Microsoft focuses on applying business apps to nonprofits at CXO Summit

Justin Spelhaug, general manager of Microsoft Philanthropies, writing in the Microsoft On the Issues blog, said nonprofits struggle with lack of technical capacity, few partners and technology solutions, as well as scarce resources. The company wants its business solutions and tools, including Dynamics 365, the Common Data Service, Power BI templates, and Azure - and the Microsoft partner channel - have play a part in improving these organizations' performance.

Spelhaug focused on the roles that Dynamics 365 Common Data Service can play for nonprofits. He gave the example of Team Rubicon, who are working with Microsoft partner Wipfli to build a volunteer management system encompassing over 800,000 people. "We encourage partners to add to the Microsoft AppSource marketplace as they complete more purpose-built solutions for nonprofits based on Microsoft Dynamics 365 CDS," he said.

With the aim of interpreting "mountains of data," Microsoft also announced Power BI templates for nonprofits, designed to consolidate operational data onto a single screen. Data can include case management, volunteer management, or grants management. Spelhaug pointed to GOAL, an Irish international aid charity, which used the Power BI Grants Management Template to identify repeat donors and spot fundraising trends.

"We will continue to build upon our commitment to help make technology more accessible and affordable-such as existing offers like Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits, discounts on Surface Books and Surface Pros and standard nonprofit discount models," Spelhaug stated. "We are also excited to announce discounts for Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations," he added. A 15% discount will apply for Azure through the Enterprise Agreement, with a $5,000 credit for purchases through Web-Direct. Microsoft ...