How to Set Up Google Workspace for Free Through Google for Nonprofits

A simple guide for nonprofits who want the power of Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and more—without the cost.

If you're running a nonprofit, every dollar counts. That’s why Google offers a suite of tools—for free—through its Google for Nonprofits (GFNP) program. This includes access to Google Workspace, which gives your team Gmail (with your domain name), shared Google Drive, Calendar, Meet, and more.

But getting it all set up isn’t always as straightforward as it should be. This guide walks you through the exact steps to go from “We’re a nonprofit!” to “We’ve got Google Workspace for free!”

Make sure you meet the requirements:

To be eligible for a Google for Nonprofits account, an organization must meet the following criteria:

• Be registered as a charitable organization in a country where Google for Nonprofits is available

• Meet the eligibility requirements in your country

Government entities or organizations, hospitals or health care organizations, and schools, academic institutions or universities are not eligible. 

Let’s break it down:

Step 1: Apply for Google for Nonprofits

Before you can use any of Google’s free nonprofit tools, you need to get approved through the Google for Nonprofits portal. This step in the process can take up to 14 business days.

Here’s how:

• Go to Google for Nonprofits and sign in using a personal Gmail account (not your nonprofit email).

• You’ll fill out a form with details about your organization so Google can verify you’re legit (501(c)(3) status, for example).

• Once approved, you’ll use this portal to access products like Google Workspace, Ad Grants, and YouTube for Nonprofits.

• You will receive emails from a Google partner company called Goodstack, which will work to verify your nonprofit status.

  • **Check your Spam folder for communication if you don’t see anything in your inbox.

📝 Tip: The Gmail account you use here becomes the admin for your nonprofit’s Google relationship—so choose one you’ll always have access to.

Step 2: You’re Approved—Now Activate Products

Once you’re approved, you’ll receive an email with a big button that says "Activate Products."

It’ll look something like this.

Email from Google

Click that, and you’ll see all the goodies now available to your organization. Don’t rush—next, we’re going to set up Google Workspace (and there’s a small trick to doing it right).

Step 3: Set Up a Free Trial of Google Workspace 

By clicking on activate products, you’ll set up a free trial account. But there are a few things to pay close attention to.

Note: The free trial lasts 14 days.

Do this:

• Start the free trial using your organization’s domain name (e.g., yourorg.org).

• When prompted, create your first admin user. Be sure to:

  • Write down and keep up with the username and password you choose–this is important!

  • Use a personal Gmail address as your recovery email (in case you lose access)

  • The admin user is what you’ll use to access Workspace, where you create your new users and monitor everything related to using Google Workspace.

Once your Workspace is running:

• Go to the Admin Console and verify your domain (Google will give you a TXT record to add to your domain’s DNS settings).

• Optionally, you can set up email by adding the records below: You do NOT need to set up email if you are using a different hosted email and don’t want to use Gmail functionality. Or, you can add it later.

  • MX records (so Gmail works)

  • SPF and DKIM records (for email security and deliverability)

Step 4: Connect Google Workspace to Your Nonprofit Account

At this point, you’ve got two Google “profiles” going:

1. Your personal Gmail account (managing your GFNP dashboard)

2. Your new Workspace admin account (managing your organization's tools)

Step 5: Now it’s time to link them together

Note: If you don’t do this, your trial will expire after 14 days.

Here’s how:

• Log back into the Google for Nonprofits portal using your original personal Gmail account you started the process with..

• Click “Activate Products” again, and this time choose Google Workspace.

• Enter the domain name you used to create your Workspace trial (e.g., mynonprofit.org).

• If everything checks out, you’ll get a confirmation email that your Workspace is now using the Google Workspace for Nonprofits license.

✅ When you log back into your Admin Console, you should now see that your account is active as a free account.

Admin Panel

Final Tips

• Bookmark the Google Admin Console and your GFNP dashboard

• Add additional users or groups as needed

• Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for best email performance

• Stay organized with shared drives and groups from the start

If you hit a snag, don’t stress. Go here for Google FNP help, which has support articles, and your domain registrar can help with DNS settings. Or reach out—we’re happy to help. And one last tip. If you need help in the Google forums, be sure to post with the account profile you set up in the Google For Nonprofits portal, so they know you are verified or in the process!