STEM Education Support

If your STEM program is operated by an eligible nonprofit, start with Microsoft for Nonprofits; if it is in King County, Washington, also review the location-specific Community-First Grants program.

1. Check nonprofit eligibility and register

Microsoft nonprofit benefits are available to organizations with recognized nonprofit or NGO status that operate on a not-for-profit basis and serve the community. “Advancing education” is an eligible mission. Formal schools, colleges, universities, individuals, and nonprofits without recognized legal status are generally excluded from this particular program.^1^

If your organization qualifies:

1. Open the Nonprofit Hub from the Microsoft for Nonprofits program page.
2. Run the eligibility pre-check.
3. Register a new Microsoft tenant or sign in with your organization’s existing Microsoft 365 account.
4. Have an employee or strategic volunteer of the nonprofit complete the registration; a third-party provider cannot register on its behalf.
5. After approval, return to the hub to view and claim available benefits.^2^

Current offerings can include:

• A $2,000 USD annual Azure grant for eligible nonprofits.
• Microsoft 365 and Copilot nonprofit pricing.
• Dynamics 365 and Power Platform grants or discounts.
• GitHub and LinkedIn nonprofit offers.
• Occasional donated or discounted hardware.

Availability varies by country or region.^3^

These are primarily technology grants and discounts, not a general cash-sponsorship application for STEM programs.

2. Check the location-specific funding branch

If your organization operates in King County, Washington, review Microsoft’s Community-First Grants page for its current application details and geographic requirements.^4^

If the program is outside that area, do not assume this grant applies; instead, look for local nonprofit events and offers through the eligibility page and use the Nonprofit Hub’s contact form to ask whether any regional opportunity covers your location.

3. Prepare a concise partnership proposal

For corporate and community partners beyond Microsoft, prepare a two-page proposal containing:

• Program summary: audience, location, activities, and STEM subjects.
• Evidence of impact: current participation, outcomes, testimonials, and measurable goals.
• Specific request: cash, devices, Azure credits, mentors, volunteers, curriculum, venue space, or promotion.
• Budget: exactly how support will be used.
• Partner value: recognition, employee-volunteer opportunities, impact reporting, and community visibility.
• Safeguarding and governance: nonprofit status, program leadership, and policies for working with minors.
• Contact and timeline: decision deadline, program dates, and one accountable contact.

Requesting a defined contribution—for example, “20 laptops and four employee mentors for a 12-week robotics cohort”—is more actionable than asking generally for “support.”

4. If you are a school or informal group

Because formal educational institutions and individuals are excluded from Microsoft’s nonprofit program, use the school’s Microsoft Education channels or partner with an independently eligible nonprofit that can own and administer the program.^1^

Microsoft also publishes ready-to-use STEM learning materials, including hands-on activities and curriculum resources, which may reduce the amount of funding your program needs.^5^

For partnership proposals, Microsoft Q&A is a public technical-support forum and cannot process collaboration requests directly; academic organizations should use Microsoft Education partnership channels instead.^6^

References

1. Nonprofits Grants & Credits Eligibility | Microsoft Nonprofits
2. Microsoft for Nonprofits program overview
3. Nonprofit offerings and products
4. Community-First Grants for Washington | Microsoft
5. Student help center | Microsoft Support
6. Colloboration - Microsoft Q&A