Microsoft 365 Grant Ending: What Nonprofits Must Know
21st May 2025 | Blogs
Microsoft has officially announced the upcoming discontinuation of the Microsoft 365 Business Premium nonprofit grant, and it’s going to impact many charitable organisations across the UK and beyond. If your nonprofit currently relies on this grant, it's essential to understand what’s changing, when, and what actions are required to avoid service disruptions or data loss.
At Workflo Solutions, we work closely with a wide range of nonprofit organisations, and we know how critical tools like Microsoft 365 are to your daily operations. This article breaks down the announcement, what it means for you, and how we can support your transition to the next phase.
What’s Changing?
Microsoft is retiring the Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant for nonprofits. Here are the key details:
- As of July 1, 2025, nonprofits will no longer be able to renew their Business Premium grant.
- All existing Business Premium grant licenses will expire on March 28, 2026.
- After that date, users will lose access to their Microsoft 365 Business Premium services unless a new licensing arrangement is in place.
This move is part of Microsoft’s wider restructuring of its nonprofit offerings. While this specific grant is ending, Microsoft continues to support the sector by offering:
- Up to 300 free Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses, and
- Up to 75% discounts on a variety of other Microsoft 365 plans, including Business Premium.
Why This Matters
The Business Premium grant has provided nonprofits with advanced tools like Microsoft Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, device management, and robust security features, all at no cost. Losing these tools without a clear plan in place can lead to:
- Service interruptions
- Inaccessibility of emails and documents
- Potential data loss
- Reduced security and collaboration capabilities
Planning ahead is crucial to avoid operational disruptions and ensure continuity of service.
What You Need to Do
Microsoft is encouraging nonprofits to transition to other nonprofit-eligible Microsoft 365 plans well before the March 2026 deadline. Here's a step-by-step overview of what the transition involves:
- Choose a new plan: In the Microsoft 365 admin center, select an alternative plan such as Business Basic or one of the discounted Business Premium options.
- Check license availability: Make sure the new licenses are active and available in your tenant.
- Reassign licenses: Replace all Business Premium grant licenses by assigning the new ones to your users.
- Cancel the old subscription: Once everyone has been transitioned, cancel your Business Premium grant subscription to avoid confusion or overlap.
Microsoft offers a detailed guide here if you’re looking to manage the process internally.
How We Can Help
If you’re unsure which Microsoft 365 plan is right for your nonprofit’s structure, or if you’d like help with the technical side of switching plans, Workflo Solutions is here to help.
We support nonprofits with:
- License audits to assess your current setup
- Recommendations for the most cost-effective plans
- Seamless migrations with no data loss or service disruption
- Ongoing IT support and Microsoft 365 training for your team
Our goal is to make sure your organisation stays connected, secure, and productive, without stretching your internal resources. Microsoft’s decision to retire the Business Premium nonprofit grant may feel disruptive, but there are still excellent options available. By acting early, you’ll have plenty of time to plan your transition and take advantage of Microsoft’s ongoing nonprofit discounts.
If you'd like guidance on the next steps or need help managing the change, Workflo Solutions is ready to support you every step of the way.
