Honoring Women Innovators: How Marisa Redd Is Expanding Childcare Access Through Technology
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating a leader who is using technology to open doors for families and strengthen her community. In Austin, access to childcare remains one of the biggest challenges facing working parents—and Marisa Redd, Senior Director at the Greater Austin YMCA, is helping reshape what’s possible. Reimagining Early Learning in Austin With Marisa's help, the YMCA introduced Tomorrow Academy, a forward‑thinking early learning model built to increase the availability of high‑quality, affordable childcare across the region. Supported by digital tools like Microsoft Teams, the organization has transformed how staff connect, coordinate, and share expertise. For the first time, teams across multiple centers can collaborate in real time, streamline program delivery, and scale services more efficiently bringing much‑needed childcare options to more families. Leadership That Moves Communities Forward Marisa’s work shows how technology, paired with mission‑driven leadership, can help solve complex community challenges. By modernizing communication and strengthening operational agility, she and her team are expanding opportunity for families who rely on accessible, dependable childcare. This International Women’s Day, we’re proud to recognize women like Marisa—leaders who are driving innovation, empowering communities, and creating lasting impact. To learn more about Marisa's story and the wonderful work of Greater Austin YMCA, please visit: Microsoft for Nonprofit LinkedIn.Why Nonprofit Security Needs Urgent Attention
Nonprofits are facing a rapidly evolving security landscape. Cyberattacks are becoming faster, more targeted, and more sophisticated—driven in part by AI tools that make it easier for threat actors to automate reconnaissance, personalize phishing, and exploit vulnerabilities. Many nonprofits don’t discover breaches for months, leaving sensitive data and mission‑critical operations at risk. At the same time, nonprofits working in humanitarian aid, human rights, health, and advocacy are becoming more visible in a tense global environment. According to the 2025 Microsoft Digital Defense Report, nongovernmental organizations are now among the sectors most frequently targeted by nation‑state actors, often more than finance or healthcare. Yet nonprofits often have the fewest resources to defend themselves, despite holding highly sensitive information about donors, volunteers, and the communities they serve. How Microsoft Is Responding Microsoft is evolving the Security Program for Nonprofits into a practical, step‑by‑step security journey designed for real nonprofit constraints. Key elements include: • Free security assessments to identify risks and build a prioritized roadmap • Grants and discounts through Microsoft Elevate, including 60% off security suites • Microsoft AccountGuard for enhanced nation‑state threat monitoring • The Security Advisors Program for direct engagement with Microsoft experts • Security skilling to help teams detect and respond to threats more effectively The goal is simple: make strong security achievable, affordable, and aligned with mission needs. Read the Full Article This post summarizes key insights from the original LinkedIn article. You can read the full piece here: Microsoft for Nonprofits.Transitioning from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Business Basic: What Nonprofits Need to Know
As Microsoft begins transitioning out the Business Premium grant for nonprofits, many organizations are reassessing their licensing needs therefore this is an opportunity to streamline operations and continue leveraging powerful tools with Microsoft 365 Business Basic. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ What Is Microsoft 365 Business Basic? Microsoft 365 Business Basic is a cloud-first productivity suite designed for organizations that don’t need desktop Office apps but still want access to essential collaboration and communication tools. It includes: ✅Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook ✅Microsoft Teams for meetings, chat, and collaboration ✅Exchange Online with a 50 GB mailbox per user ✅OneDrive for Business with 1 TB of cloud storage ✅SharePoint Online for document management and team sites It’s a cost-effective solution for nonprofits looking to maintain productivity while reducing licensing expenses. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Change Microsoft has announced the retirement of the Business Premium grant, which previously provided eligible nonprofits with free access to premium features like desktop Office apps, Intune, and advanced security tools. As a result, many organizations are now exploring Business Basic as a cost-effective alternative. Note: If your organization decides to continue using Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 75% through Microsoft’s nonprofit pricing. This can be a great option if you still need access to advanced features. