Heads Up: Key Changes to Microsoft 365 Grants for Non-Profits

Microsoft recently announced updates regarding its grant programs for non-profit organisations. Specifically, the Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 grants are being discontinued. This is a significant change that will require action from many non-profit organisations. Here’s everything you need to know to navigate this transition.

What’s Changing and When?

The Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 grants will be discontinued upon the next renewal on or after the 1st July 2025. Current granted licenses for these services will expire on your next renewal date following this period.

It's important to note that this change applies to Ciz ICT customers and those who have purchased directly online with Microsoft. This does not impact customers on Enterprise agreements.

What Support Will Microsoft Continue to Offer Non-Profits?

While these specific grants will end, Microsoft remains committed to supporting the non-profit sector. They will continue to provide:

  • Up to 300 granted licenses of Microsoft 365 Business Basic.
  • Discounts of up to 75% on many Microsoft 365 offers, including Microsoft 365 Business Premium, should you wish to continue with this service or explore other options.

Why You Need to Act: Avoiding Disruption and Data Loss

In response to these changes, it is crucial to transition users to a different Microsoft 365 offer for non-profits before your current subscription is cancelled. Failing to take action before your grant expires could lead to significant issues, including:

  • Loss of access to essential services such as email (Outlook), OneDrive, and SharePoint.
  • Potential data deletion after the grace period for your expired subscription ends.
  • Interruptions to daily operations that rely heavily on Microsoft 365 tools.

Taking proactive steps will ensure business continuity and preserve valuable data.

Planning Your Transition: Recommended Steps

We will provide recommendations to our customers. However, if you manage your own subscriptions, you will need to complete the following steps within the Microsoft 365 admin centre:

  1. Select Your New Offer: Through the Microsoft 365 admin centre, you can select the Microsoft 365 Business Basic grant or another appropriate Microsoft 365 offer for non-profits. Before making a decision, take note of what's included in each subscription offering!
  2. Confirm New Licenses: Ensure the new licenses are present and active in your tenant.
  3. Replace Existing Licenses: Select all your users who currently have a Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Office 365 E1 license and choose to replace these users’ licenses with Business Basic or your other chosen Microsoft 365 offer.
  4. Cancel Old Subscription: Once all users have been successfully transitioned to the new licenses, select your Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Office 365 E1 grant subscription and choose to cancel it.

Microsoft's support article provides more guidance on manually changing Microsoft 365 for business plans.

Don't Delay

With these changes to the renewal starting on 1st July 2025, we urge all affected non-profit organisations to begin planning their transition strategy as soon as possible. Proactive planning will ensure your operations continue without a hitch.