Setting up Google Workspace for Nonprofit Using Your Domain

Having official email addresses for your staff (ie: name@yourdomain.com) can simplify email communication at your church. Using your domain name with email addresses makes your contact details look much more professional than a general address (ie: name@aol.net).

Your church, as a nonprofit organization, can sign up to use Google Workspace (e.g., Gmail, Google Docs/Sheets/etc.) with your domain name. After completing the steps below, your staff will have access to Gmail features with your custom domain name. The best part is that Google offers this to nonprofits for free!

Summary of the steps:

  • Sign up for Google for Nonprofits
  • Apply for a Goodstack verification
  • Obtain your Goodstack verification
  • Complete your Google for Nonprofits account application
  • Sign up for a Google Workspace trial
  • Set up your Google Workspace account
  • Enroll in Google Workspace for Nonprofits
  • Add users (email accounts)

1. Sign up for Google for Nonprofits

As a first step, sign up for a Google for Nonprofits account. Once approved, you'll be eligible for Google Workspace for Nonprofits at no cost.

  1. Go to https://www.google.ca/intl/en/nonprofits for Canadians/International or https://www.google.com/nonprofits for US.
  2. To begin, click any of the Get Started buttons on the page.
  3. Sign in with your email address or Create a new Account (the account you use to sign in will be added as an administrator for your organization's Google for Nonprofits account).
  4. Click Next.
  5. Select your Country, then click Next.
  6. Enter the Goodstack verification.
  7. Add the church phone number and domain.
  8. Provide your contact details: name, job title, and phone number.
  9. Click the 'I agree' box and submit.
  10. Click on the Enroll button.
  11. Then click Sign up for Google Workspace.

2. Get verified by Goodstack

Google uses Goodstack to verify the eligibility of nonprofits. Here's how to get verified:  

  1. Go to Google for Nonprofits.

  2. In the top right, click Get started.

  3. Follow the steps.

  4. Goodstack will contact you for more information or documentation so they can verify your organization so be sure to look for emails from verifications@mail.goodstack.org or verifications@poweredbypercent.com (Percent is rebranding to Goodstack). Most requests are reviewed within 3-5 business days. If you don't receive a contact from Goodstack during this time frame check your spam folder and then contact Goodstack.

4. Complete Your Google for Nonprofits Account Application

Once you've been verified by Goodstack, you can complete signing up for a Google for Nonprofits account.

  1. After Google has checked your Goodstack verification, review the list to see if your organization is already listed. If not, select 'My organization is not listed'. Create new account.
  2. Then, enter your organization's phone number, website, and contact details. You must also agree to the Google for Nonprofits terms and conditions.
    Once your submission is received, you will receive an email from Google regarding the status of your application within 3 days.

Wait for approval before you proceed ...

We recommend waiting until your Google for Nonprofits account is approved before moving on to the next step. The Google Workspace free trial period lasts 14 days, and waiting until your Google for Nonprofits application is approved will help ensure you can complete the setup within the 14-day trial period.

5. Sign Up for a Google Workspace Trial

  1. Once your Google for Nonprofits account is approved, go to the Google Workspace website and sign up for a Google Workspace trial for your organization. Be prepared to provide the following information: Church/Business Name (full legal name) Number of Employees, Country, First Name, Last Name, Current Email Address - Be sure to use an existing email address via which you can immediately receive Google Workspace account setup emails. You will create new business email addresses later.

  2. Next, select whether you: Plan to set up your organization's email accounts using a domain name you've already purchased. If so, click Yes, I have one I can use, then enter your domain name (pictured below). Or, plan to buy a new domain name from Google for your email accounts. If so, click No, I need one and search for a domain name to purchase from Google. (Alternatively, you can purchase a domain from a different registrar, such as Name.com, then return to complete your Google Workspace setup with the new domain).

  3. The final prompts of the trial setup process will guide you to: Confirm the domain you wish to use to set up the account. Enter your preferred Google Workspace username + password. Agree the Google Workspace Agreement. Select a payment plan - You must choose a Business Plan and enter payment information until you are fully enrolled in Google Workspace for Nonprofits. Once your Google Workspace for Nonprofits application has been accepted, you will be able to utilize the Google Workspace tools at no cost.
    NOTE: You may not need to enter payment information if your Google for Nonprofits application is submitted and approved before you create your Google Workspace account. Accept the Google Workspace Terms of Service. Enter your first name, last name, And current email address. Be sure to use an existing email address, which you can immediately use to receive Google Workspace account setup emails. You will create new business email addresses later. Once finished, it's time to set up your account. Click 'Continue To Setup' to move to the next step.
    NOTE: You will be able to add additional users/email accounts for your colleagues later in the process.

6. Set Up Your Google Workspace Account

  1. Next, you'll be presented with a variety of options to continue. 

  2. Click Use Manual Setup at the bottom of the screen. This will open the Manual Setup dialog. 

  3. Click Go to Admin Console to proceed.

  4. Once in the Admin Console, click Start Setup at the top of the Admin Console. 

  5. Add a meta tag to your homepage.

  6. Add a domain host record (TXT or CNAME).

  7. Once your domain is verified, click Continue Setup to proceed.

7. Enroll in Google Workspace for Nonprofits

Once your Google for Nonprofits account is approved, you can use the following steps to enroll in specific products, including Google Workspace for Nonprofits (which includes Gmail). This enrollment is what allows your nonprofit to use Google Workspace at no cost.

  1. Sign in to your Google for Nonprofits account.

  2. Click on the Enrollments page in your account to enroll products.

  3. Click the Enroll link below Google Workspace for Nonprofits to continue the process.

8. Add Users (email accounts)

Once Google has informed you that your Google Workspace for Nonprofits enrollment has been approved, you will log in to your admin console at admin.google.com with your Google administrator account and password to set up email accounts for individual users! This Google article will tell you how to do that if you need guidance. Once the users are created, your team will log in to their new Gmail accounts.

Once you're ready to switch, you'll just click the Set Up Gmail button at the top of your Admin Console and follow the steps they give you. This takes your new email LIVE and causes messages to flow into your new Gmail inboxes. If you need help with this step, be sure to contact us. The Google Admin help center is a great resource if you need help to make any changes to the new email going forward.