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ How to Transition from Business Premium to Business Basic Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the switch smoothly: Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Usage Identify users who don’t need desktop apps or advanced security features. Use the Microsoft 365 admin center to review license assignments and usage patterns. Step 2: Purchase Business Basic Licenses Go to Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Purchase services. Select “Details” next to Microsoft 365 Business Basic and buy the number of licenses you need. Important: Although the process says “purchase,” eligible nonprofits receive the first 300 Business Basic licenses for free. You will not be charged for these licenses, even though they are added through the purchase flow. Step 3: Reassign Licenses Navigate to Users > Active users. For each user, go to Licenses and Apps, uncheck Business Premium, and check Business Basic. Save your changes. Step 4: Remove Unused Premium Licenses Once all users are reassigned, reduce or cancel your Business Premium licenses to avoid unnecessary charges. Go to Billing > Your Products Click on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, then click remove licenses Ensure that users have been unassigned licenses or that may cause an error Step 5: Communicate the Transition Let your team know what’s changing and what tools they’ll still have access to. Offer training or resources to help them adapt to web-based tools. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Business Premium vs Business Basic Comparison Feature Business Premium Business Basic Desktop versions of Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) ✅ ❌ Advanced security features (Microsoft Defender for Business, Microsoft Purview) ✅ ❌ Device management (via Microsoft Intune) ✅ ❌ Access and Publisher (PC only) ✅ ❌ Webinar hosting and attendee tools in Teams ✅ ❌ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You’ll Still Have with Business Basic Despite the changes, you’ll retain access to essential tools that support collaboration and productivity: Web and mobile versions of Office apps Microsoft Teams (chat, call, meet with up to 300 attendees) Business-class email with Exchange 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage SharePoint Standard security and support ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Making the Most of Microsoft 365 Business Basic Even without desktop apps, Business Basic offers a robust suite of tools to keep your team connected and productive: ✅ Web-Based Office Apps Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook directly in your browser. Collaborate in real-time with colleagues on shared documents. ✅ Microsoft Teams Host virtual meetings, chat, and collaborate on files. Create channels for departments or projects to streamline communication. ✅ OneDrive and SharePoint Store and share files securely in the cloud. Use version history and co-authoring to improve productivity. ✅ Email and Calendar Access professional email with a 50 GB mailbox via Outlook on the web. Manage calendars and schedule meetings with ease. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Final Thoughts While the retirement of the Business Premium grant may require some adjustments, Microsoft 365 Business Basic still provides essential tools to help your nonprofit thrive. With thoughtful planning and a focus on cloud-based collaboration, you can continue to operate efficiently and make a meaningful impact—without breaking your budget.How to Re-Register MFA
Working closely with nonprofits every day, I often come across a common challenge faced by MFA users. Recently, I worked with a nonprofit leader who faced an issue after getting a new phone. She was unable to authenticate into her Microsoft 365 environment because her MFA setup was tied to her old device. This experience highlighted how important it is to have a process in place for MFA re-registration. Without it, even routine changes like upgrading a phone can disrupt access to your everyday tools and technologies, delaying important work such as submitting a grant proposal. Why MFA is Essential for Nonprofits Before we discuss how to reset MFA, let’s take a step back and discuss why MFA is a necessity for nonprofits the way it is important for any organization. In the nonprofit world, protecting sensitive or confidential data—like donor information, financial records, and program details—is a top priority. One of the best ways to step up your security game is by using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of protection on top of passwords by requiring something you have (like a mobile app or text message) or something you are (like a fingerprint). This makes it a lot harder for cybercriminals to get unauthorized access. If your nonprofit uses Azure Active Directory (AAD), or Microsoft Entra (as it is now called), with Microsoft 365, MFA can make a big difference in keeping your work safe. Since Microsoft Entra is built to work together with other Microsoft tools, it’s easy to set up and enforce secure sign-in methods across your whole organization. To make sure this added protection stays effective, it’s a good idea to occasionally ask users to update how they verify their identity. What Does MFA Re-Registration Mean for Nonprofits? MFA re-registration is just a fancy way of saying users need to update or reset how they authenticate, or verify, themselves. This might mean setting up MFA on a new phone (like the woman in the scenario above), adding an extra security option (like a hardware token), or simply confirming their existing setup. It’s all about making sure the methods and devices your users rely on for MFA are secure and under their control. When and Why Should Nonprofits Require MFA Re-Registration? Outside of getting a new phone, there may be other