Microsoft clarifies nonprofit ad grant program status

Microsoft Ads Liaison Navah Hopkins confirmed that the company’s Ads for Social Impact program, which grants nonprofits ad credits across Microsoft’s ad inventory, is currently on a waitlist.

Why we care. The program gives nonprofits free ad credits to reach audiences across Bing, Outlook, MSN, Microsoft Edge, and even Yahoo and AOL via syndicated partners. With no strict feature requirements, charities can apply the credit to strategies that best fit their goals, while also accessing training and optional AI tools for creative support.

Eligibility: To qualify, nonprofits must be registered 501(c)(3) or equivalent, have a functioning mission-aligned website, and not fall into excluded categories like hospitals, schools, or government entities. Applying is not a guarantee of acceptance and all applications will be reviewed on the merits.

• Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations can register interest online.

Bottom line. While details around nonprofit support have been murky, Microsoft is reaffirming its commitment to helping charities stretch their marketing budgets and amplify their missions through free ad spend.