Renewing Your Azure Sponsorship Credits
Everything is an experiment until it has a deadline. That gives it a destination, context, and a reason. - Brian Eno British Record Producer, Composer, and Composer Brian Eno is no stranger to a deadline. Whether it is a atmospheric ambient track or theatric thriller. Music means tight deadlines to get streams, concerts, and albums pressed. So, naturally nonprofits also understand the siren song of a deadline vastly approaching. Microsoft prides itself on creating convenience for its customers with auto-renewals, workflows, you name it. However, there are sometimes when you may need to mark a calendar or two for keeping your benefits. This is imperative to avoid fees for anything running in your environment. Nonprofits who have claimed the generous annual $2000 Azure Sponsorship Credits will need to renew their benefits every year. Unfortunately, the credits do not renew on their own. Don't panic we got you covered. In this blog we will cover; how to see if you are up for a renewal, how to renew credits, and checking your balance and usage details. This comprehensive guide will keep you from missing a deadline, well when it comes to your credits that is. So, let's begin. To Renew or Not to Renew I will spare you the cliche of reciting the Sonnet 116 from Shakespeare. However, I will say that it is better to check if you need to renew than to acquire a fee. So, we will cover how you can check on the status of your Azure Sponsorship Subscription with the Nonprofit Hub. Grab a snack and pop by the portal with your Microsoft Nonprofit Account Credentials. Checking Your Status Navigate to Microsoft's Nonprofit Hub: https://nonprofit.microsoft.com. Next, In the top left corner next to the word "Nonprofits" click on the "I am looking for" dropdown menu, then select "Azure." In the new screen at the top, you will see two important dates. The "Grant start date" and "Grant end date" respectfully. Keep a reminder on your calendar for the end date. You must renew your subscription withing the renewal period for your Azure credits. If it is time to new you will see a notification at the top to renew your credits. Renewing Credits If you need to renew your credits simply scroll to the bottom of the page and select the renew button. If should be under the first column under the number one. You will see at the top of the screen that your credits have been renewed. You will receive an email stating that you have renewed your Azure Credits. Things to Consider You may not see the option to renew if you are months away from your renewal date. Once you have renewed your sponsorship you will receive an email sent to your Microsoft Nonprofit Account. Make sure to check your Outlook inbox and spam folder for the notification email. Credits can be renewed by the Organization's Global Administrator that registered. If you have any issues with renewing your benefits create a support ticket with Nonprofit Support at https://nonprofit.microsoft.com/contactus. Checking Your Balance Navigate to Microsoft Azure Sponsorship website: https://www.microsoftazuresponsorships.com. Next, click on the "Check Your Balance" to see your sponsorship balance. Underneath is the view will see. You will see your Azure Sponsorship Subscription ID and the total Azure Sponsorship amount totaling $2000. You can also see the usage details as well for your subscription. This is a good way to check the costs being deducted from your sponsorship. If you need more in depth tools you can use Azure's Cost management tools inside the Azure portal. Conclusion In conclusion, the Azure Sponsorship grant affords organizations to take a chunk out of their operational expenses. Allowing for easier transitions into the cloud while keeping security and scale not too far off the horizon. We learned how to renew the benefit and keep track of your resources cost and not get blindsided by a fee again. You can bookmark the links below for your convenience. I hope you found this blog helpful. See you next time for another deep down into the blue Azure wave. Hyperlinks Microsoft Nonprofit Hub | Microsoft Nonprofit Offers Microsoft Azure Sponsorships | Welcome Renew an Azure nonprofit grant - Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit | Microsoft Learn
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.Azure Document Intelligence - How to Extract Data from PDFs and Scanned Files
