Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits: Boosting productivity | XP

Microsoft 365 for nonprofits: How it boosts productivity

Last updated: 6 June 2024


ARTICLE ⋅ 3 MIN READ

If you thought Microsoft 365 was good before, get ready to be amazed, it’s stepping up its game and can boost your nonprofit's productivity like never before.

How do we know this? We’ve experienced it ourselves.

 

How Microsoft 365 fits into a nonprofit workflow

At XP, Microsoft 365 powers nearly every part of our workday. Here’s what that looks like in practice (in the marketing team): 

We start the day by logging into Teams, our virtual office, and greeting team members. This setup means we can quickly connect without booking endless meetings or going back and forth over email. Then we check Outlook for new communications, using Copilot in Outlook to draft responses, saving around 30 minutes (especially handy on Monday mornings when the brain is lagging a bit).

We use the Lists app integrated into Teams (where our social media calendar lives) to plan out upcoming posts. For content creation, we collaborate with Copilot to edit and refine post copy and campaign ideas.

Next, we dive into LinkedIn analytics, export the data into Excel for analysis, and highlight the key points in PowerPoint for the weekly social media report. Later, during our digital marketing strategy meetings in Teams, we use Speech Coach to improve presentation skills and Copilot to summarise key points, suggest follow-up questions, and generate action items in Loop.

For research, Copilot in SharePoint quickly surfaces relevant work-related content, like documents or past presentations, which cuts down hours of manual searching.

As you can see, Microsoft 365 is deeply integrated into our workflow, well, except for coffee breaks, Canva, and a few other handy tools. But the point is: Microsoft 365 for nonprofits is amazing. With a quick estimate, we save around three hours every Monday using different Microsoft applications, and your organisation can too.

 

What a Microsoft 365 workflow looks like for a nonprofit team

Picture this: your nonprofit team starts the day with Teams as the central hub. Staff greet each other in the chat and check updates in shared channels.

  • Morning planning: The fundraising manager checks Outlook, using Copilot to draft donor emails. Meanwhile, the program coordinator opens Planner in Teams to review tasks for the week.

  • Midday collaboration: The communications officer collaborates on a grant proposal in Word online, while colleagues leave comments in real time. A designer updates visuals in PowerPoint, pulling in data from Excel.

  • Afternoon meeting: During the team strategy meeting, Teams with Copilot summarises discussions, identifies next steps, and automatically creates a to-do list in Loop for each staff member.

  • End of day wrap-up: The operations lead quickly checks compliance documents stored in SharePoint, confident that files are secure and easy to find.

This kind of connected workflow shows how nonprofit productivity tools in Microsoft 365 bring everyone together, reduce admin time, and make collaboration feel effortless, even across remote or hybrid teams.

 

Five reasons Microsoft 365 is a nonprofit’s productivity solution

Here are five reasons why Microsoft 365 is the ultimate productivity solution for nonprofits and purpose-led organisations in 2024:

  1. Increased collaboration
    Microsoft 365 offers a suite of nonprofit productivity tools that help teams collaborate, no matter where they are in the world. With Teams as a virtual office, communication becomes smoother and remote work far easier.

  2. Integration across Microsoft products
    Integration means connected apps and data. Teams, Lists, Planner, Loop, and SharePoint all work together seamlessly. With Copilot available across the Microsoft suite, every app from Outlook to Excel, PowerPoint, and Word helps make daily tasks easier.

  3. Cost friendly
    Microsoft recognises that nonprofits face financial challenges. Eligible organisations can access Microsoft 365 Business Premium grants, saving hundreds of dollars. And since time is money, the hours saved with Microsoft 365 translate into real cost efficiency.

  4. Scalability
    As your nonprofit grows, Microsoft 365 grows with you. Changing a license or subscription is all it takes to give more access to more staff.

  5. Security and compliance
    Microsoft 365 comes with built-in security features that protect sensitive data and help nonprofits meet compliance requirements.

 

Ready to boost your nonprofit’s productivity?

Microsoft 365 isn’t just a set of tools, it’s a game-changer for nonprofits looking to enhance productivity, collaboration, and efficiency. By integrating Microsoft 365 into your daily operations like we have at XP, your team can focus more on your mission and less on admin hassles.

If you’d like to give Microsoft 365 a try and experience the difference it can make, reach out to us at XP. We’ll answer your questions, help you get started, and ensure you get the most from this powerful suite. Together, we can achieve more and make a greater impact.

XP's Choice: A Testament to Microsoft's Excellence

 

Our decision to choose Microsoft as our software partner was driven by a proactive approach to technology. By employing the same software solutions we recommend to clients, we ensure a thorough understanding and testing of the products, guaranteeing the best recommendations and support.

XP's partnership with Microsoft, backed by certifications and a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector, allows us to offer unparalleled integration and support services. This synergy between XP and Microsoft is a testament to the effectiveness and reliability of Microsoft 365 as a comprehensive solution for nonprofits.

Ready to boost your nonprofits productivity with Microsoft 365?

Discover how Microsoft 365 for nonprofits can save time, cut costs, and empower your team to focus on your mission.

Get started with Microsoft 365