Check Your Nonprofit Grant Eligibility
The eligibility check is a two-minute test of whether your organisation qualifies for software grants and special pricing.
Which criteria make a nonprofit eligible for software grants?
Eligibility is based on two criteria: a registered NPO or NPC number, and SARS PBO or Section 18A status. Select all that apply to your organisation:
Is my organisation eligible?
Eligibility is confirmed when both boxes above are ticked; most international software grants require both.
Note: While many grants require both, some vendors may only require NPO registration. Contact us for a specific assessment.
Which South African organisation types qualify for nonprofit software grants?
Eligibility is decided by legal form and purpose. The table shows the common South African organisation types and whether they usually qualify.
| Organisation type | Usually qualifies? | Evidence needed |
|---|---|---|
| NPO registered with the Department of Social Development | Yes | NPO certificate and registration number |
| Nonprofit company (NPC) registered with CIPC | Yes | CIPC registration and memorandum of incorporation |
| Public benefit organisation (PBO) approved by SARS | Yes, and validation is fastest | SARS PBO approval letter |
| Registered charitable trust | Usually | Trust deed and Master's letter of authority |
| School, university or hospital | Sometimes, under separate education or health programmes | Registration with the relevant department |
| Church or religious organisation | Yes, if activities are charitable or community-based | NPO or PBO registration |
| For-profit company with a social mission | No | Not eligible; consider standard partner pricing |
Nonprofit grant eligibility questions
Organisations with recognised nonprofit status generally qualify: NPOs registered with the Department of Social Development, nonprofit companies (NPCs) registered with the CIPC, public benefit organisations (PBOs) approved by SARS, and registered charitable trusts. The organisation must operate on a not-for-profit basis for a charitable, educational, social or community purpose.
Your NPO or NPC registration certificate, your PBO approval letter from SARS if you have one, a founding document such as a constitution or memorandum of incorporation, and proof that the organisation's legal name, registration number and address match across all documents. Mismatched details are the most common reason validation stalls.
Section 18A status is not required for Microsoft or Google nonprofit programmes, but PBO approval from SARS, which usually accompanies it, is one of the strongest forms of evidence that an organisation is a genuine nonprofit and speeds up validation.
Written and reviewed by the AMEA Technologies engineering team in Johannesburg. Last updated .