Imagine this: your nonprofit receives dozens—maybe hundreds—of forms every month. Volunteer sign-ups, program applications, donation forms, surveys. Now imagine you could automatically extract the data from those documents, no matter the layout, and drop it neatly into a spreadsheet or database—with zero manual entry. That’s not a dream. It’s Azure Document Intelligence in action. Whether you're processing handwritten forms, structured PDFs, or invoices from partner organizations, Document Intelligence can turn them into actionable data in minutes. Let’s walk through what it is and exactly how to get started—no coding required. In 2025, Microsoft now offers two ways to work with this tool: the new Azure AI Studio (also known as Foundry) or the original Document Intelligence Studio. Both are currently available, but AI Studio is the direction Microsoft is heading. 📄 What Is Azure Document Intelligence? Azure Document Intelligence is a service that uses AI-powered optical character recognition (OCR) to: Analyze and extract text, tables, and key-value pairs from documents Understand form structure (even if layout varies) Turn scanned documents or PDFs into structured data You can use prebuilt models (like invoice or receipt recognition),or train a custom model to understand your own document types. 🛠️ How to Use Azure Document Intelligence to Read Forms ⚡ Option 1: Use the New Azure AI Studio (Recommended) Azure AI Studio (formerly Azure AI Foundry) is Microsoft’s unified interface for working with AI-powered services like Document Intelligence. This is the platform that will eventually replace Document Intelligence Studio. 🔹 Step 1: Go to Azure AI Studio Sign in with your Azure account. 👉 https://ai.azure.com Choose Build a solution → Document Intelligence. If it’s your first time, you’ll be prompted to create a new project. 🔹 Step 2: Set Up the Document Intelligence Resource Select your Azure subscription, region, and resource group. Name your project (e.g., volunteer-forms). You’ll be issued: An Endpoint URL An API key Note: Keep these for later—they’re required for API calls or Power Automate connections. 🔹 Step 3: Upload and Train Your Model Upload sample forms (PDFs or images). Label fields like name, email, and date. Train a custom model using at least 5 of more example situations. Test and view your results in structured format within the testing pane. 🔹 Step 4: Use the Data Export to Excel or JSON. Connect to Power Automate, Power Apps, or your CRM via API. Check out this blog to see more on the Azure AI Foundry and a video walkthrough of the platform Build, Deploy, & Manage AI with Azure AI Foundry | Microsoft Community Hub 🧭 Option 2: Use Document Intelligence Studio (Legacy Interface) Step 1: Set Up the Document Intelligence Resource in Azure Go to the Azure Portal. Click Create a resource. Search for Document Intelligence (formerly Form Recognizer) and select it. Click Create and fill out the basics: Subscription: Choose your nonprofit subscription. Resource group: Use an existing one or create a new one. Region: Choose the region closest to you. Name: Something like doc-intel-demo. Pricing tier: Choose Free F0 if you're testing (limited pages/month), or Standard if using your credits. Click Review + Create > Create. Step 2: Use the Document Intelligence Studio This is the visual, no-code interface for trying out Document Intelligence. Visit Document Intelligence Studio. Log in with your Azure account. Click Get started. On the left, click Models > Custom model > Build a model. Paste in your Endpoint and Key from the Azure portal. Choose Create project and fill in: Project name (e.g., VolunteerFormsModel) Storage container: You’ll need a Blob Storage account with your forms uploaded (see next step). Source: Select the folder with your form samples. Step 3: Upload Your Forms to Blob Storage In Azure, create a Storage Account if you don’t have one already. Go to Containers and create a new container (e.g., forms-training). Upload 5–10 sample forms of the same type. These can be PDFs, scans, or images. Make sure the forms are consistent in layout (for best results). In Document Intelligence Studio, link this container to your project. Step 4: Label the Forms Once your forms are uploaded, start labeling fields (like Name, Date, Email). The AI will try to guess some fields—confirm or correct them. Do this for 5+ documents to train the model. Click Train model once labeling is complete. Step 5: Test the Model After training, go to Test model. Upload a new, unlabeled form and run the model. Watch as it extracts structured data like: Name: Jane Doe Email: jane@example.org Program Interest: Youth Mentoring Review the output in JSON or table format. Step 6: Export or Use the Results You can: Export the data to Excel Connect via API to feed into a database or CRM Use Power Automate to automate workflows (like adding entries to SharePoint or sending confirmation emails) check out the blog below to see up the workflow ➡️Automate the Busywork: How Nonprofits Can Use Power Automate to Extract and Process Form Data | Microsoft Community Hub Real-World Nonprofit Use Cases Here’s how nonprofits are using Document Intelligence right now: Digitizing intake forms for case management Automatically processing volunteer applications Scanning paper surveys into Excel Extracting info from grant agreements or invoices Final Thoughts Azure Document Intelligence makes what used to be tedious—scanning and retyping forms—quick, intelligent, and scalable. Once set up, it can save your nonprofit hours of manual entry each week and reduce human error. ➡️Automate the Busywork: How Nonprofits Can Use Power Automate to Extract and Process Form Data | Microsoft Community HubIntegrating Moodle with Microsoft 365 for a Seamless Learning Experience (part 1)
