Key Takeaways
- IAR Qualifies for Google for Nonprofits: As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Islamic Association of Raleigh meets the core eligibility requirements for Google's nonprofit program.
- $10,000 Monthly Ad Credit: IAR can receive up to $10,000 per month in free Google Ads through the Google Ad Grants program to promote programs, events, and fundraising.
- Free Google Workspace: IAR is eligible for free Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Meet) with custom @raleighmasjid.org email addresses and 30GB storage per user.
- YouTube Nonprofit Features: Special YouTube tools including donation buttons, external link cards, and Creator Academy access to enhance IAR's video outreach.
- Google Maps Credits: Approximately $250 monthly in Google Maps Platform credits for embedding maps and location services on IAR's website.
- Simple Application Process: The verification process through Google's partner (Percent) typically takes 2-4 business days after submitting IAR's 501(c)(3) information.
Google for Nonprofits Eligibility for Islamic Association of Raleigh (IAR)
IAR’s Nonprofit Legal Status
The Islamic Association of Raleigh (IAR) is officially recognized as a tax-exempt nonprofit. In fact, IAR is designated under 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (Donate - Islamic Association of Raleigh). This means it is a charitable religious organization (a mosque/Islamic center) with a federal EIN (Tax ID 58-1847133) and donations to IAR are tax-deductible (Donate - Islamic Association of Raleigh). Being a registered 501(c)(3) puts IAR in the category of nonprofit charitable organizations in the United States.
Google for Nonprofits Eligibility Criteria vs. IAR
Google for Nonprofits is a program that offers certain Google products for free or at discounted rates to eligible nonprofits. To qualify, an organization must be a verified charitable nonprofit in a country where the program is available. In the U.S., this specifically requires 501(c)(3) status in good standing (Nonprofit Basics: The Google for Nonprofits Program). Organizations must be validated as genuine nonprofits by Google’s partner (historically TechSoup, now a service called Percent) during the application process (Nonprofit Basics: The Google for Nonprofits Program).
Google also outlines ineligible organization types. Government agencies, hospitals/healthcare organizations (except their charitable foundations), and schools/universities (except philanthropic arms) do not qualify for Google for Nonprofits (Nonprofit Basics: The Google for Nonprofits Program). IAR is a religious charitable organization, not a government, hospital, or academic entity, so those exclusions don’t apply. Given that IAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Donate - Islamic Association of Raleigh) and doesn’t fall into an excluded category, it meets the core eligibility requirements for Google for Nonprofits.
Key Benefits of Google for Nonprofits for IAR
By enrolling in Google for Nonprofits, IAR would gain access to several valuable tools and services at no cost or discounted rates. Key benefits include:
- Google Ad Grants: Eligible nonprofits receive up to $10,000 per month in free Google Ads credit for search advertising (Nonprofit Basics: The Google for Nonprofits Program) (Nonprofit Basics: The Google for Nonprofits Program). This could allow IAR to run text ads on Google Search promoting its programs, events, and donation campaigns, greatly expanding outreach without impacting its budget. (The Ad Grants program is essentially an in-kind advertising grant for raising awareness on Google Search.)
- Google Workspace for Nonprofits: IAR can use Google’s productivity suite (formerly G Suite) for free or at highly discounted rates. The basic nonprofit plan is free, providing professional Gmail accounts using IAR’s domain, Google Drive, Docs, Calendar, Meet and more (Nonprofit Basics: The Google for Nonprofits Program). This includes features like 30 GB cloud storage per user, the ability to host video meetings with up to 100 participants, unlimited custom email addresses @raleighmasjid.org, and 24/7 support (Nonprofit Basics: The Google for Nonprofits Program). If IAR needs advanced features or more storage, upgraded Workspace plans are available at a special nonprofit pricing (e.g. ~$3/user for 2TB storage plan, which is a fraction of normal business pricing) (Nonprofit Basics: The Google for Nonprofits Program). This benefit can greatly enhance IAR’s communication and collaboration infrastructure.