situations that raise cause for reason to re-register your MFA. A few scenarios include: Lost or Stolen Devices: Similar to the scenario above, if someone loses their phone or it gets stolen, you will have to re-register the new device. Role Changes: If someone’s responsibilities change, their MFA setup can be adjusted to match their new access needs. Security Enhancements: Organizations may require users to re-register for MFA to adopt more secure authentication methods, such as moving from SMS-based MFA to an app-based MFA like Microsoft Authenticator Policy Updates: When an organization updates its security policies, it might require all users to re-register for MFA to comply with new standards Account Compromise: If there is a suspicion that an account has been compromised, re-registering for MFA can help secure the account by ensuring that only the legitimate user has access With Microsoft Entra, managing MFA re-registration is straightforward and can be done with an administrator to the organization’s tenant. How to require re-registration of MFA To reset or require re-registration of MFA in Microsoft Entra, please follow the steps below. Navigate to portal.azure.com with your nonprofit admin account. Select Microsoft Entra ID Select the drop-down for Manage In the left-hand menu bar select Users > Select the user's name that you want to reregister to MFA (not shown). Once in their profile, select Manage MFA authentication methods Select Require re-register multifactor authentication Congratulations! The user will now be required to re-register the account in the Microsoft Authentication app.Don’t Get Locked Out: Why Every Organization Needs Emergency Access Accounts
When systems fail—or when administrators suddenly lose access—the ability to regain control quickly can determine whether your nonprofit continues delivering essential services or faces major disruption. Emergency Access Accounts (also known as break‑glass accounts) give you a crucial safety net, ensuring your team can restore services, manage users, and adjust security settings even when normal admin access is unavailable. This updated guide explains why these accounts are vital, how to configure them correctly, and how nonprofits can secure them within Microsoft Entra ID. Why Emergency Access Accounts Matter In our previous discussion, we highlighted that resilience starts with preparation. If your primary admin accounts become locked out due to MFA issues, Conditional Access misconfigurations, outages, or human error, break‑glass accounts are your only guaranteed path to recovery. To function safely and effectively, these accounts must be: Highly secure Isolated from daily operations Able to bypass standard access controls Protected with passwordless authentication (Passkeys/FIDO2, certificates, Windows Hello) And every organization—nonprofit or otherwise—should maintain at least two for redundancy and continuity. Best Practices for Nonprofits Creating Emergency Access Accounts Before setting up a break‑glass account, review these nonprofit‑aligned security practices: 1. Use Non‑Obvious Naming Avoid predictable names like "breakglass" or "emergencyadmin." Use neutral, coded names known only to trusted administrators. 2. Create Cloud‑Only Accounts Do not sync these accounts from on‑premises directories. Cloud‑only accounts remain available even if local infrastructure goes down. 3. Don’t Assign Licenses Licenses add unnecessary exposure. Break‑glass accounts should not use email, Teams, or any cloud workloads. 4. Don’t Link the Account to a Real Person These accounts belong to the organization, not an individual. Avoid personal MFA methods like individual phones or emails. 5. Enforce Strong Password Standards 32‑character complex password (minimum) Rotate securely twice per year Do not reuse passwords Store them under a tightly governed, documented process 6. Disable Password Expiration If passwords auto‑expire, the account can break at the worst time. Rotate manually under a secure, audited process. 7. Exclude From Conditional Access Policies Break‑glass accounts must still work even when Conditional Access doesn’t. Exclude them from any policy that might block sign‑in. 8. Assign Permanent Global Administrator Role Emergency accounts need always‑on permissions. Do not use PIM‑eligible roles or time‑restricted activation. How to Create an Emergency Access Account in Microsoft Entra ID Step 1 — Create the Account Open Microsoft Entra Admin Center. Navigate to Entra ID → Users → All users. Select + New user → Create new user. Use the .onmicrosoft.com domain. Ensure Account enabled is selected. Set the Usage location. 7. Assign the Global Administrator role. 8. Review and create. Repeat the steps to establish a second emergency account as needed. Step 2 — Enable Passwordless Authentication Break‑glass accounts should always be secured using passwordless methods: Passkeys (FIDO2) Certificate‑based authentication (CBA) How to Enable FIDO2 Passkeys Go to: Entra ID → Security → Authentication methods → Policies → FIDO2 Security Key Enable FIDO2 if not already enabled and click Save. How to Enable Certificate‑Based Authentication (CBA) Step 1 — Upload Your Certificate Authority Entra Admin Center → Entra ID → Certificate authorities Upload your Root CA Mark as Root CA (if applicable) Add any intermediate CAs Provide the CRL (Certificate Revocation List) URL for revocation checks This is required so Entra can check for revoked certificates Step 2 — Turn on Certificate‑Based Authentication Go to: Entra ID → Authentication methods → Policies Choose Certificate‑based authentication 3. Switch Enable → On 4. Under Include, target only your break‑glass accounts Conclusion Emergency access accounts aren’t just a security measure—they’re an operational safeguard that protects your mission. When the unexpected happens, these accounts ensure your organization can recover quickly and continue serving your community.The Safest Way for Nonprofits to Validate Conditional Access Policies Before Enforcing Them
