Google Launches Nonprofits Initiative in Nigeria

Google has launched the “Google for Nonprofits” in Nigeria, aiming to empower NPOs across the country by providing them with free premium services.

Google for Nonprofits will give access to a collection of premium apps to organisations that qualify for the program. These will be the same tools used by large enterprises. NPOs will be given the rights to use the tools at no cost.

Once qualifying, NPOs can use tools such as Google Ad Grants, G-Suite for Nonprofits, YouTube’s nonprofit programs and more. These premium apps are to assist nonprofits to work more quickly and efficiently. They are to spur more supporters into action, and for them to tell their stories in more compelling ways.

Nonprofits can qualify for a grant of up to $10,000 a month that is available for six months through October 2020, to spend on text-based ads among other offerings.

Which NPOs can qualify?

For a particular NPO to be qualified and eligible for Google’s offerings, it must be a registered nonprofit charitable organisation operating in Nigeria, and they must be verified by TechSoup Nigeria.

Further criteria include that the organisation must not be a:

• Not a governmental entity or organization
• Not a hospital or healthcare organization
• Not a school, academic institution, or university

Tiki Akinsanmi, head of government affairs and public policy for Google West Africa, says “Nonprofits face unique challenges when making decisions about what technology to acquire amid competing demands for funding and resources. Our overall goal is to provide access to tools and technology quickly and effectively so that these organizations can focus their efforts and resources directly towards achieving their goals.”

Google gives grant to Teach for Nigeria

The Guardian Nigeria writes that the search engine giant has also announced that its philanthropic arm, Google.org will be giving a significant grant to Teach for Nigeria, a non-profit organization focused on support for students in underserved communities in Nigeria while the COVID-19 school closures persist.

This grant will fund a two-year teacher fellowship program to ensure more learners in underserved communities can gain access to quality education, delivered by well-trained teaching staff.

“Our plan is to provide support and create partnerships that will ensure that children from underserved communities are able to access the required level of education during these times,” Akinsanmi states.