Building Nonprofit Culture with Microsoft Viva Engage: Architecture and Step‑by‑Step Setup
Nonprofits often operate with hybrid teams, part‑time staff, and volunteers spread across multiple locations. Creating a unified culture in this environment is challenging — but Microsoft Viva Engage, part of the Microsoft Viva suite and built on Microsoft 365, provides a secure, social, and integrated platform for connection and knowledge sharing. This guide explains how nonprofits can use Viva Engage to strengthen culture, improve communication, and drive engagement across distributed teams. Viva Engage Architecture (Accurate Technical Overview) 1. Communities Persistent, topic‑ or role‑based spaces for collaboration. Common nonprofit examples: Volunteers Program teams Leadership groups Staff affinity or DEI groups Communities support: Announcements File sharing (via SharePoint) Events (including virtual events in Teams) Moderation and admin controls Learn more: Getting started with Viva Engage Communities in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support 2. Storylines Personal, profile‑based feeds where individuals share: Updates Reflections Wins and impact stories Storylines appear in Viva Engage, Outlook, and Teams, increasing visibility across the organization. Learn more: Storylines in Viva Engage | Microsoft Support 3. Campaigns Hashtag‑driven initiatives that bundle posts across communities and storylines. Ideal for: Fundraising drives Awareness campaigns Staff challenges Volunteer appreciation weeks Campaigns include: Goals Featured posts Leaderboards Analytics Learn more: Campaigns in Viva Engage | Microsoft Support 4. Knowledge Sharing Viva Engage includes structured knowledge tools: Answers — crowdsourced Q&A with upvoting and expert validation Topics — AI‑powered tagging and knowledge organization Expertise Discovery — identifies subject‑matter experts across the organization These features help nonprofits capture institutional knowledge and reduce information silos. Learn more: Answers in Viva: Introduction | Microsoft Support Learn more: Use topics in Viva Engage | Microsoft Support 5. Analytics Admins and leaders can access: Community engagement metrics Campaign performance Participation trends Influencer and contributor insights These insights help measure cultural health and communication effectiveness. Learn more: View and manage analytics in Viva Engage | Microsoft Learn How to Set Up Viva Engage for a Nonprofit (Technical How‑To) How to Create a Community (Step by Step): 1. Open Viva Engage In Microsoft Teams, select Viva Engage from the left app bar or Go to the web version: https://engage.cloud.microsoft/ (your tenant URL) 2. Select “Create a Community” In the left navigation pane, choose Communities Click Create a community 3. Name Your Community Choose a clear, descriptive name such as: Volunteer Hub Youth Programs Team Leadership Updates 4. Set Privacy Level You’ll choose between: Public — anyone in the organization can join Private — membership requires approval 5. Add Community Admins Admins can: Manage members Pin posts Post announcements Moderate content You can add multiple admins to share responsibility. Learn more: Getting started with Viva Engage Communities in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support Build a Campaign (Step by Step): A community campaign in Viva Engage helps drive engagement around a shared goal using a campaign hashtag. The steps below reflect exactly what Microsoft documents for creating a campaign inside a community. 1. Open Viva Engage Open Viva Engage in Microsoft Teams or the web app. 2. Go to Your Community Navigate to the community where you want to create the campaign. 3. Select “Create a Campaign” On the right side of the community page, find the Campaigns section. Select + Create a campaign. 4. Define the Campaign Hashtag Enter a unique campaign hashtag (e.g., #ImpactWeek). This hashtag becomes the campaign’s name and is used to group all related posts. 5. Add Campaign Details Fill in the required fields: Description — explain the purpose of the campaign Goals — outline what you want to achieve Cover image — upload a visual to represent the campaign Theme color — choose a color to brand the campaign Default publisher — choose the default post type (discussion, question, poll, praise) 6. Add Co‑Organizers (Optional) You can assign additional people to help manage the campaign. 7. Publish the Campaign Save your work. Review the campaign in draft mode. When ready, select Publish to make it visible to the community. 8. Invite Participation Encourage staff, volunteers, and leaders to: Post using the campaign hashtag Share stories, updates, or photos Engage with others’ posts All posts using the hashtag will automatically appear on the campaign page. Learn more: Campaigns in Viva Engage | Microsoft Support Enable Storylines (Step by Step): 1. Open the Microsoft 365 admin center Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center and sign in with an admin account. 2. Go to Viva Engage settings In the left navigation, go to Settings → Org settings. Find and select Viva Engage (or Yammer/Viva Engage depending on your tenant). 3. Enable Storylines In the Viva Engage settings, locate the Storylines option. Make sure Storylines is turned On for your organization. Save your changes. 4. Communicate to staff Let staff know Storylines are available in Viva Engage. Encourage them to share updates, impact stories, and reflections, and to follow colleagues’ storylines. Learn more: Storylines in Viva Engage | Microsoft Support Automate Notifications (Step by Step): You can use Power Automate to trigger actions when new Viva Engage (Yammer) messages are posted. The connector supports triggers such as “When there is a new message in a group” or “When a new message is posted”. Here is the correct step‑by‑step process: 1. Open Power Automate Go to Power Automate (flow.microsoft.com) and sign in with your Microsoft 365 account. 2. Create a new automated flow Select Create → Automated cloud flow. Search for the Yammer connector (used for Viva Engage). Choose a trigger such as: “When there is a new message in a group” or “When a new message is posted” (depending on your scenario and connector availability). This aligns with the triggers listed in the connector documentation. 3. Add an action to send a Teams notification Add a new step. Choose Microsoft Teams. Select an action such as: Post a message in a chat or channel Send a message to a user Configure the message to include details from the Viva Engage post (e.g., message text, author, link). 4. Add an action to log the post in SharePoint Add another step. Choose SharePoint. Select an action such as: Create item (to log each post in a list) Update item (if you maintain a running log) Map fields from the Viva Engage trigger (e.g., message ID, message text, sender, timestamp). 5. Save and test the flow Save the flow. Post a message in the selected Viva Engage community or group. Confirm that Teams receives the notification and SharePoint logs the entry. Learn more: Viva Engage - Connectors | Microsoft Learn Learn more: Explore the Power Automate home page - Power Automate | Microsoft Learn Conclusion For nonprofits working across hybrid teams, volunteers, and multiple locations, Viva Engage offers a simple way to build connection and culture. By setting up communities, launching campaigns, enabling Storylines, and automating key updates, organizations create a digital space where people stay informed, share impact, and feel part of the mission. With these tools in place, Viva Engage becomes a hub for communication, collaboration, and storytelling—helping your nonprofit stay aligned and engaged as it grows.Driving Engagement in Nonprofits with Viva Engage
Nonprofits commonly operate within resource-constrained, distributed environments, relying on a mix of full-time staff, part-time employees, volunteers, and partner organizations across regions. This creates challenges around: Maintaining mission alignment Scaling knowledge sharing across programs Sustaining culture and engagement without centralized offices Microsoft Viva Engage, part of the Microsoft Viva suite, provides a cloud-based, enterprise social layer within Microsoft 365 that enables nonprofits to build community, share knowledge, and foster engagement across geographic and organizational boundaries. [learn.microsoft.com] Unlike traditional communication tools, Viva Engage leverages: Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) for secure identity and access management Microsoft 365 Groups + SharePoint for community structure and content storage Microsoft Graph for personalized content discovery and feed relevance This architecture allows nonprofits to operationalize culture as an ongoing system, rather than relying on one-way communication or manual coordination. Viva Engage Architecture (Nonprofit-Focused) 1. Communities (Mission-Aligned Collaboration Hubs) Communities act as structured collaboration environments for conversation, coordination, and knowledge sharing. They can be public or private depending on program sensitivity. Typical nonprofit segmentation: Volunteer networks (by region, campaign, or cohort) Program delivery teams (case management, outreach, education programs) Leadership and board communications Cross-functional initiatives (fundraising, advocacy, DEI) Technical capabilities: Integrated conversations, file sharing, and events Support for announcements, polls, Q&A, and recognition posts Backed by Microsoft 365 infrastructure for compliance and scalability Accessible via web, Teams, and mobile for field-based staff and volunteers 2. Storylines (Organization-Wide Visibility Layer) Storylines provide a personalized, organization-wide feed that enables individuals to share updates, experiences, and impact stories. Aggregate posts from followed users and trending organizational content Accessible across Teams, Outlook, and Viva Connections Extend visibility beyond individual communities through follower networks and discovery feeds 👉 Learn more: Storylines in Viva Engage Nonprofit value: Share impact stories from the field Highlight volunteer experiences Amplify mission-driven narratives across regions 3. Campaigns (Structured Engagement Programs) Campaigns enable nonprofits to run coordinated, measurable engagement initiatives using hashtags and centralized tracking. Aggregate participation through campaign hashtags Provide engagement analytics dashboards Support organization-wide or community-level campaigns 👉 Setup guide: Create campaigns in Viva Engage Example nonprofit campaigns: #GivingWeek → fundraising drives #VolunteerImpact → recognition campaigns #CommunityOutreach → awareness initiatives 4. Knowledge Sharing Layer (Answers, Topics, Q&A) Viva Engage supports crowdsourced knowledge exchange, which is critical for nonprofits with high staff and volunteer turnover. Q&A with Best Answer functionality to surface validated knowledge Answers in Viva for expert discovery and response routing Topic tagging to organize institutional knowledge 👉 To learn more visit: Answers in Viva: Ask a question - Microsoft Support and Answers in Viva: Introduction - Microsoft Support Nonprofit impact: Reduces dependency on tribal knowledge Accelerates onboarding of volunteers and new staff Preserves program expertise across regions 5. Analytics & Engagement Signals Viva Engage provides built-in insights to measure engagement and adoption: Community engagement metrics (posts, reactions, participation) Campaign performance tracking Leadership engagement visibility 👉 To learn more visit: View and manage analytics in Viva Engage | Microsoft Learn Nonprofit relevance: Track volunteer engagement trends Measure campaign participation (fundraising, awareness) Identify under-engaged programs or regions Integration Architecture Microsoft Teams Access Viva Engage directly within Microsoft Teams Embed Viva Engage communities or topics as tabs within Teams channels to enable in-context collaboration Allow team members to view, react to, and participate in Engage conversations without leaving Teams 👉 Integration details: Add a Viva Engage page to a Teams channel - Microsoft Support SharePoint (Nonprofit Intranet) Embed Engage conversations into intranet pages Turn static program pages into interactive discussion hubs 👉 Integration details: Use a Viva Engage web part in SharePoint - Microsoft Support and Include a Viva Engage feed in a SharePoint page | Microsoft Learn Power Platform (Automation) Use Power Automate with the Viva Engage connector to enable event-driven automation and cross-system integration: Trigger workflows when new messages are posted in a community or followed feed Retrieve and process messages, groups (communities), and conversation data for downstream systems Automatically post messages to Viva Engage communities from other systems or workflow 👉 Connector reference: Viva Engage connector Technical Implementation Guide Create a Community: Create a community in Viva Engage - Microsoft Support Create a Campaign: Set up official campaigns in Viva Engage | Microsoft Learn Conclusion Viva Engage enables nonprofits to move from fragmented communication to a structured, scalable engagement model. By combining communities, storylines, campaigns, and analytics—integrated across Teams, SharePoint, and Power Platform—organizations can strengthen culture, improve knowledge sharing, and expand mission impact across distributed teams.Strengthening Cybersecurity for Education‑Focused Nonprofits and Education Institutions
Cybersecurity is one of the most urgent priorities facing education‑focused nonprofits and education institutions today. Whether you’re a nonprofit delivering tutoring, literacy, STEM, or adult learning programs — or a school, district, or learning organization — you’re managing growing threat complexity with lean IT teams, rising ransomware risk, and sensitive learner and staff data to protect. Leaders across the education ecosystem need practical strategies that strengthen security without slowing down their mission. The Microsoft Elevate Education team is bringing you two powerful Signature Series webinars this spring to help education‑focused nonprofits and education institutions strengthen their cybersecurity posture from the inside out. Pick the topic and time that fits your day — or register for both. Webinar 1 | May 19, 2026 Preventing the Next Organization‑Wide Incident: Identity, Access, and Ransomware for Education‑Focused Nonprofits & Education Institutions Choose your session: 8:00 – 9:00 AM PT: https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=2868688952 4:00 – 5:00 PM PT: https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=1182185119 Webinar 2 | June 23, 2026 Self-Healing Security for Education‑Serving Organizations: Automated Investigation & Response with Microsoft Defender XDR Choose your session: 8:00 – 9:00 AM PT: https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=237608052 4:00 – 5:00 PM PT: https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=2738526889 Across both sessions, you'll learn how to: Reduce risk from over‑permissioned admin accounts and always‑on access Limit your organization’s blast radius through modern identity segmentation and access controls Automate threat investigation and response to contain incidents faster — even with a lean team Manage and approve remediation actions through a unified Action center Strengthen ransomware readiness using tools many organizations already own How This Benefits Education‑Focused Nonprofits Education‑focused nonprofits and education institutions face many of the same cybersecurity pressures — rising ransomware activity, increasingly sophisticated identity attacks, and the responsibility to protect sensitive learner, staff, and organizational data — often with limited resources and little room for disruption. These sessions tell the full cybersecurity story for organizations that teach, support, and deliver education: securing who has access and automating how you respond when threats occur. Together, they help nonprofits and education institutions move toward containment‑ready, resilient security operations that protect staff, volunteers, and the learners they serve. We hope to see you there. Microsoft Elevate EDUWant to get more out of Microsoft Copilot Chat without adding another tool—or cost—to your stack?
Microsoft has released a free Copilot Chat learning pathway that helps users quickly build practical, everyday skills using Copilot Chat already built into Microsoft 365 apps. Even better, Copilot Chat is now available to users without a paid Microsoft 365 license, making this learning opportunity widely accessible. In under an hour, you’ll learn how to: Write clearer, more effective prompts Refine Copilot responses for better results Use Copilot Chat for real work—summarizing, drafting, brainstorming, and planning It’s a quick, hands‑on way to boost productivity and help teams feel confident using AI in the tools they already know. 👉 Check out the learning pathway and the original LinkedIn post here.Celebrating Camille Pepper’s volunteer leadership this National Volunteer Month
Behind every act of volunteering is a story of heart, hope, and unseen effort. This National Volunteer Month, we’re proud to spotlight Camille Pepper, volunteer CEO of Everything Suarve (ESuarve) — an organization transforming the lives of young people who have grown up surrounded by instability and trauma. Camille never set out to become a volunteer CEO. She simply showed up for a friend. But what she witnessed inside ESuarve changed her path: young people carrying far more than most adults ever see, and a system too quick to label them without asking what happened to them. “I never planned to be a volunteer CEO, but ESuarve showed me how much young people carry — and how powerful it is when they begin to trust, heal, and believe they’re worth more than their past.” For Camille, sustainability isn’t corporate language — it’s protection. Governance, structure, and financial oversight ensure that ESuarve remains a place where young people feel safe, believed in, and fought for. "Leading with the heart is essential, but a heart without structure cannot last. Sustainability is safeguarding hope.” Impact, for her, is measured not only in employment outcomes or reduced reoffending, but in the quieter shifts: a genuine smile, a softened guard, a young person lifting their head a little higher because they’re beginning to believe they matter. Camille’s story is a reminder that volunteer leadership carries real responsibility — and real possibility. When anchored in purpose, it becomes a powerful act of service. To read Camille’s full story and reflections, visit the original LinkedIn article here.A Practical Look at Device Analytics and Risk Signals with Microsoft Intune
As organizations increasingly rely on laptops, mobile devices, and cloud‑connected applications, visibility into device health, configuration, and security posture is critical. Performance degradation, outdated configurations, and elevated device risk can negatively affect productivity and increase exposure to security threats. Microsoft provides an integrated set of services—Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint—that support modern device management, evaluate device risk, and help organizations enforce consistent security controls across their environments. This guide explains how these services work together, the role of Microsoft Configuration Manager, and how built‑in analytics and compliance signals can be used to improve device reliability and security. The Role of Microsoft Configuration Manager Microsoft Configuration Manager (formerly System Center Configuration Manager, or SCCM) is an on‑premises management platform used to deploy applications, manage software updates, enforce configuration baselines, and evaluate compliance—primarily for Windows devices. When Configuration Manager is used together with Microsoft Intune through co‑management, organizations can extend their existing on‑premises management with cloud‑based capabilities. In a co‑managed environment: Configuration Manager continues to manage traditional workloads. Microsoft Intune adds cloud‑based device management and compliance evaluation. Management workloads can be moved gradually from Configuration Manager to Intune. This approach enables organizations to support both legacy infrastructure and modern cloud‑first device management strategies during transitions or hybrid deployments. Learn more: Co-management for Windows devices - Configuration Manager | Microsoft Learn How Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Contributes to Device Security Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a unified endpoint security platform that delivers preventive protection, post‑breach detection, automated investigation, and response. It continuously evaluates device activity and assigns device risk levels based on observed threats and security signals. Core capabilities include: Threat and vulnerability management, which identifies software vulnerabilities and security misconfigurations Attack surface reduction capabilities to limit common attack vectors Endpoint detection and response (EDR) for alerting, investigation, and forensic analysis Automated investigation and remediation to reduce manual response effort Threat intelligence derived from Microsoft’s global security telemetry When Defender for Endpoint is integrated with Microsoft Intune, device risk levels can be used within compliance policies and Conditional Access to restrict access to organizational resources when risk thresholds are exceeded. Learn more: Integrate Microsoft Defender for Endpoint with Intune for Device Compliance - Microsoft Intune | Microsoft Learn What Microsoft Intune Provides Microsoft Intune is a cloud‑based unified endpoint management (UEM) service that enables organizations to manage devices, protect organizational data, and enforce security requirements across Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices. Core Intune capabilities include: Cross‑platform device enrollment and lifecycle management Configuration profiles to apply standardized device settings Compliance policies to evaluate whether devices meet security requirements App protection policies that safeguard organizational data within applications, including on personal (BYOD) devices Integration with Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access for access decisions based on compliance and risk By integrating Intune with Defender for Endpoint and Conditional Access, organizations can adopt a risk‑based access model that takes real‑time device health and security posture into account. Learn more: What is Microsoft Intune - Microsoft Intune | Microsoft Learn Choosing How to Use Intune and Defender for Endpoint Microsoft positions these services as complementary: Microsoft Intune focuses on device and application management, configuration, and compliance. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint focuses on endpoint threat protection, detection, and response. Many organizations deploy both to combine centralized management with advanced security capabilities. Together, they allow device configuration, security monitoring, and access control to operate as a unified system rather than isolated tools. Microsoft Intune Licensing Overview Microsoft Intune Plan 1 is included with several Microsoft subscription offerings. For nonprofits and small organizations, Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Intune Plan 1 by default. Other plans that include Intune Plan 1 (as of March 2025) include: Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) E3 and E5 Microsoft 365 F1 and F3 Microsoft 365 Government G3 and G5 Microsoft Intune for Education Feature availability may vary by license, and organizations should always review the official service descriptions for current inclusions and limitations. Learn more: Licenses available for Microsoft Intune - Microsoft Intune | Microsoft Learn Designing an Effective Device Enrollment Strategy An effective enrollment strategy establishes consistent management and security controls from the start. Microsoft recommends that organizations: Define security and management objectives. Select appropriate enrollment methods such as Windows Autopilot, Microsoft Entra ID join, or manual enrollment. Apply standardized configuration and security policies. Use compliance policies to evaluate device posture. Plan for scalability and long‑term device lifecycle management. Provide end‑user guidance to support adoption. Enrollment is the foundation for applying policy, evaluating compliance, and maintaining ongoing visibility into managed devices. [learn.microsoft.com] Coordinating Intune and Defender During Device Onboarding Microsoft documents a layered onboarding approach that commonly includes: App protection policies Protect organizational data within supported applications, including on unenrolled BYOD devices. Device enrollment in Intune Enables configuration management, compliance assessment, and reporting. Compliance policies Define security requirements such as OS version, encryption, password policies, and update status. Conditional Access Enforces access decisions based on Intune compliance results and Defender for Endpoint device risk levels. Configuration profiles Apply standardized security and operational settings. This approach helps ensure devices meet baseline security requirements before accessing sensitive organizational resources. Using Endpoint Analytics to Improve Device Experience Endpoint Analytics, available in Microsoft Intune, provides insights into device performance, reliability, and user experience. Microsoft positions Endpoint Analytics as an operational analytics tool, not a real‑time threat detection system With Endpoint Analytics, IT teams can: View dashboards showing startup performance, application reliability, and device health Compare devices against established performance baselines to identify underperforming endpoints Use generated scores and insights to prioritize remediation Investigate issues affecting the end‑user experience, such as slow boot times or outdated configurations These insights help organizations shift from reactive troubleshooting toward proactive device optimization. Learn more: Endpoint analytics overview - Microsoft Intune | Microsoft Learn Summary By combining Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and Endpoint Analytics, organizations can manage devices consistently, evaluate device health and risk, and enforce access controls based on real conditions rather than assumptions. This integrated approach supports modern work by improving visibility, strengthening security posture, and enabling IT teams to make data‑driven decisions that protect users and organizational data.Building Intelligent Apps With Azure