Nonprofits rely on secure, reliable access to Microsoft 365 to serve communities, support staff and volunteers, and protect sensitive data. Conditional Access (CA) in Microsoft Entra ID is one of the strongest tools available to safeguard identities—but a misconfigured policy can unintentionally block staff, volunteers, donors, or even your entire organization. That’s why Report‑Only Mode is essential. It allows nonprofits to test Conditional Access policies safely, without risking lockouts or disrupting mission‑critical work. What Is Report‑Only Mode? Report‑Only Mode lets you create and run Conditional Access policies in evaluation mode. When enabled: The policy does not enforce access The policy’s expected outcome is logged You can analyze real‑world sign‑in impact Users experience zero disruption You can validate whether the policy is behaving as intended It’s a safe, low‑risk way for nonprofits to strengthen security without interrupting services. Why Report‑Only Mode Matter for Nonprofits 1. Prevents Accidental Lockouts That Could Impact Services Nonprofits often operate with small IT teams and limited redundancy. A single misconfigured CA policy can: Block all admins Prevent staff from accessing emails or files Interrupt donor portal access Stop volunteers from signing in during events. Lock out emergency access accounts Report‑Only Mode exposes these risks before they affect your mission 2. Critical for Passwordless and Passkey Rollouts Passwordless methods—Passkeys (FIDO2), TAP, Microsoft Authenticator, Windows Hello—reduce support burden and improve security. Report‑Only Mode confirms: Users can register new methods Security info setup isn’t blocked Authentication Strengths apply correctly This prevents enrollment issues that could overwhelm small IT teams. 3. Provides Real‑Time Insights Using Logs and Workbooks Report‑Only evaluations appear in: Sign‑in logs (“Report‑only: Allowed/Blocked”) Conditional Access Insights workbook (apps, users, locations, platforms) These insights help refine policies before enforcing them. 4. Supports Safer Change Management Many nonprofits have limited IT teams. A production lockout could be catastrophic. Report‑Only Mode: Reduces risk Eliminates surprise outages Allows collaborative review across teams Ensures leadership confidence Helps with staged rollout plans This is critical for organizations that depend on uninterrupted access to Microsoft 365 apps. 5. Minimizes Disruption for Staff, Donors, and Volunteers In mission-driven organizations, security must enhance operations—not interrupt them. Testing in Report‑Only Mode ensures: Volunteers can sign in during events Donors can access giving platforms Staff can work without friction Once validated, policies can be enabled confidently When Should You Use Report‑Only Mode? Use Report‑Only Mode whenever you: Create a new Conditional Access policy Modify an existing policy Add new authentication methods (Passkeys, TAP, WHfB) Deploy new device policies Enable Authentication Strengths Roll out Zero Trust security requirements Implement identity protection conditions Migrate from legacy authentication In short: use it before turning any policy on. How to Enable Report‑Only Mode 1. Go to Microsoft Entra Admin Center 2. Navigate to Conditional Access → Policies 3. Create a policy 4. Under New Policy, select Report‑Only 5. Save your changes 6. Monitor impact for 48–72 hours 7. Adjust as needed 8. Switch to On only after validation Best Practices for Using Report‑Only Mode Test policies with a pilot group first Include emergency access accounts in exclusions Monitor sign‑in logs daily during testing Review “Report‑Only” block events carefully Document any expected vs. unexpected outcomes Turn on policies only after full validation Conclusion Report‑Only Mode is one of the safest and most effective tools for nonprofits using Microsoft Entra ID. It strengthens identity protection while keeping staff, volunteers, and donors productive. For nonprofits, it: Reduces risk Improves policy accuracy Supports passwordless adoption Enables smooth Zero Trust transitions If your nonprofit wants stronger security without disrupting your mission, Report‑Only Mode should be your starting point for every Conditional Access policy. What’s Next: Don’t Get Locked Out If you’re strengthening Conditional Access, the next essential step is protecting your organization from accidental lockouts. Our upcoming blog, “Don’t Get Locked Out: Why Every Organization Needs Emergency Access Accounts,” walks you through how to build resilient, secure break‑glass accounts in Microsoft Entra ID—so your nonprofit can recover quickly when something goes wrong. Stay tuned to learn how to configure, secure, and maintain these critical accounts with nonprofit‑ready best practices.Create an Internal Support Ticket Hub with Microsoft Lists, Forms & Power Automate
