Let’s be real—meetings can sometimes feel like a one-way street. Whether you're strategizing on fundraising, planning an event, or just trying to make sure everyone actually reads the emails (we see you, inbox warriors 📨), getting real-time input from your team or volunteers is gold. That’s where Microsoft Polls in Teams comes in! 🌟
Polls for Nonprofits: The Secret Sauce for Engagement!
Microsoft Polls is a built-in feature that helps nonprofits quickly gather feedback, spark engagement, and make data-driven decisions—all without switching apps. And the best part? It’s easy and free for organizations using Microsoft 365! 🙌
🎯 Why Should Nonprofits Use Microsoft Polls?
- Quick Decisions, Less Guesswork – Need to decide on a meeting time? Want feedback on an upcoming fundraising campaign? Fire off a quick poll and get instant results.
- Boost Engagement & Participation – Volunteers and staff love to feel heard! Polls encourage collaboration and help keep meetings dynamic instead of crickets 🦗.
- Data You Can Actually Use – Poll responses are stored in Forms and can be analyzed later, helping you track trends and make informed decisions for your mission-driven work.
- Perfect for Remote & Hybrid Teams – Whether your team is all in one place or spread across different time zones, polls make sure everyone's voice matters! 🌍
🚀 How to Create a Poll in Microsoft Teams (It’s Easy!)
- Open the Apps icon in Microsoft Teams.
- Type in Polls in the search.
- Add the Polls app.
- Optionally pin to your menu bar if you will use it frequently.
- Choose a channel, chat or meeting you’d like to use Polls in and then select Open.
- Select Create a new Poll.
- Craft poll questions and responses and then select preview.
- Choose whether you want to record the names of respondents (visible to creator only).
- Choose whether you want to share results with the respondents.
- Select Preview and then make edits or send the poll.
- The chosen chat, channel or meeting will now see the poll and be able to submit responses.
- If you have selected to have aggregated responses visible, they will also be able to see them in real time.
- Poll results can also be found in Microsoft Forms.
You can also create polls in Teams meetings to keep your audience engaged and interactive—perfect for virtual town halls, volunteer training, or staff check-ins.
🎉 Fun Ways Nonprofits Can Use Microsoft Polls
- Fundraising Brainstorming: “What theme should our next fundraiser be? 🎭🕺🏾🎨”
- Training & Development: “What cybersecurity topic should we cover next?” (Because cyber threats don’t take breaks! 🔐)
- Volunteer Scheduling: “What weekend works best for our community event? 📅”
- Just for Fun: “How do we feel about pineapple on pizza? 🍍🍕” (Because, yes, team bonding matters!)
🏆 Pro Tip: Make Polls a Habit!
Want to keep engagement high? Try making a quick weekly poll part of your team meetings. Whether it’s a serious topic or just a lighthearted check-in, using Microsoft Polls can make work feel less like work and more like a collaborative experience.
So, next time you're in a Teams meeting, give Microsoft Polls a spin and see how it transforms engagement for your nonprofit! 🚀💙
Have you tried Microsoft Polls in Teams yet? Drop a comment and share how your nonprofit is using it! 👇
