How valuable would a Nonprofit Check Plus API be for validating nonprofit status?
Would a Nonprofit Check Plus API make it easier for an organization to verify a nonprofit before making a donation or starting a partnership? I would like to know why people specifically prefer to use it and the advantages if any. Are there alternatives to the same means?
What is the due diligence for verifying nonprofits?
I know that before donating, funding, or partnering with a nonprofit, a few minutes of due diligence can prevent costly mistakes. But what steps can one take to verify that a nonprofit is legitimate, financially transparent, and actually doing what it claims? Are there AI and API tools one can use for this?A Practical, Technical Guide to Bringing AI Into Everyday Nonprofit Workflows
Nonprofits face increasing pressure to improve efficiency, strengthen reporting, and communicate more frequently—often with limited staff and resources. Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 embeds AI directly into familiar tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint, allowing nonprofits to automate knowledge work without adopting entirely new systems or hiring specialized AI teams. How Copilot Works Under the Hood Copilot is built on three core components: 1. Large Language Models (LLMs) These AI models generate, summarize, and transform text and other content. 2. Microsoft Graph Microsoft Graph connects Copilot to your organization’s data—including: Emails Files (SharePoint, OneDrive) Meetings and calendars Teams chats This provides context-aware responses based on your organization’s existing content. 3. Microsoft 365 Apps Copilot is embedded directly inside: Word Excel Outlook Teams PowerPoint Together, these components allow Copilot to generate insights and content grounded in your organization’s data. [learn.microsoft.com] 📌 Important: Copilot does not create new data silos. It respects existing permissions, so users only see data they are already authorized to access. 👉 Learn more: Microsoft 365 Copilot overview Requirements to Enable Copilot To use Copilot in Microsoft 365, organizations generally need: A supported Microsoft 365 plan (e.g., Business Standard, Business Premium, E3, or E5) A Copilot add-on license Proper data stored in Microsoft 365 (e.g., OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams) 📌 Copilot’s effectiveness depends heavily on how well your data is organized and accessible. Technical Use Cases for Nonprofits 1. Grant Writing & Reporting Automation Copilot can: Summarize program outcomes from documents (Word, SharePoint) Generate draft grant narratives Rewrite content to align with funder tone Extract insights from structured data (Excel, reports) ⚠️ Clarification: In many standard Microsoft 365 Copilot scenarios, Copilot does not directly query Power BI datasets. Instead, it relies on data embedded in documents, emails, or exported reports. However, newer integrations (e.g., Microsoft Fabric and Copilot Power BI integration) allow Copilot to access and answer questions using Power BI reports and semantic models, depending on licensing, environment, and configuration. Technical Advantage Copilot uses Microsoft Graph to pull relevant context from your organization’s documents, reducing manual copy-paste work. How to Use Copilot in Word for Grant Writing Open Word Select Copilot icon to open the Copilot pane Choose Draft with Copilot (or start typing a prompt) Enter a prompt such as: “Draft a 2-page grant narrative using the attached program summary and last year’s outcomes.” (Optional) Reference or attach relevant files from OneDrive or SharePoint Click Generate Review the draft Refine using Copilot commands such as: Rewrite (improve clarity) Expand (add detail) Adjust tone (formal, persuasive, etc.) 2. Outlook + Copilot for Donor Communications Copilot can: Draft personalized donor emails Summarize long email threads Rewrite messages for tone and clarity Suggest follow-ups Technical Note Copilot can use: Previous email threads Attached documents Calendar context to generate more relevant responses. How to Use Copilot in Outlook Open a new email Click Copilot icon in the tool bar Select Draft with Copilot Enter a prompt such as: “Write a warm thank-you email to a donor who contributed $500 to our youth program.” Click Generate Review the drafted email Edit directly or use Copilot to: Rewrite Adjust tone (formal, friendly, etc.) Change length (shorter or longer) Select Keep it, then send when ready 3. Teams Meeting Summaries Copilot in Teams can: Generate meeting summaries Identify decisions and key points Extract action items Suggest follow-ups 📌 Copilot works from meeting transcripts and chat logs. How to Use Copilot in Teams Start or join a Teams meeting Enable Transcription (recommended for full Copilot functionality) After the meeting, open the meeting chat or calendar event Select the Recap tab Click Copilot Select or enter a prompt (e.g., "Recap the meeting") Review: key discussion points Decision Action items 4. PowerPoint Storytelling Copilot can transform content into presentations: Word documents → slide decks Meeting summaries → presentations Reports → visual narratives Technical Advantage Copilot uses semantic understanding to: Structure slides Generate speaker notes Suggest layouts and visuals How to Use Copilot in PowerPoint Open PowerPoint Select the Copilot icon to open the Copilot pane Provide a prompt or upload a document Copilot generates slides and notes Refine using design and layout suggestions Security & Compliance Copilot inherits Microsoft 365’s enterprise-grade security model, including: Role-based access control (RBAC) Data residency and compliance controls Existing permissions enforcement Zero Trust principles 📌 Important clarification: Microsoft states that customer data is not used to train foundation models. Data remains within your organization’s tenant boundary. 👉 Learn more: Data, Privacy, and Security for Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft Learn Important Implementation Considerations 1. Data Readiness Copilot’s quality depends on your data: Organized SharePoint libraries Consistent file naming Structured documents 2. Access Control Ensure proper permissions before rollout: Avoid overexposure of sensitive data Audit SharePoint and Teams access 3. Human Oversight Copilot generates drafts—not final outputs. Always review grant narratives Validate donor messaging Confirm factual accuracy Final Thought Microsoft Copilot is not a replacement for nonprofit expertise—it is a force multiplier. By embedding AI into everyday tools, nonprofits can: Reduce administrative workload Accelerate writing and reporting Improve internal communication Focus more time on mission-driven work When implemented thoughtfully—with strong data practices, governance, and human oversight—Copilot can help organizations move faster, communicate more effectively, and make better-informed decisions. Ultimately, the goal is not just efficiency, but greater impact—freeing teams to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time advancing the mission they serve.