Setting Up the Support Ticket Portal First, we will set up the support ticket portal. This is where ticket requests will populate, be triaged, assigned and managed. It's a central location where the support team members can keep track of their tasks as well as keep the client informed through automated notifications upon status changes. Let's get started! 1. Create the Microsoft List: Navigate to Microsoft Lists from the Microsoft365.com App launcher in the upper left. Select the “+ New list” and choose the “Issue Tracker" template. Fill out the list information (name, description*, color*, icon*, and associate it with a team or save to your lists) and select create to make your form (*optional). In this case, associating the list with a team is required as it is needed for notification purposes later on in the tutorial. Review the list items from the template and customize the list to what your organization needs. Include columns that capture essential details such as issue description, priority level, assigned to, and status. Ensure the list is set up to store all necessary information for managing support tickets. There will be items you need captured from the person submitting the form as well as items to triage, assign, and track the status of the case. 2. Creating the Support Ticket Form In the list menu, select the "Forms" tab to create a new form. Customize the form by removing or unchecking questions that are designed for the support team, leaving only the questions needed from the person submitting the ticket. For example, you’d remove the Priority, Status and Assigned To fields from the form because those items are not determined by the submitter, but by the internal staff triaging the case. Ensure the form captures essential details such as the issue description, associated files, and contact information. 3. Enabling Notifications and Assigning Tickets In the form settings, select the toggle next to "Notify me" so that whenever a new item (support ticket) is submitted, you are immediately notified. This ensures that you don't miss an urgent request. Preview your form Check for changes or adjustments you’d like to make. If everything is good, congratulations! You’ve made your support ticket form! 4. The Workflow Process: Now that your form and list are created you can test out your new form and ticket portal. Grab the link to your new form by selecting the forms button again in the menu. Select the link sign to copy the link. Let's test things out. Fill out the form with information as if you are an employee submitting a ticket about an issue. Refresh and check your Microsoft List to make sure the form responses were automatically added. Triage the case. In the Microsoft List, double click on the form submission list item. Here, the support admin will triage the case by assigning it to a member of the support team, updating the status of the ticket to "In Progress" and assigning it a priority status. When a ticket is assigned, the assigned staff member receives a notification, ensuring they are aware of their new task. If they need to get in contact with the employee that submitted the case, they are able to come to the list item, and check for contact/email details in the email column. Team members can update the status of the ticket to "In Progress" when they start working on it and then to "Completed" once the issue is resolved. These status updates help track the progress of each ticket and ensure timely resolution. Congratulations! You have an internal support ticket portal and form. To further enhance the transparency and efficiency of your internal support ticket system, you can implement additional notifications to keep the requester informed about the status of their ticket. By setting up automated notifications in Power Automate for when a ticket is marked as "In Progress" and "Completed," you ensure that the requester is always aware of the current status of their issue. This not only improves communication but also boosts confidence in the support process, as employees feel assured that their concerns are being actively addressed and resolved. 5. Automating Notifications with Power Automate Create a Flow: From the Microsoft365.com app launcher, open Power Automate. Click "+ Create" and select "Automated Cloud Flow". Choose a flow name and set the trigger to "When an item or file is modified". Configure the Flow: On the canvas, select the trigger to enter the required data. The site address your Microsoft List is attached to and the list or library name. Next, we must add a trigger condition in order for the flow to only trigger when the status column has been changed. In the settings tab add the following trigger condition NOt(equals(triggerOutputs()?['body/Status'], triggerOutputs()?