For nonprofits using Moodle on Azure, integrating it with Microsoft 365 can enhance collaboration, file management, and reporting. By connecting Moodle with Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Power BI, educators and administrators can streamline the learning experience, making it more interactive and data-driven. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of integrating Moodle with Microsoft’s powerful tools. I. Why Integrate Moodle with Microsoft 365? ✅ Single Sign-On (SSO) – Enable Microsoft Entra ID [renamed from Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)] for authentication so users can log in to Moodle using their Microsoft 365 credentials. ✅ Collaboration with Microsoft Teams – Allow students to access Moodle courses directly within Teams and join live video sessions. ✅ Seamless File Management with OneDrive – Let teachers and students upload, store, and share files through OneDrive, eliminating the need for manual downloads. ✅ Advanced Reporting with Power BI – Use Moodle’s learning analytics in Power BI to track student progress and course performance. II. Setting Up Microsoft 365 Integration in Moodle (This is specific to the integration offered, and not the built in features with M365) Step 1: Enable Microsoft Entra ID for Single Sign-On Microsoft Entra ID integration allows users to log into Moodle using their Microsoft 365 accounts, making authentication seamless. 🔹 Go to Moodle Admin Panel → Navigate to Site Administration > Plugins > Authentication 🔹 Enable OAuth 2 Authentication → Click OAuth 2 Services and select Microsoft 🔹 You may need to enable OAuth2 first before it appears in the Plugin menu: Go to Plugins > Authentication > Manage Authentication 🔹Register Moodle as an App in Microsoft Entra ID: 1️⃣ Sign in to the Azure Portal 2️⃣ Navigate to Microsoft Entra ID > App registrations > New Registration 3️⃣ Add Moodle’s URL as the Redirect URI 4️⃣ Generate an Application (client) ID and paste it into Moodle’s OAuth settings 🔹 Save changes and test login with a Microsoft 365 account. Step 2: Setting Up OpenID Connect in Moodle OpenID Connect is a standard authentication protocol that provides single-sign-on (SSO) functionality using configurable identity providers. The OpenID Connect plugin for Moodle is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of plugins and is used to connect Moodle to Microsoft Entra ID for seamless authentication. How to Set Up OpenID Connect in Moodle: 1️⃣ Ensure Moodle is registered as an App in Microsoft Entra ID (Step 1 above). 2️⃣ Enable OpenID Connect in Moodle: 🔹 Log in to Moodle as an Admin 🔹 Navigate to Site Administration > Plugins > Authentication > Manage Authentication 🔹 Enable OAuth 2 Authentication and select Microsoft as the service 🔹 Go to Site Administration > Plugins > Authentication > OpenID Connect 🔹 Paste the Application ID and Key generated in the Azure Portal into Moodle’s OAuth settings 🔹 Save changes and test login with a Microsoft 365 account. By setting up OpenID Connect, nonprofits ensure a secure, user-friendly login experience for their educators and learners. III. Benefits of Microsoft 365 Integration for Nonprofits By integrating Moodle with Microsoft 365, nonprofits can: ✅ Improve Security – Utilize Azure AD authentication to enforce role-based access control. ✅ Leverage Microsoft’s Nonprofit Benefits – Use Azure credits and Microsoft 365 grants to keep LMS costs low. IV. Conclusion: Take Moodle to the Next Level with Microsoft 365 Integrating Moodle with Microsoft 365 offers nonprofits the tools to create a more engaging and collaborative learning environment. Beyond the technical setup, these integrations also enable nonprofits to unlock Microsoft’s nonprofit benefits, reducing costs and ensuring long-term sustainability for their learning management system. Ready to transform your nonprofit’s e-learning experience? Start integrating today and take your Moodle platform to the next level with the full power of Microsoft 365. Now, lets delve into Connecting Moodle with Microsoft Teams, and the Teams bot. Integrating Moodle with Microsoft 365 for a Seamless Learning Experience (part 2) | Microsoft Community HubEnhancing Your Moodle Experience with Plugins
