Summary: This comprehensive guide walks your nonprofit organization through the multi-step process of signing up for and enrolling in Google Workspace for Nonprofits, enabling your staff to use professional email addresses (e.g., name@yourdomain.com) with full Gmail features at no cost.
Before You Begin
- You must be an approved nonprofit organization to be eligible for free Google Workspace.
- You need access to your domain name and your DNS provider settings.
- The Goodstack verification process can take 3-5 business days.
- The Google Workspace trial lasts 14 days; wait for Google for Nonprofits approval before starting the trial.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Sign Up for Google for Nonprofits
1. Go to the Google for Nonprofits website and Click Get Started.
2. Sign in with or Create a new Google Account (this will be your admin account).
3. Enter your Country, the Goodstack verification (if available), church phone number, domain, and contact details, and Submit the agreement.
Get Verified by Goodstack
1. Go to Google for Nonprofits and Click Get started.
2. Follow the steps to submit your organization for Goodstack verification. [Goodstack will contact you for documentation; check your spam folder for emails from [verification@mail.goodstack.org within 3-5 business days.]
Complete Google for Nonprofits Application
1. Return to your Google for Nonprofits account after Goodstack verification.
2. Review the list for your organization, or Select 'My organization is not listed' to create a new account.
3. Enter remaining details (phone number, website, contact) and agree to the terms.
4. Wait for approval from Google (within 3 days) before proceeding.
Sign Up for Google Workspace Trial
1. Go to the Google Workspace website and sign up for a trial.
2. Provide required information (Church Name, Employees, Contact Info, existing email).
3. Select "Yes, I have one I can use" for your domain name, then Enter your domain.
4. Select a Business Plan and enter payment information (required until enrollment is finalized).
5. Click Continue To Setup to proceed to the Admin Console.
Set Up and Enroll
1. Click Use Manual Setup and then Go to Admin Console.
2. Click Start Setup and follow the steps to Add a meta tag or domain host record (TXT or CNAME) to your DNS provider to verify your domain.
3. Sign in to your Google for Nonprofits account, Click on the Enrollments page, and Click the Enroll link below Google Workspace for Nonprofits.
Add Users
1. Log in to your admin console at admin.google.com once enrollment is approved.
2. Set up email accounts for individual users (staff members).
3. Click the Set Up Gmail button at the top of your Admin Console and follow the steps to make your new email addresses LIVE.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
- Do I have to enter payment information for the trial? You must select a Business Plan and enter payment information until you are fully enrolled in Google Workspace for Nonprofits. The cost will be removed once your application is accepted.
- Can I skip the trial period steps? You risk the 14-day trial period expiring before your Google for Nonprofits enrollment is approved. Waiting until your Google for Nonprofits account is approved helps ensure you can complete the setup within the trial window.
- My domain is not verifying: Use the Manual Setup option and ensure you correctly add the meta tag to your homepage or the TXT/CNAME record to your domain host. Double-check the records for typos.