['body/PreviousStatus'])) Return to the canvas to create a new action. Select the + sign under your trigger. In the search menu, search for the condition action. For the value of the condition, we want to choose the Status Value from the dynamic field (the lightning bolt). We want to make sure the condition states “Status Value is equal to In progress”. (Capitalization matters here so make sure the capitalization of “In progress” matches the way it is spelled on your Microsoft List”. In the "True" column of your condition we will add a new action. Select “Send an email (V2) Inside of your action select, “Switch to Advanced Mode” to be able to enter dynamic fields or fields directly associated with your form submission. In the "To" field, select the lightning bolt for a dynamic entry. And select the “Issue logged by Email”. This will add the email address of the form sender to the “To” field and who the notifications will be sent to. In the Subject field type and appropriate title such as “Support Ticket Status Update”. In the Body field type a message to the requester. For example, "Hello, you are receiving this message to notify you that your support ticket for" (dynamically insert the name of the issue) “has been changed to “In Progress”. At this point, the flow now sends notifications for when the status column has been modified to “In Progress. Now, let's do the same and send a notification for when the status has been changed to “Completed”. In the False column, we are going to add another condition. The values for the condition will be the same except where it once said, “In Progress” it will say “Completed”. You want the statement to read “Status value is equal to Completed”. In the true column add the same action for sending an email and fill out the details accordingly. Save and test your flow. Test and Deploy: Test the flow to ensure it works as expected. Select Test and choose Manually. This specific flow is triggered when the status column has been modified to “In Progress” or “Completed”. Test both separately to make sure both works. You will see green check marks and receive a notification to the email you provided earlier when filling out the form with sample data. In this example, I tested the flow by updating the status to “In Progress” so in this case I have green check marks along the left side because that follows the first conditions. The green check marks will follow the right-side path if I choose to test the “Completed” status. Here is a copy of the email that was sent to the inbox. Once satisfied, deploy the flow to automate the notification process, enhancing communication and satisfaction. Conclusion By leveraging Microsoft Lists and Forms, you can create a robust internal support ticket system that streamlines the process of submitting, triaging, and resolving support requests. The integration with Power Automate further enhances this system by automating notifications, ensuring that all parties are kept informed throughout the process. This setup not only improves efficiency but also boosts employee satisfaction by providing a transparent and responsive support system.How Cloud + AI Solutions Empower Nonprofits to Do More with Less
Nonprofits play a vital role in our communities—delivering essential services, supporting vulnerable groups, and driving social change. Yet many face familiar hurdles: limited budgets, outdated systems, rising data demands, and the need to stay connected with donors, volunteers, and the people they serve. Cloud technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are helping nonprofits overcome these challenges. Solutions like Microsoft Azure make it easier to modernize, stay secure, and expand impact. The Cloud + AI Advantage for Nonprofits Cloud computing provides secure storage, flexible computing power, and modern tools without costly infrastructure. AI builds on that foundation—analyzing data, automating tasks, understanding language, and making predictions that help teams work smarter. Together, cloud and AI help nonprofits: Reduce manual work Improve staff and volunteer efficiency Personalize communications Gain deeper data insights Build more responsive, effective programs In short, AI becomes a digital copilot that frees teams to focus on their mission. Secure Data, Stronger Trust Nonprofits manage sensitive information and complex compliance needs. Azure offers built‑in security, encryption, and access controls—allowing organizations to protect data with enterprise‑grade safeguards, without needing a large IT team. Modernize Without Overspending Aging servers and disconnected systems slow organizations down. Azure enables nonprofits to: Move files and apps to the cloud Scale storage as needed Avoid expensive hardware upgrades Reduce downtime and crashes This flexibility stretches budgets while improving reliability. Unlock Better Insights With AI Data is powerful only when it’s usable. Azure AI helps nonprofits analyze trends, measure impact, forecast needs, and improve engagement—turning raw data into actionable insights. Do More With Limited Resources Small teams often juggle many roles. Cloud automation and AI‑enhanced workflows streamline processes, reduce manual tasks, and boost productivity—so more time goes toward serving communities. Ready to Explore Azure? Cloud and AI don’t replace human effort—they amplify it. With the right foundation, nonprofits can become more agile, secure, and impactful. Register for the eBook: The cloud + AI: Microsoft Azure solutions for nonprofitsIntro to Functions in Excel for Nonprofits