Did you know you can deploy Moodle directly on Microsoft Azure? This allows nonprofits and educational institutions to take advantage of cloud scalability, security, and even use available Azure credits—making Moodle a cost-effective and powerful solution. Moodle, as an open-source learning management system, is incredibly powerful right out of the box. However, its true potential shines when you tap into the wide variety of plugins available. These plugins allow administrators and educators to extend Moodle's functionality, enhancing both teaching and learning experiences. In this blog, we'll explore some of the most useful plugins for Moodle and how they can help you customize your site to better meet your educational goals. 1. Essential Moodle Plugins for Administrators When managing a Moodle site, administrators can benefit from a variety of plugins that streamline processes, improve security, and enhance user experience. Attendance: This plugin allows instructors to track student attendance with ease. It provides a simple interface for marking attendance and even allows reporting by session or student. Backup and Restore: Though Moodle has built-in backup features, this plugin makes it more user-friendly by offering advanced options such as scheduled backups and backup tracking. Moodle Mobile App (Mobile Services): This plugin enhances the Moodle experience on mobile devices, ensuring that all users, whether students or educators, have a seamless mobile experience. 2. Plugins to Boost Learning and Engagement Plugins also allow educators to create more dynamic and engaging learning environments. Here are a few that are sure to boost interaction and learning outcomes. Quizventure: This gamification plugin transforms Moodle quizzes into an engaging game experience. Students answer quiz questions to shoot moving targets, creating a fun and interactive way to reinforce learning. H5P: H5P allows you to create rich, interactive content such as quizzes, games, videos, and presentations. The plugin integrates seamlessly into Moodle, enabling educators to design more engaging lessons. Certificate: This plugin automates the creation and issuance of certificates. Customize templates to match your organization's branding, and easily award certificates to students upon course completion. 3. Collaboration and Communication Plugins Moodle is great for individual learning, but it's also a strong tool for collaboration and communication. Here are a couple of plugins that can help. BigBlueButton: An open-source video conferencing plugin, BigBlueButton integrates directly into Moodle, making it easy for instructors to host live sessions, record lectures, and engage with students in real-time. Forum Plus: This enhanced forum plugin adds additional features like discussion tracking and more intuitive navigation, improving the online discussion experience for learners and instructors. 4. Customization Plugins for a Personalized Moodle Every Moodle site is unique, and many plugins can help tailor the platform to the specific needs of your users. Theme Selector: Want to change the look and feel of your Moodle site? The Theme Selector plugin allows you to choose from various themes and even create your own, giving your Moodle site a distinct, personalized design. User Profile Fields: This plugin lets you add custom fields to user profiles, enabling you to collect the specific information you need from your learners, such as certifications, experience, or preferences. Conclusion Moodle's flexibility is one of its biggest strengths, and plugins are the key to unlocking that potential. Whether you're an administrator looking to streamline operations, an educator hoping to engage students, or a learner in need of a personalized experience, there's a plugin for every need. By carefully selecting the right plugins, you can enhance your Moodle site and create a more effective and enjoyable learning environment.Understanding the Fundamentals of AI Concepts for Nonprofits
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone of modern technology, driving innovation across various sectors. Nonprofits, too, can harness the power of AI to enhance their operations and amplify their impact. In this blog, we'll explore fundamental AI concepts, common AI workloads, Microsoft's Responsible AI policies, and the tools and services available through Azure AI, all tailored for the nonprofit sector. Understanding AI Workloads AI workloads refer to the different types of tasks that AI systems can perform. Here are some common AI workloads relevant to nonprofits: Machine Learning: This involves training a computer model to make predictions and draw conclusions from data. Nonprofits can use machine learning to predict donor behavior, optimize fundraising strategies, and analyze program outcomes. Computer Vision: This capability allows software to interpret the world visually through cameras, video, and images. Applications include identifying and tracking wildlife for conservation efforts or analyzing images to assess disaster damage. Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP enables computers to understand and respond to human language. Nonprofits can use NLP for sentiment analysis of social media posts, language translation for multilingual communities, and developing conversational AI like chatbots for donor engagement. Anomaly Detection: This involves automatically detecting errors or unusual activity. It is useful for fraud detection in financial transactions, monitoring network security, and ensuring data integrity. Conversational AI: This refers to the capability of a software agent to engage in conversations with humans. Examples include chatbots and virtual assistants that can answer questions, provide recommendations, and perform tasks, enhancing donor and beneficiary interactions. Responsible AI Practices As AI technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure it is developed and used responsibly. Microsoft's Responsible AI policies emphasize the importance of fairness, reliability, safety, privacy, security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems. These principles guide the development and deployment of AI solutions to ensure they benefit everyone and do not cause harm. To learn more about Microsoft Responsible AI Practices click here: Empowering responsible AI practices | Microsoft AI Azure AI Services for Nonprofits Microsoft Azure offers a suite of AI services that enable nonprofits to build intelligent applications. Some key services include: Azure Machine Learning: A comprehensive platform for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. It supports a wide range of machine learning frameworks and tools, helping nonprofits analyze data and make informed decisions. To learn more or get started with Azure Machine Learning click here: Azure Machine Learning - ML as a Service | Microsoft Azure Azure AI Bot Service: A service for building conversational AI applications. It provides tools for creating, testing, and deploying chatbots that can interact with users through various channels, improving donor engagement and support services. To learn more or get started with Azure AI Bot Service click here: Azure AI Bot Service | Microsoft Azure Azure Cognitive Services: A collection of APIs that enable developers to add AI capabilities to their applications. These services include vision, speech, language, and decision-making APIs, which can be used for tasks like image recognition, language translation, and sentiment analysis. To learn more about the various Cognitive Service please click here: Azure AI Services – Using AI for Intelligent Apps | Microsoft Azure Conclusion AI has the potential to transform the nonprofit sector by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and providing valuable insights. By understanding AI workloads, adhering to responsible AI practices, and leveraging Azure AI services, nonprofits can unlock the full potential of AI to better serve their communities and achieve their missions. Embrace the power of AI to take your nonprofit organization to new heights and make a greater impact. For a deeper dive into the fundamental concepts of AI, please visit the module Fundamental AI Concepts. This resource will provide you with essential insights and a solid foundation to enhance your knowledge in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence.Video Tutorial: How to Migrate Your WordPress Site to Azure for Nonprofits
Before you migrate your WordPress site, ensure you have deployed a WordPress site on Azure. If you're unfamiliar with this process, scroll down to the reference section at the bottom of this blog. There is an article that will guide you through creating a WordPress site in Azure, complete with a helpful video. Why Azure for Nonprofits? Azure offers various benefits for nonprofits, including cost savings, scalability, and robust security features. Migrating your WordPress site to Azure can help you leverage these advantages to better serve your community. Step-by-Step Guide Access the WordPress Admin Portal: Go to your personal WordPress site and navigate to the admin portal by adding /wp-admin to your site's URL. Install the WP Migration Plugin: Select Plugins > Add New. Search for "WP Migration" and press enter. Install and activate the "All-in-One WP Migration and Backup" plugin. Export Your Website: Click on the plugin itself where it says "All-in-One WP Migration". Select Export > Export Site to File. Download