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 - When I pointed out that Goodstack's validation was never rescinded, that my organization's nonprofit status can be confirmed on propublica online, and that the resubmission existed solely due to Microsoft's own system error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?I want to learn more about Nonprofit Pain Points?
My name is Erica Leverson, a data analyst/tech expert at EDL Investments. We have started to want to work with nonprofits because we want to work with organizations who is making humans, animals, the environment a better place. So, in order for me to be of service to nonprofits, I want to know what the pain points are. My goal is to learn of the struggles so I can create solutions. If you don't mind, can you please share them in the comments.
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.
The Innovation for Social Good Program
In an era where technology and innovation are essential catalysts for social transformation, the Elate Child Initiative (ECI) is excited to present and seek partnership to implement the Innovation for Social Good Program, a pioneering initiative designed to empower young adults to create impactful, tech-driven solutions that address critical social issues within their communities. Inspired by the successful format of Big Brother Naija, a live reality TV show in Africa. This innovative, live televised program combines competition, hands-on mentorship, and real-world technology application to empower talented young adults from diverse backgrounds to raise awareness, innovate and address pressing social issues. Our program aims to inspire innovation, foster collaboration, and raise awareness around pressing community challenges, particularly in health, education, technology, environment, and social equity. Through a rigorous 6-month journey, participants will receive mentorship, training, and resources, allowing them to develop and present practical solutions to social problems. This unique platform engages both participants and a broader audience, promoting the potential of technology and innovation as tools for social good.
Will Microsoft’s Fundraising Template App Be Supported Long-Term?
Since Microsoft retired the Fundraising and Engagement app, they’ve introduced template apps for partners and customers to build solutions. Over the past year, we did lot of customizations on top of the Fundraising and Engagement app, and we’re now considering moving these customizations and needed functionality to the ‘Fundraising’ template app. However, we’re concerned about long-term stability. Can Microsoft confirm if there’s any risk of these templates being retired or delisted? This would help us and others plan with greater confidence.Are you happy and successful with Dynamics?
I'd love to chat with a mid-sized nonprofit (in the 20-50 staff range +/-) that is up and running with Dynamics (whether or not they are using F&E), using it across more than one department, and generally satisfied with how things are going. I'm curious how much customization is in place, how much iteration has happened since go-live, what your tech stack looks like, how much is managed internally by an admin vs externally by a partner/managed services, and the LOE for getting an admin up to speed and/or expectations for ongoing partner support (cost, hours per month, etc). To be totally transparent, we have found Dynamics more difficult to work in than expected and would like to understand from others whether our expectations are realistic or not. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to chat!
Office 365 Business Premium License for Nonprofit Staff
I got information about the number of licenses available (10 licenses) when I signed up for the plan, but the number of licenses available (just one license). What's the correct number of it? Is it possible to use Office 365 and Teams for the staff without buy licenses, even using them online? Thanks in advanceFundraising and Engagement without Costumer Insights?
We are a nonprofit considering Fundraising and engagement which by itself looks great. However, we are yet a small nonprofit, so we don’t have the financial means to invest in Dynamics 365 Costumer Insights at this point. We find Costumer Insights to be very expensive compared to other Microsoft nonprofit offers. Is F&E still valuable if we combine it with Mailchimp? - How do we communicate campaigns and get results? In two separate systems? - Does Mailchimp engagement journeys work together with F&E or would we maintain two separate systems? What about the leadscoring and “Likelihood to donate" in F&E? How does these perform when we don’t use Costumer Insights engagement journeys, website engagement and more? We assume the data collections lowers and thus making the leadscoring worse. Hope someone has relevant experiences to share.
