Quickstart for GitHub for Nonprofits

Introduction

GitHub for Nonprofits enables organizations to leverage technology to drive forward their missions and accelerate human progress. Verified nonprofits get exclusive access to a free GitHub Team plan or 25% off the GitHub Enterprise cloud plan.

By hosting projects on GitHub, nonprofits can increase their visibility and reach a broader audience. GitHub provides nonprofits with a platform to amplify their impact and attract support from donors, funders, volunteers, and partners.

In this guide, you’ll get started with GitHub and sign up for accounts and discounted services through GitHub for Nonprofits.

Creating accounts

Creating a free personal account

1. Go to GitHub's Pricing page.
2. Read the information about the different products and subscriptions that GitHub offers, then click the upgrade button under the subscription you'd like to choose.
3. Follow the prompts to create your free personal account.

Creating an organization

1. In the upper-right corner of any page on GitHub, click your profile photo, then click Settings.
2. In the "Access" section of the sidebar, click Organizations.
3. Next to the "Organizations" header, click New organization.
4. Follow the prompts to create a free organization.

For more information, see Get Started.

Prepare materials

Before you apply for a GitHub for Nonprofits discount, you will want to make sure:

• You are the administrator or owner of the GitHub organization you are applying on behalf of.
• You have all necessary nonprofit documentation such as tax information and/or legal documents certifying your nonprofit status.
• You have reviewed all nonprofit eligibility information: GitHub for Nonprofit accounts are designed for 501(c)(3) or equivalent nonprofit organizations that are non-governmental, non-academic, non-commercial, non-political in nature, and have no religious affiliation.

Applying for nonprofit benefits

1. To claim your discount, visit our GitHub for Nonprofits self-serve portal.

2. Click Join GitHub for Nonprofits to authenticate your GitHub organization account.

3. Log into GitHub.

4. To authorize GitHub for Nonprofits to access your organization account on GitHub, click Grant.

   Tip

   If you see a Request button instead of a Grant button, you are a member of the organization, not an owner. An owner must approve your request for GitHub for Nonprofit. You must be an organization owner to claim the GitHub for Nonprofit. For more information, see Authorizing OAuth apps.

5. Click Authorize GitHub.

6. From the "GitHub Organization" dropdown menu, select your nonprofit organization account. Then click Continue.

   Tip

   If you are running into trouble finding your organization in the drop down, see Cannot find my organization on GitHub for Nonprofits.

7. If your nonprofit is already in our database as a validated organization, you will be prompted to select your GitHub for Nonprofits discount. If your organization is not automatically validated, you will be asked to complete the validation application.

   Application questions include:

   • Country of nonprofit registration
   • Nonprofit name or registration ID
   • Confirmation that your nonprofit is nongovernmental, nonacademic, noncommercial, nonpolitical, and has no religious affiliation
   • Website (optional, but recommended)
   • Organization address
   • Documents certifying proof of nonprofit status with your local government, and nonprofit focus

8. Once your application is complete, it will be reviewed by our GitHub for Nonprofits support team.

9. When your application has been reviewed, an email will be sent to the GitHub organization owner.

10. After receiving notification of application approval, please log back into the GitHub for Nonprofits portal in a new tab.

After the application is approved

1. Once you have logged back into the GitHub for Nonprofits portal, you will be able to request access to your free GitHub Team plan or 25% off GitHub Enterprise Cloud coupon code.
2. If you clicked Continue with Team, your organization will be upgraded to GitHub Team for free by a member of the GitHub for Nonprofits support team. Please allow up to a week for your discount to be applied. Another email will be sent to your organization administrator when your discount has been applied to your organization.
3. If you clicked Continue with Enterprise Cloud, your organization owner will receive an email with a code to receive 25% off a GitHub Enterprise Cloud plan. To redeem your coupon code, navigate to github.com/redeem.