Microsoft eligibility criteria and guidelines

Quantity: 

• Organisations receive an allotment of Microsoft software donations that is reset every two years. An organisation's two-year cycle begins with its first donation request after July 27, 2011. After two years, a new cycle begins, and a new allotment is available.
• During its two-year cycle, an organisation can request
• Up to 50 of each desktop or licence-only product (like a CAL).
• Up to 25 donated Windows Server Standard.
• Up to five server products total that are not Windows Server Standard.
• For further details, see Quantity and Frequency of Microsoft Requests on the Microsoft Donation Program — Understanding donation limits

Budget:

Organisations with annual operating budgets of any size are eligible for products in this program.

Nonprofits and public libraries only:

• Products are available to nonprofits with and to public libraries.
• Public libraries may request Microsoft products through this program only for use on public access computers or on computers that are used to directly manage either the public access computers or the library's public access program.
• Microsoft reserves the right to grant or deny an organisation's request at any time, for any reason.  

Eligible organisation types:

The Microsoft Donation Program serves nonprofit organisations whose missions benefit the local community. This could include organisations with the following missions:

• Providing relief to the poor
• Advancing education
• Improving social welfare
• Preserving culture
• Preserving or restoring the environment
• Promoting human rights
• Establishment of civil society

Ineligible organisation types:

Not all nonprofit organisations are eligible for participation in the Microsoft Donation Program. Ineligible organisations include the following:

• Governmental organisations or agencies.
• Educational institutions, including K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and trade schools.
• Healthcare organisations, including hospitals, healthcare networks, health plans, ambulatory healthcare services, home healthcare and assisted living healthcare organisations, health research organisations, and laboratories. Exceptions include independent nonprofit organisations with the following missions: community, behavioral and women's health clinics; hospices; emergency services; and blood, tissue and organ banks.
• Professional, commerce, and trade associations.
• Professional and semi-professional sports organizations.
• Political, labor, and fraternal organisations.
• 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.
• Nonpublic libraries, including private libraries, school libraries, specialty libraries, armed forces libraries, and libraries in government agencies.

Terms of service:

Organisations that request Microsoft products must agree to any applicable terms of service.

Amendments:

Microsoft reserves the right to supplement or amend these eligibility guidelines at any time without notice.

Anti-discrimination policy:

Microsoft values and respects individual and cultural differences and is committed to providing an inclusive environment that is welcoming and free from discrimination. Therefore, organisations are not eligible to participate in this program if they have a policy or mission of discrimination in hiring, compensation, promotion, termination, retirement, training, programs, and/or services based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, or veteran status. The only exception to this policy is for religious organisations that are exempt from laws that prohibit such discrimination.

FAQ:

For more information about Microsoft's resources for nonprofits and donation program eligibility, see its Nonprofit FAQ.

Product distribution:

• Products will be distributed under this program to qualifying organisations and libraries only, not to individuals.
• Products are intended only for use by paid nonprofit employees and unpaid full-time equivalent (FTE) staff who have material day-to-day managerial, operational, and fiduciary responsibilities, and who will not use the licence for personal income generation. Volunteers, members, and beneficiaries of the nonprofit are not eligible for nonprofit licences and subscriptions
• Recipient organisations may not transfer or resell Microsoft products to other organisations, including partner nonprofits or legally independent sister organisations.
• Microsoft products may not be installed on computers that will be given to or sold to other organisations or individuals, even as part of a charitable program.