How Companies Can Streamline Nonprofit Verifications at Scale

When a company supports nonprofits through activities like donations, discounts, or programming, verifying those nonprofits becomes a critical step in the program’s process. Companies work toward ensuring funds and resources are going to legitimate organizations, and that they remain compliant, fraud-resistant, and aligned with their brand values.

But doing this kind of nonprofit vetting at scale (across geographies, tax classifications, and entity types) can be a massive operational lift. That’s where automated nonprofit verification solutions like Change come in.

In this post, we’ll break down why companies need nonprofit checks, how common use cases expose the need for a robust verification layer, and why Change offers one of the most comprehensive, global solutions on the market today.

Why Verify Nonprofits?

Companies today are working with nonprofits in more ways than ever before:

• Providing discounted software or products to eligible charitable organizations
• Running social impact initiatives and grant programs that distribute funds to hundreds or thousands of grantees
• Offering dedicated programming, services, or access to nonprofits at no cost

Each of these efforts requires some assurance: that the nonprofit is who it says it is, that it’s in good standing with regulators, and that the organization is appropriately structured to receive funds, discounts, or services.

Failing to verify nonprofits can create reputational, legal, and financial risks. At the very least, it opens the door to inefficiency and administrative burden.

Common Use Cases (and Why Verification Matters)

1. Nonprofit Product Discounts & Donations

It’s quite common for larger software companies to offer deep discounts (or free access) to nonprofits using their products. These programs often run through automated workflows that rely on nonprofit eligibility checks before access is granted. Without a reliable verification system in place, these companies risk abuse of their program, internal resource strain, or inconsistent eligibility enforcement.

Examples include companies like Adobe, Microsoft, Zoom, and Asana, which offer discounted pricing or free subscriptions. 

2. Nonprofit Services and Programming

Some companies go beyond product donations to offer hands-on support to nonprofits – things like tailored onboarding, one-on-one coaching, or access to exclusive programming and resources. These services often involve significant time and financial investment, making it essential to ensure they’re going to qualified organizations.

Without a reliable verification process, companies risk misallocating resources or unintentionally creating inequitable access. Verifying eligibility up front ensures the right nonprofits benefit from these services and that internal teams aren't spending time supporting ineligible or fraudulent organizations.

One example: Atlassian provides nonprofits with real-time support, coaching, and custom product guidance, offered only to verified nonprofit partners.

3. Corporate Grantmaking

Many corporations now manage their own philanthropic grant programs, distributing funds to nonprofits aligned with their values. Whether through annual giving programs, crisis response funds, or multi-year partnerships, these efforts often involve dozens (or even thousands) of nonprofits globally.

Vetting each one manually can be slow and inconsistent, especially when dealing with international organizations. Companies need a way to automate this process while maintaining accuracy and compliance.