Starting on December 1, 2022, all Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 cloud licenses obtained through TechSoup will include Cloud Support Services delivered by TechSoup. This service will allow us to help nonprofits and libraries determine which Microsoft cloud licenses are right for them, how to activate those licenses properly, and how to fully realize the value of this powerful but complex platform.
As a result, pricing for some of our cloud subscriptions will be affected. It's our mission to support nonprofits in their use of technology. From time to time we adjust our offers in order to continue serving the nonprofit sector with services and resources each day.
You will still have an option to receive donated licenses directly from Microsoft at no cost to you, but these will not include any of the TechSoup support services.
TechSoup Cloud Support Services will be included with all Microsoft Cloud licenses obtained through TechSoup. Cloud Support Services provide the following:
While the support services will now be included in all Microsoft 365 and Office 365 cloud licenses, only three license plans will be subjected to updated pricing:
Note: It's important that organizations stay in compliance with Microsoft's utilization requirements for donated licenses. Microsoft requires organizations to actively use at least 85 percent of assigned donated licenses.
In addition to covering the costs of these Cloud Support Services, the new $1 monthly per-license fee on select Microsoft cloud licenses supports TechSoup's work of providing ongoing consultations, content, events, courses, other services, and tech capacity building for nonprofits and libraries around the world.
For those already using the affected licenses, pricing changes will go into effect upon your next subscription term renewal on or after December 1. For example, if you started a subscription on October 6, 2022, your price will not be impacted until October 6, 2023, upon your subscription term renewal.
Here are a few more actions we recommend you take:
Remember: You can choose to get your licenses directly from Microsoft at no cost. Microsoft offers Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Business Premium as donations directly from them, but these do not include the additional support and resources that TechSoup offers. Please know that while we will have basic information for support, we will be unable to assist you or escalate specific issues on your behalf without being your license partner. We understand that cost may be a barrier to your nonprofit, and if you'd like to make the switch, here's a guide to get started to move your licenses directly to Microsoft (PDF).
We've always worked to provide organizations like yours with access to the best solutions for you and your needs. These new Cloud Support Services will ultimately help you get more out of the Microsoft software you receive through TechSoup — value that can have a direct and positive impact on your ability to serve your community.
We understand that these changes may have an impact on IT planning and budgeting for your organization. We are interested in your feedback, and we are here to help.
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