Free course: Unlocking AI for Nonprofits
With support from Microsoft, NetHope has launched a new free, CPD-certified course series - Unlocking AI for Nonprofits - designed specifically for nonprofit professionals. The series will help nonprofit teams build practical and responsible AI skills, no technical background required. The four learning pathways include: AI Basics – Learn what AI is and why it matters for nonprofits Applications of Generative AI – Explore time-saving tools for content, reporting, and data Advanced Applications: Microsoft Copilot and Beyond – Help your team adopt AI with clarity and confidence Responsible Use of AI – Understand ethics, inclusion, and organizational safeguards We’ve had more than 1,000 enrollments across the series to date – don't miss out! Courses are free and available through August 31, 2025. https://nethope.org/programs/unlocking-ai-for-nonprofits-enroll-in-our-new-ai-skills-course-for-nonprofits/?utm_medium=forum&utm_source=microsoftnonprofit&utm_campaign=msaiskillsjul&utm_content=unlockingaiWe Want to Hear From You!
As we build this community together, we’d love to hear from you—what topics are you most interested in exploring? Are there specific challenges, technologies, or ideas you'd like us to focus on in future sessions or roundtable discussions? Let us know what you’d like to see and who you’d like to hear from, and we’ll work to bring in the right voices and insights.
AI in IDD
Here is a little bout how I am using AI in IDD. Our licensed Co-Pilot, has proven to be incredibly productive and time-saving, especially in reviewing documents for errors against regulations, identifying discrepancies between various care plans for the same individual, analyzing and summarizing documents for relevant information in investigations (reducing the closure time from 90 days to 7), suggesting corrective actions for internal/external audits, trending data sets (such as surveys, assessments, and audits), and proposing opportunities and solutions in light of the regulations. AI can audit documents, policies, and procedures with extreme accuracy against 6400 and 6100 regulations (PA regs). We have recently implemented this solution to streamline and audit our Medicaid billing process prior to submission. It enables us to identify billing errors, uncover unbilled days we should be billing for, and flag days we should not be billing - significantly reducing the time required for this process from 30 hours to 4 for a months' worth of billing. For systems that are not directly compatible with AI integration, we leverage AI to develop macros that process raw data exports. This allows us to extract precisely the information we need in seconds, rather than spending hours on manual analysis.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?The Next Generation at Work: Guiding AI’s Role in Jobs
AI is poised to reshape the way we work, but the direction it takes will ultimately be shaped by our decisions. The newest generation entering the workforce is already making their expectations clear: they want technology that enhances human judgment, broadens opportunity, and ensures people remain the ones guiding the future—not the other way around. As AI evolves, our focus should be on using it to strengthen human capability—helping people build new skills, explore new possibilities, and engage in work that feels meaningful. History shows that major technological shifts tend to expand what humans can achieve, not diminish it. Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President, recently underscored this same idea: technology should empower people, not push them aside. He points out that every wave of innovation has created new kinds of work, new industries, and new ways for human ambition to grow. And today’s graduates—who have already adapted through rapid change—are uniquely positioned to help steer AI toward a future grounded in agency, dignity, and purpose. To learn more about Brad Smith’s perspective on the direction of AI, please read his reflections on Microsoft On the Issues how we can shape this moment with intention and human values at the center.Drive AI adoption with AI Skills Fest—build real skills, fast
AI Skills Fest (June 8–12) is a global week of practical AI skill-building designed for every audience—from business leaders to developers. Powered by AI Skills Navigator, it combines live shows, curated learning playlists, and hands-on experiences to help learners build confidence and apply AI in real-world scenarios. In addition, Training Services Partners (TSPs) are participating globally by delivering localized, language-specific events, making the experience accessible to diverse regional audiences. Call to Action Get your free pass: http://aka.ms/AISkillsFest Curated AI learning paths LinkedIn LIVE shows Hackathon, developer themed via Reactor Live Localized, regional events by Training Services ProvidersDiscontinuation 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.
