Goodstack-Validated Nonprofit Rejected After Forced Resubmission — No Escalation Path
I am posting this because Microsoft Elevate frontline support told me there are no further escalation paths available, and I believe this may affect other nonprofits. Timeline of facts: - June 19, 2026: Goodstack, Microsoft's authorized validation partner, confirmed our nonprofit (Opera Verace Foundation, EIN 33-2305878, California 501(c)(3)) was approved for Microsoft nonprofit grants and discounts. - June 23, 2026: Microsoft Elevate support informed me the original application was in an unrecoverable system error state due to an unrecoverable error in their system, and they instructed me to resubmit under a different email address. I only had one email directed to my business email and asked if I could use a Yahoo email. - June 30, 2026: The same Elevate representative confirmed in email to me that using a Yahoo email address as a temporary workaround was fully supported and "the correct and supported path forward." - July 2026: A different Microsoft Validation Team (not the one I had worked with originally) rejected the resubmission (likely due to use of a yahoo.com email as my business email address) and demanded documents not listed in the published eligibility requirements, including a bank statement. They stated the original Goodstack approval cannot be reinstated. - When I pointed out that Goodstack's validation was never rescinded, that my organization's nonprofit status can be confirmed on propublica online, and that the resubmission existed solely due to Microsoft's own system error and instructions, I was told this was a determination of another team and no further escalation paths exist. The core issue: Goodstack validated our organization on Microsoft's behalf. Microsoft's own system error forced resubmission. Microsoft's own representative authorized the (incorrect) workaround in writing. The Validation Team is now treating the workaround submission as a brand new independent submission requiring extraordinary measures for re-validation, ignoring the Goodstack validation, ignoring the request to check propublica, and ignoring the fact that thier reuest for additional documents is nowhere to be found in Microsoft's own document requirements in Microsoft's published nonprofit eligibility policies. Ticket number: 2606210040000788 Is anyone at Microsoft able to escalate this to someone with authority over the Validation Team? Has anyone else encountered this after being directed to use a personal email for resubmission?
Discontinuation of M365 Business Premium Grant Deeply Disappointing,Harmful to Small Nonprofits
As a Microsoft CSP partner supporting multiple nonprofit organizations, I am extremely disappointed by the decision to discontinue the Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant. This change disproportionately affects small nonprofits that rely on these tools to fulfill their missions with limited resources. The justification that this is about “alignment” or “sustainability” is disingenuous. Let’s be honest—this is a revenue-driven decision that undermines Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to empowering nonprofits. Removing access to essential tools like Office desktop apps and Intune from the grant program forces small organizations into paid plans they cannot afford, jeopardizing their operations and security. Microsoft has built goodwill in the nonprofit sector over the years. This move erodes that trust. I urge you to reconsider this decision or at least provide a longer transition period and more flexible options for small nonprofits. Please do better. The nonprofit sector deserves more than a corporate cost-cutting maneuver disguised as a strategic realignment.
Join the Microsoft 365 Conference April 30-May 2
& Dolphin | April 30 - May 2, 2024 | Register today: aka.ms/M365Conf24 The Microsoft 365 Community Conference is happening in Orlando, Florida April 30-May 2, 2024. This event for Microsoft 365 and Copilot enthusiasts offers over 150 sessions for you to explore AI innovations and elevate your productivity, creativity, and collaboration. At the Microsoft 365 Community Conference, you can: Discover the latest innovations in AI and learn best practices from Microsoft’s product makers to boost your productivity, creativity, and collaboration. Build your Microsoft 365 skills and knowledge through hands-on demos and interactive workshops that will equip you with the tools you need to take your work to the next level. Network with thousands of Microsoft experts, industry leaders, and the community. Register now to advance your expertise and career at this transformative event: aka.ms/m365conf24regWatch the Fireside Chat with Kate Behncken and Vilas Dhar and join us for an AMA
What does the future of AI hold for nonprofits? Find out on Thurs, March 14th at 9:00 AM PT and join us for a Future of AI for Nonprofits AMA! Watch the premiere of the Fireside Chat with Kate Behncken and Vilas Dhar from the Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit and participate in a live Q&A with speakers from the Patrick McGovern Foundation and members on the Microsoft Philanthropies team about how AI will change the future for nonprofits. Head over to the event page and start posting your questions now! Future of AI for Nonprofits AMA with Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
One stop platform for social sector
Looking for collaborators and funders for a one-stop platform for social sector. We have had a prototype developed with JP Morgan and have been assimilating our 8k strong global community yearly on hubilo but now need a full scale solution to take it to scale on an ongoing basis. Can connect at mailto:email address removed for privacy reasons Event platform video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmLgpg732YI (Have developed an deployed similar small scale communities for Entrepreneurs and Educators)
Investing in the sector to create digital equity
Most major donors and grant-makers want their gift to be high impact and often restrict use of their funds for operations or infrastructure. How will Microsoft and other tech companies ensure digital equity in the third sector when scarcity is so widespread and fundraising is only getting harder?Help building custom data solutions, machine learning, and AI
Really motivated by everything happening at this conference! We've been working on building data science tools for social impact organizations for the last ten years, and it's been incredible to see the energy around AI that is emerging now having worked on it for a decade. I wanted to put out an offer to this community: pick my brain! At DrivenData been working on machine learning projects across impact areas and thinking carefully about using scarce resources effectively to innovate. You can learn more about what we've done at https://drivendata.co/, but I'd be happy to hop on a call with any of you folks and share share any experience, thoughts, recommendations that we may have. If you're curious, you can see more of our past work here: https://drivendata.co/ Peter Bull Co-founder + Principal Data Scientist DrivenDataDay 2 session: Pivoting fast with responsible AI
Once you've laid the foundation of what AI is and how to get started, what's next for your organization on its AI integration journey? The panel on day two features a conversation on how to responsible AI into practice with: Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist, Microsoft Natasha Crampton, Chief Responsible AI Officer, Microsoft Rebecca Finlay, CEO, Partnership on AI Keep exploring the research and resources shared in today's session: AI Rules of the Road for 2024 from Rebecca Finlay and the Partnership on AI Jamie Teevan's team's research on Future of Work: The New Future of Work - Microsoft Research A recent round up of responsible AI research from Natasha Crampton's team - Advancing transparency: Updates on responsible AI research - Microsoft Research AI across MS Research: AI and Microsoft Research - Microsoft Research Explore more research on policy and practices from OECD.AI. As nonprofit organization, are you "pivoting fast" towards AI? How are you incorporating AI governance and responsible practices as you respond to AI opportunities? Let us know what you thought of the conversation and add your experiences and insights here.