the exported file. Access the WordPress Site on Azure: Navigate to the admin portal of your WordPress site on Azure by adding /wp-admin to your site's URL. Install the WP Migration Plugin on Azure: Select Plugins > Add New. Search for "WP Migration". Install and activate the plugin. Import Your Website: Click on the plugin and select Import. Choose Import from File and select the file you downloaded earlier. Handling File Size Limits If you encounter a file size limit error (WordPress has a 50 MB limit), you can either purchase the unlimited extension or manually increase the limit: Access Azure Portal: Go to your Azure portal and type in "App Services". Select your app service. Use SSH to Modify File Size Limits: Scroll down to Deployment Tools and click on SSH. Click on Go to access the backend of the app service. Create a file in the home site wwwroot directory named .user.ini. Edit the File: Use the command nano /home/site/wwwroot/.user.ini. Add the following lines to increase the upload and post max size: upload_max_filesize = 1G post_max_size = 1G Save the file by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y, and Enter. Verify and Import: Refresh your WordPress site on Azure. Import the file again, and it should bypass the previous limit. Final Steps Once the migration is complete, you may want to delete the .user.ini file you created earlier. Use the command: rm /home/site/wwwroot/.user.ini References techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/nonprofittechies/deploying-a-wordpress-site-on-microsoft-azure-a-guide-for-non-profits-with-video/4415254?previewMessage=true Resolving Host Restrictions on File Sizes Exceeding 50 MB in WordPress on Azure for Nonprofits | Microsoft Community HubKalen's Corner: How Nonprofits Can Use Azure Repos
Welcome back to Kalen's Corner, where we delve into Microsoft's comprehensive suite of tools for nonprofits, with a particular emphasis on gaming-related or gaming-adjacent tools. In our previous discussion, we examined Azure Boards in DevOps. Today, we will focus on Azure Repos and its potential to enhance collaboration in nonprofit projects. Overview of Azure Repos Azure Repos offers version control tools to manage your code. It supports Git (distributed) and Team Foundation Version Control (centralized). Azure Repos enables you to track code changes, collaborate with your team, and maintain a project history. Git repositories in Azure Repos offer a robust environment for managing your source code. They enable branching, merging, and even pull requests, which facilitate code reviews and collaboration. TFVC, on the other hand, is more suited for teams that prefer a centralized approach to version control, where changes are checked into a single repository. How Nonprofits Can Leverage Azure Repos Nonprofits often have tight budgets and limited resources, making efficient project management crucial. Azure Repos helps teams collaborate on code by tracking every change and streamlining the process. Here’s how nonprofits can use Azure Repos for their projects: Collaborative Code Development: Azure Repos facilitates collaborative development by allowing multiple team members to work on the same project simultaneously. This is particularly useful for nonprofits developing software or maintaining websites, where contributions from different team members need to be integrated efficiently. Version Control: With Azure Repos, nonprofits can maintain a detailed history of their codebase, making it easy to revert to previous versions if needed. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of projects and ensuring that any errors can be quickly rectified. Pull Requests: Azure Repos' pull request feature allows team members to review each other's code before it is merged into the main branch. This ensures that high-quality code is maintained and that any potential issues are identified early. Branch Management: Teams can create branches to work on different features or fixes without disrupting the main codebase. This is particularly useful for managing large projects with multiple contributors. Integration with Azure DevOps: Azure Repos integrates seamlessly with other Azure DevOps services, such as Azure Pipelines and Azure Boards, providing a cohesive environment for managing the entire project lifecycle. Accessing Azure Repos: Security and User Roles To ensure secure and efficient use of Azure Repos, access is granted based on predefined user roles within your Azure DevOps organization. Administrators can assign permissions such as read, write, or branch management to individuals or teams, tailoring access to project needs while safeguarding sensitive code. Multi-factor authentication and integration with Azure Active Directory further enhance security, guaranteeing that