Getting Started with Functions Excel provides a wide range of built-in functions that simplify data management. You can find these functions in the Formulas tab under categories like Text, Date & Time, Financial, and more. The Insert Function tool also allows you to search for functions by name and get guided assistance in applying them. When typing a function in a cell, start with = followed by the function name (e.g., =SUM). Excel will suggest matching functions and provide a tooltip to help you understand how to use them. 💡 Copilot for Excel can now assist in automating many of these calculations. Instead of manually writing formulas, you can ask Copilot to "sum all donations in column B" or "find the average grant amount." Copilot intelligently applies the correct functions, making Excel even more powerful for nonprofit teams. However, understanding the behind-the-scenes of how these functions work is still valuable—especially if you need to troubleshoot, customize, or work in environments where AI assistance isn't available. Now, let’s look at some practical examples tailored for nonprofits. Example 1: Calculating Total Donations Nonprofits often track donations in spreadsheets to monitor fundraising performance. If you have a list of donations in column I, you can calculate the total amount received by clicking under the donation entries and entering the SUM function: =SUM(H2:H11) You can also enter =SUM and then highlight the area of data you want summed up. This formula adds up all donation amounts in the range H2 to H11, giving you the total funds raised. Press enter to reveal the SUM. 👉 Use Case: This is useful for monthly or annual donation tracking, allowing you to report on fundraising progress to donors and stakeholders. Example 2: Finding the Average Grant Amount If your nonprofit receives multiple grants, you might want to find the average grant amount to understand typical funding levels. The AVERAGE function makes this easy: =AVERAGE(H2:H11) This formula calculates the mean grant amount from a list of grants stored in column H. Press enter to reveal the AVERAGE. 👉 Use Case: This helps nonprofits set realistic fundraising goals and benchmark funding expectations for future grant applications. Example 3: Finding a Donor’s Most Recent Contribution If you have a donor database and need to find the most recent donation from a specific donor, you can use VLOOKUP. Suppose donor names are in column A and donation amounts are in column B. To find the donation amount from John Doe, use: =VLOOKUP("John Doe", A2:B26, 2, FALSE) Let's break down the formula =VLOOKUP("John Doe", A2:B26, 2, FALSE): "John Doe": This is the value you want to search for in the first column of the specified range. In this case, you are looking for "John Doe". A2:B26: This is the range of cells where you want to perform the search. The function will look for "John Doe" in the first column of this range (column A) and return a value from the second column (column B) in the same row. 2: This is the column index number from which to return the value. Since the range starts from column A and goes to column B, the second column (column B) is where the function will look to find the value to return. FALSE: This specifies that you want an exact match. If "John Doe" is not found exactly in column A, the function will return an error.sxx This searches for "John Doe" in column A and returns the corresponding donation amount from column B. Press enter to find John’s donation. 👉 Use Case: Nonprofits can use this to quickly look up donor contributions when sending thank-you emails or preparing personalized reports. Example 4: Counting the Number of Volunteers Registered Many nonprofits rely on volunteers, and tracking engagement is crucial. If you have a list of volunteer sign-ups in column D, you can use COUNTA to count the total number of registered volunteers: =COUNTA(D2:D21) (Imagine this is for a data set of a much larger quantity “D5062”) This function counts all non-empty cells in the given range, giving you the number of registered volunteers. Press enter to get the count. 👉 Use Case: This helps organizations track volunteer engagement for event planning, program management, and reporting to grant funders. Wrapping Up Excel functions can significantly improve efficiency in nonprofit operations, helping teams manage donations, grants, volunteers, and more. By mastering functions like SUM, AVERAGE, VLOOKUP, and COUNTA, nonprofit professionals can streamline their data management and focus more on their mission rather than administrative tasks. 💡 While Copilot for Excel can automate many of these tasks, understanding the "old-school" way of using functions helps you troubleshoot, refine formulas for custom needs, and work in environments where AI may not be available. Next Steps 📌 Try these formulas on your own nonprofit data 📌 Explore additional functions like IF, COUNTIF, and INDEX-MATCH 📌 Consider Power Query for more advanced nonprofit reporting needs For additional insights and tips on mastering Excel Fundamentals, be sure to explore the blog posts below. Master Excel Like a Pro: Must-Know Tutorials & Templates for Nonprofits | Microsoft Community Hub Getting Familiar with Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Community Hub Getting Familiar with Microsoft Excel - How to Build a Data Table | Microsoft Community Hub Excel functions (alphabetical) - Microsoft SupportInternational Day of Women & Girls in Science: Where Barriers Fall and Breakthroughs Rise
When women aren’t better represented in science, the world loses the breakthroughs we need most. Today, women make up just 35% of STEM graduates and only one‑third of researchers, while 122 million girls around the world are still out of school — a staggering amount of unrealized potential. On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re honoring the organizations showing what’s possible when those barriers fall. When women lead, innovation accelerates, equity expands, and the future opens wider for all of us. Explore our LinkedIn article spotlighting four women who reveal what becomes possible when every barrier comes down:
