Since I did my webinar in 2023,...

...a lot has changed about this process! Here's what I've learned:

To remind you, the benefits of the Google Grant for nonprofits include free access to Google Workspace (custom email addresses, Drive storage, docs, slides, etc...) and 120k in Google Search ads, among other things.

I've helped quite a few clients get set up with this grant and I've learned a few tips along the way. I want to share those with you today.

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1) Buckle up for a hurry-up-and-wait process.

Each step of this process is time-keyed. Meaning—you have to complete their requirements within a few days of being assigned the task. Then, you'll have to wait a few days for the next step to come across your desk.

Whatever you do—do not lapse between steps.

You'll need to have the following items pulled together before you begin so that, when you need them, you have them: Your EIN, a document that contains your EIN and either IRS or your state government's insignia, access to your domain settings, two email addresses, and two phone numbers with the ability to receive a text code.

Perhaps schedule a daily reminder on your phone to see if any action is needed.

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2) You'll need two emails and two phone numbers.

Email 1 is used to submit the request for the grant. This is the email you'll use for your Google Grants for Nonprofits Account. You may want to set up a brand new email to use just for the grant and share the password among your staff. So that someday, if you're not around, they still have access to the grant settings. Ex: Create grant_churchname@gmail.com to use for all things Google Grant.

Email 2 is used for personal contact—to ensure that you represent the organization one whose behalf you're applying. This isn't used for anything after they verify that you do, indeed, work for the organization.

You'll also need two phone numbers for two separate one-time Google verification codes.

I used to be able to use the same phone number twice, but in more recent history it has given me grief for doing so. Pick somebody you can reliably get a text back from in <2 minutes. The phone numbers aren't saved or used for 2-factor later on—they're just used for these one-time codes.

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3) Once you think you're done, you're not.

Once your grant is approved, you'll need to go through another process to get on Google Workspace. You'll need to apply for a 14-day free trial, verify your domain, then request to be given the nonprofit discount (free-ninety-nine).

Do not sign up for the free trial unless you're immediately ready to verify your domain. As soon as that 14-day trial lapses, you'll have to go through a frustrating remediation process and/or pay to regain access.

To verify your domain, you'll have to make changes to your DNS records. If you don't know what that means, either find someone who does or email me! It's not hard, but it's also not intuitive.

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4) Every time I do this, I find a new way things can go wrong.

If you don't laugh you cry. 😅

Expect to suffer through a Google support email thread or two.

Don't give up!

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5) If your emails stop working for any reason (cough #4 cough), use ImprovMX to redirect incoming emails to another address.

This is a hack I've used a couple of times when things are in flux but my client is still receiving emails he can't miss.

Have I scared you yet?

Truly—the benefits of the grant are worth a couple weeks spent dealing with Google.

Side note: If you're already using Google Workspace (and just paying for it), this process is going to be a walk in the park. All of the stickiness happens when setting up brand new domains or transferring organizations over from another provider like FinalWeb or Microsoft.

There's no reason you should be paying for Google Workspace!

If you ever need help, simply send me an email.