only authorized users can interact with repositories. This structured approach ensures that nonprofits maintain robust control over their codebase while fostering seamless collaboration among team members. Getting Started with Azure Repos To help your nonprofit get started with Azure Repos, here are some practical tips: Set Up Your Repository: Begin by creating a new repository in Azure Repos. You can choose between Git and TFVC, depending on your team's preference. Initialize the repository with a README file to provide an overview of your project. Organize Your Branches: Establish a branching strategy that suits your workflow. Common strategies include 'main' for stable code, 'develop' for ongoing development, and feature branches for specific tasks. Commit Regularly: Encourage your team to commit their changes frequently. This ensures that work is regularly saved, and that the repository reflects the most up-to-date state of the project. Utilize Pull Requests: Make pull requests a mandatory step for merging code into the main branch. This helps maintain code quality and encourages team collaboration through code reviews. Automate Workflows: Integrate Azure Pipelines to automate your build and deployment processes. This reduces manual effort and ensures that your code is continuously tested and deployed. Leverage Azure Boards: Use Azure Boards to track work items, plan sprints, and manage your project's progress. Linking work items to commits and pull requests provides a clear view of the development lifecycle. Code for Good: A Success Story Code for Good, a nonprofit focused on social software solutions, created a platform to connect volunteers with community service opportunities. They used Azure Repos to efficiently coordinate their team of developers. With Git repositories and strategic branching, they managed development cycles and maintained code quality through pull requests. Azure Repos seamlessly integrated with Azure Pipelines for automated build and deployment, and with Azure Boards for clear project tracking. This enabled Code for Good to stay on track and meet their goals, successfully launching a platform that has connected thousands of volunteers with meaningful opportunities through effective collaboration via Azure Repos. Conclusion Azure Repos offers a flexible version control solution beneficial for nonprofits. It supports collaborative development, maintains code integrity, and integrates with other Azure DevOps tools, helping nonprofits achieve their project goals efficiently. I hope this blog has shed light on how Azure Repos can boost your nonprofit's collaboration. Stay tuned for the next Kalen's Corner, where we'll explore more Microsoft tools and services for nonprofits. Happy coding!How Nonprofits Can Effectively Utilize Azure Cost Management Tools
Understanding Azure Cost Management Tools Azure Cost Management tools are a suite of services provided by Microsoft Azure to help organizations gain insights into their cloud spending, set budgets, and optimize resource usage. These tools are designed to empower users to make informed decisions about their cloud infrastructure, ensuring alignment with financial goals. Key Features of Azure Cost Management Tools Cost Analysis: Provides detailed insights into resource usage and spending patterns, helping nonprofits identify areas for optimization. Budgets: Allows organizations to set spending thresholds and receive notifications when they're approaching or exceeding limits. Recommendations: Offers actionable suggestions to right-size resources, reduce waste, and take advantage of available discounts. Export and Reporting: Enables users to generate customized reports and export cost data for further analysis. Integration with Azure Advisor: Combines cost insights with best-practice recommendations for performance, security, and efficiency. The Importance of Budget Tracking and Optimization For nonprofits, effective budget tracking and optimization can be the difference between advancing their mission and facing financial constraints. Here are some reasons why these practices are critical: Enhancing Financial Transparency: Transparency in financial operations builds trust among donors, stakeholders, and beneficiaries. Azure Cost Management tools allow nonprofits to clearly demonstrate how cloud expenditures align with organizational goals. Maximizing Resources: By identifying underutilized or unnecessary resources, nonprofits can redirect funds to mission-critical activities. For example, if a nonprofit discovers that unused virtual machines are incurring costs, they can deallocate those resources and reinvest the savings. Facilitating Strategic Planning: Budget tracking helps nonprofits forecast future expenses and allocate funds more strategically. With