Microsoft Donation Program Eligibility

Qualifying organisations will possess an Australian Business Number and be bona fide non-government income tax exempt (ITE) nonprofit organisations as granted by the Australian Taxation Office. Find out more about DonorTec Eligibility.

Not all Income Tax Exempt nonprofit organisations are eligible for participation in the Microsoft Donation Program. Those that are not eligible should visit Microsoft Volume Licensing for Industries for more information about charity licensing; they may still be eligible for discounted software from Microsoft.

The eligible categories listed below are to be used as a guide only. All registered organisations must meet all specific donor criteria that may not be listed on this page.

Organisations involved in the following activities are eligible to request Microsoft software donations

• Human rights activities
• Environment and conservation
• Arts and culture
• Rural and agricultural services
• Social housing
• Community development
• Voter education
• Public interest legal services
• Counselling services
• Training material development
• Disaster relief
• Educational support
• Secular entities sponsored by religious organisations
• Sporting organisations
• Scientific research into diseases
• Private grant making foundations
• Private non-government libraries
• Community health clinics, medical research groups, behavioural healthcare nonprofits, women's health centres and blood banks

Organisations involved in the following activities are INELIGIBLE to request Microsoft software donations

• Religious organisations not registered as a charity and without a secular community designation that is separate from the church or religious organisation. A secular designation is defined as an organisation that provides services to people regardless of their religious beliefs and does not propagate a belief in a specific faith. Example: A food bank with nonprofit or charity status that is run by a church but is a separate and unique organisation that provides food and meals to anyone who qualifies for services, regardless of religious beliefs. Religious organisations without secular designations can visit Programs for Charitable Organisations for information regarding licensing options; they may be eligible to receive discounted Microsoft software through these programs.
• Educational institutions (including public and private schools, private colleges, universities, and trade schools), educational institutions - organisations eligible through Microsoft academic volume licensing programs are not eligible for software donations, including nonprofit private schools
• Governmental organisations or agencies including international governmental organisations and United Nations Entities
• Political, lobbying and fraternal organisations
• Labour Unions
• Business & Professional Organisations
• Hospitals & Healthcare networks, including health centres, medical/dental clinics, preventative healthcare offices, mobile services, and occupational health centres.
• Assisted living healthcare organisations - assisted living as a congregate residential setting that provides or coordinates personal services, 24-hour supervision and assistance (scheduled and unscheduled), and health-related services.
• Scientific research organisations (other than diseases)
• Healthcare research organisations and research laboratories
• Refurbishers that will be installing the donated software on refurbished computers to be distributed or donated to nonprofits or schools. Please visit the Registered Refurbisher Program.
• Government owned libraries, school libraries, specialty libraries, armed forces libraries, and libraries in government agencies

• Organisations that engage in discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination, and/or retirement based on race, colour, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, or veteran status, other than as allowed by law, are not eligible to participate in this program.  Organisations must be willing and able to attest that they do not discriminate on any of these grounds in order to receive donations.

Special Rules for Faith-Based Organisations

If your organisation is faith-based, but has a primary mission that is nonreligious (secular), you might be able to register at DonorTec with an organisation type that is eligible for Microsoft donations. All donations may be used only to support your organisation's nonreligious activities.