Technology is changing fast, and apps today can do far more than they used to. With artificial intelligence (AI) becoming part of everyday tools, organizations of all sizes are looking for ways to build smarter, more helpful apps. Microsoft Azure makes this easier by giving teams the tools and training they need to learn, experiment, and create with confidence. What Makes an App “Intelligent”? An intelligent app uses AI to make experiences feel more natural and responsive — like understanding language, recognizing images, or offering helpful suggestions. You can build these apps from scratch or modernize the ones you already have using Microsoft Azure. Cloud technology plays a big role because it keeps everything fast, secure, and easy to scale. Helping Teams Build With Confidence Working with AI can feel overwhelming at first. Teams often face challenges like: Not having much experience with AI Feeling unsure about which tools to use Wanting to make sure AI is used responsibly Azure supports teams with hands‑on learning, expert guidance, and built‑in responsible AI tools through frameworks like Microsoft Responsible AI, helping teams build safely and confidently. Start With the Basics Before building intelligent apps, it helps to understand where your team is today and what skills they may need. Azure and Microsoft Learn offer simple, practical resources to get started: AI fundamentals – Learn the basics of how AI works https://learn.microsoft.com/ai Generative AI – Explore tools like AI copilots and how to write effective prompts Craft effective prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot - Training | Microsoft Learn Cloud‑native development – Build apps designed to run smoothly in the cloud Create cloud native apps with Azure and open-source software - Training | Microsoft Learn Modernizing older apps: Azure application modernization overview - Assess, plan, and modernize existing workloads Microsoft App Modernization Guidance for Azure - App Modernization Guidance | Microsoft Learn Power Platform modernization - Rebuild or extend legacy apps using low-code tools. Modernize applications with Power Platform - Power Platform | Microsoft Learn Azure & .NET modernization – Upgrade ASP.NET apps to modern .NET and deploy to Azure Modernize ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core web applications - App Modernization Guidance | Microsoft Learn These resources help teams learn at their own pace and build confidence as they go. Deploying Apps the Right Way Once your app is ready, you need a smooth way to launch it. Azure provides tools and best practices to help teams: Set up the right environment Build and test apps quickly Use containers and DevOps to speed up delivery Azure DevOps | Microsoft Azure Containers on Azure | Microsoft Azure Deploy AI features safely using Azure’s governance and security tools As many developers have noted, “What used to take weeks now takes hours.” Keep Improving Over Time Building an intelligent app isn’t a one‑time project. Teams need to monitor performance, keep apps secure, and make improvements as technology evolves. Azure offers resources to help with: Scaling apps as usage grows — Automatically adjust resources to meet demand while maintaining performance and reliability. Protecting apps from security threats — Use built‑in security, identity, and compliance tools to safeguard data and reduce risk. Improving accuracy and performance — Monitor models and applications to fine‑tune quality, responsiveness, and user experience. Managing costs — Track usage, optimize resources, and control spending as apps grow and evolve. Create a Culture of Continuous Learning The most successful organizations treat learning as an ongoing investment. As Forbes notes, helping people understand new technologies builds trust and prepares teams for the future. Microsoft offers a wide range of learning paths, tutorials, and hands‑on experiences to support your team as they explore AI and intelligent app development: https://learn.microsoft.com/ https://www.microsoft.com/nonprofits/offers-for-nonprofits https://learn.microsoft.com/industry/nonprofit/microsoft-for-nonprofits/Intro 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 SupportCreate 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.Creating A Nonprofit Support Ticket
The marvels of innovation have revolutionized the way we work and connect with the world, delivering technological advancements that make life more efficient and communication seamless. However, technology isn’t always perfect. What happens when your software throws you a curveball? Picture this: you’re managing your Microsoft Nonprofit account, but an issue arises. Perhaps you are still waiting for your Azure Sponsorship email for next steps. Where do you turn for answers and support when things don’t go as planned? Contacting Microsoft Nonprofit Support You may already be familiar with Microsoft's Nonprofit Hub when you initially signed up. If not, you can apply to Microsoft's Nonprofit Philanthropy Program. You can also contact support related to your Microsoft Nonprofit Account no matter if you are a prospective or current customer. You can follow the instructions below to create a support ticket. Instructions Navigate to Microsoft Nonprofit Hub Contact Us Scroll to the "How can we help" section of the page. Write a brief description of the issue within 80 to 100 characters in the search bar, then press the "Get help" button. Depending on your response, you will see a solution. If these do not help, continue to the "Get more help" section. Fill out your contact information and select the most relevant answer under the "I am a" and "What can we help you with" Sections. Lastly, continue filling out the description of the issue under the "How can we help" section minus the character limit. Your support ticket has been created. Please keep the Request Id for future reference. You will receive an email confirmation once your ticket is processed. Additionally, you will be contacted via phone and email when a Nonprofit Support Engineer is assigned to your ticket. Additional Resources: Getting Signed Up with Microsoft Nonprofits Program | Microsoft Community Hub Microsoft Nonprofit Hub | Contact Us
