be the easiest and most cost-effective way to process donations for your organization.

Posted by Jessica, Google Grants Team

Grant recipients helping victims of India floods

Friday, September 5, 2008

Many of the non-profits our program are taking part in the relief efforts for the floods in northern India.

We'd like to call attention to some of them so that you can get involved, offer support or learn more about the effects of the floods.

Project Concern is providing water purification, storage supplies, soap and basic amenities and operating motorized boats for rescue missions in the region. Read more or donate to help.
The American Indian Foundation is working with the local government and other regional organizations to secure safe drinking water and facilitate information between those displaced. Read more or donate to help.
Catholic Relief Services is providing those in dire need with ready-to-eat foods, purification tablets and tarps for transitional shelter. Read more or donate to help.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent is working with the India Red Cross Society to distribute medicine and coordinating the delivery of tents to the affected regions to serve as temporary housing. Read more or donate to help.

If you're a grant recipient providing relief to those affected by the floods and have questions about managing your AdWords account to scale with traffic increases, please contact our team so we can make sure you reach those in need and those who can help.Posted by Jessica, Google Grants Team

Grant recipients helping victims of Hurricane Gustav

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Oxfam America has staff on the ground in the affected regions and is providing supplies, manpower, food and rebuilding assistance. Read more or donate to help.

The American Red Cross is supplying local shelters with meals, cots and blankets for people displaced by the hurricanes. Read more or donate to help.

Save the Children is supplying shelters with child-specific supplies like diapers, baby wipes and cribs. Read more or donate to help.

VolunteerMatch has been aggregating volunteer opportunities in the affected regions to assist in the relief efforts. See volunteer needs by region.

Direct Relief has committed $250,000 in special hurricane response funds to assist the medical "safety net" along the U.S. Gulf Coast in response to Hurricane Gustav. Read more or donate to help.

contact our teamPosted by Jessica, Google Grants Team

Grant recipients helping victims of Central U.S. floods

Monday, June 16, 2008

Posted by Jessica, Google Grants Team

American Red Cross is currently providing shelter and food until the waters recede and recovery can begin. They are urging affected residents to register with their Safe and Well website so that loved ones can search for them and know their status. Details of the relief efforts can be seen here on their interactive map. Read more or donate to help.

America's Second Harvest is providing food and resources to those affected by the floods. They expect relief efforts to top $150K. Donate to help.

If you are a Google Grant recipient providing relief to those affected by the Central U.S. floods and have questions about managing your AdWords account efficiently to scale with the traffic generated by the disaster, please contact our team so that we can make sure your information reaches those in need and those who can help.

Grant recipients helping victims of Cyclone Nargis

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Posted by Jessica, Google Grants TeamNargis

Direct Relief is lending support to regional humanitarian assistance groups. Read more or donate to help.

Doctors Without Borders has been assessing the needs of residents throughout the affected townships and is setting up first emergency response teams. Read more or donate to help.

The International Rescue Committee is sending emergency teams to Myanmar to provide assistance to those left homeless by the disaster. Read more or donate to help.

Oxfam America has already committed $800,000 to help non-governmental organizations meet immediate needs in Myanmar, through a mixture of funding, technical expertise and equipment where required. Read more or donate to help.

Save the Children is collecting donations for the immediate and long-term needs of children and families impacted. Read more or donate to help.

UNICEF's Myanmar field staff have begun delivering emergency supplies to Myanmar’s Irrawaddy delta. Read more or donate to help.

World Vision is seeking $3M in global donations to provide aid to devastated children and families. Read more or donate to help.

If you are a Google Grant recipient providing relief to those affected by Cyclone Nargis and have questions about managing your AdWords account efficiently to scale with the traffic generated by the disaster, please contact our team so that we can make sure your information reaches those in need and those who can help.

Update 5/9/08:
Action Against Hunger's Read moredonate
AmeriCares has assembled medical and other life-saving humanitarian supplies at their Stamford, CT and Amsterdam warehouses to be shipped immediately to their partners on the ground in Myanmar. Read more or donate to help.

Foundation for the People of Burma's Read moredonateUpdate 5/13/08:CARE's staff in Myanmar is providing food, water and other emergency relief to cyclone survivors. CARE is requesting donations to the Myanmar Cyclone Response Fund, which will raise $10 million for emergency services and longer-term efforts to rebuild lives in the
affected communities. Read more or donate to help.

Tips to keep your account safe

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Posted by Jessica, Google Grants Teamsecurity tips from our Trust and Security teamlet us knowHelp Group

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