Azure's budgeting capabilities, organizations can set realistic financial goals and monitor progress in real-time. Integrating Azure Cost Management Tools with Financial Systems For nonprofits already using financial systems like QuickBooks, Dynamics 365, or other accounting platforms, integrating Azure Cost Management tools can further streamline operations. Seamless Data Flow Azure's reporting and export features allow nonprofits to integrate cost data directly into their financial systems. This ensures a unified view of expenses, making it easier to prepare budgets and reconcile accounts. Enhanced Collaboration Financial teams can work alongside IT departments to create comprehensive strategies for budget allocation and cloud optimization. Shared dashboards and reports enhance visibility across departments. Streamlined Grant Reporting For nonprofits that rely on grants, accurate cost tracking is essential. Integration with financial systems ensures that cloud expenses are correctly categorized, enabling organizations to meet grant reporting requirements with ease. Conclusion Azure Cost Management tools are more than just a resource for tracking expenses—they are a pathway to financial empowerment for nonprofit organizations. By leveraging these tools, nonprofits can optimize their cloud spending, enhance transparency, and redirect savings to their core mission. Whether through real-time budgeting, actionable recommendations, or seamless integration with financial systems, Microsoft Azure provides nonprofits with the means to maximize their impact. For more detailed guidance, nonprofits can refer to the Azure Cost Management Documentation and explore best practices for optimizing cloud spending. For nonprofits aiming to do more with less, embracing Azure Cost Management tools is not just a technological step forward—it’s a commitment to their mission and the communities they serve.Deploying a WordPress Site on Microsoft Azure: A Guide for Non-Profits (With Video Tutorial)
This guide is particularly beneficial for non-profits, as a strong online presence is essential for sharing your mission, attracting donors, and engaging with volunteers. Azure offers an affordable, secure, and scalable solution, allowing non-profits to focus on their impact while Azure handles the infrastructure. By the end of this session, you'll understand the key steps for deployment and how Azure can support your non-profit's digital transformation. Getting Started with Azure First, ensure you have an Azure subscription or an Azure account. If you don't have one, you can sign up at portal.azure.com. Step-by-Step Deployment Process Access Azure Marketplace Go to the Azure portal and click on "Create a resource." Search for "WordPress" in the Azure Marketplace. Choose Deployment Method There are various ways to deploy WordPress, but we recommend using Azure App Service. Click on "Create" and select the standard plan. Configure Your WordPress Site Resource Group: Select an existing resource group or create a new one. This is a container for all resources related to your website. Region: Choose the region closest to you for better performance. For example, select "Central US." Site Name: Give your site a name. Select a Hosting Plan Free: Trial version. Basic: Suitable for hobby projects. Standard: Recommended for production sites. Set Up WordPress Credentials Create a username and password for your WordPress admin portal. Review and Create Fill in the required details and click "Review and create." After validation, click "Create" to deploy your site. Additional Features and Considerations Managed Identity: Securely access Azure services without storing secrets. Email with Azure Communication Services: Send bulk emails efficiently. Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN): Distribute content globally for faster load times. Azure Front Door: Optimize website access by directing traffic through the fastest routes. Azure Blob Storage: Store large files like images and videos without slowing down your site. Networking and Virtual Networks: Enhance security by isolating resources. Staging Environment: Test changes before deploying them to your live site. High Availability: Ensure your site remains accessible even if one zone goes down (available with premium plans). Tags: Categorize resources for better management and reporting. Reference Once your site is created, you can access it and start customizing. You may also want to add a custom domain to your WordPress site. For more detailed guides, check out our follow-up articles on deploying your WordPress site. Deploying Your Nonprofit's Website on Azure (Part 2) | Microsoft Community Hub Deploying Your Nonprofit's Website on Azure (Part 3) | Microsoft Community Hub Pricing Calculator | Microsoft Azure
