mdsc-hero

The Microsoft Digital Skills Center for Nonprofits

A collaboration between TechSoup Courses and Microsoft

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Resources for Nonprofits

Unlock the power of AI at your nonprofit and start using groundbreaking technology to enhance your marketing, donor relations, research capabilities, and fundraising. Explore our collection of resources, designed specifically for changemakers like you.   

Learning Track: Exploring AI with Microsoft Tools

AI
Introduction to AI and Generative AI

Learn what AI is and what it can enable. We'll review generative text and images, video translation, slide deck creation, data analysis, and more.

Ethics
Ethics and Principles of AI

Get practical advice for using AI responsibly. Learn best practices before you deploy AI as an organizational resource while keeping ethics and safety front and center.

Bing
Critical Thinking, Question Formulation, Prompt Engineering with Bing Chat

Learn the art and science of prompt engineering so you can consistently get intelligent, nuanced responses from chatbots like Bing Chat.

Common Uses
Common Uses for Nonprofits with Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise

Leverage AI to generate engaging content, create high-quality graphics, and summarize long documents into key takeaways. We’ll cover uses of AI across nonprofit functions from marketing to donor relations.

course-section-image
As of November 15, Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise are now called "Copilot." This change is in name only — you can still access and use this AI tool in the same way as described. Learn more here.

Additional AI Skill-Building Resources

Webinar
Webinar

AI for Nonprofits: What You Need to Know

Learn more about the latest generation of AI and how nonprofits can use it to their advantage.

blog-2.0-23.10.26-ai-policy-and-security-inline
WEBINAR

Ask the Experts: Focus on Ethics, Principles, and Governance of Generative AI

Learn how to integrate AI into your organization's workflow safely and transparently.

Ask the Experts: Focus on AI Prompt Engineering
Webinar

Ask the Experts: Focus on AI Prompt Engineering

Learn how to develop AI prompts to get just the right results to create impactful email content.

Outlook
Video

Organize Your Day with Viva Insights in Outlook

Learn how Viva Insights can improve your productivity with "quiet time" settings, consolidation of important documents, and prioritization of emails from key donors and funders.

Excel
Video

Insert Data from a Picture into Excel

Learn how to transfer data from printed annual reports, financial documents, and other sources directly into an Excel document.

PowerPoint
Video

Use Live Captions and Slide Translator in PowerPoint

Learn how to provide real-time captions and slide translations in your next presentation.

blog-2.0-22.09.30-us-nonprofit-startup-resources-inline
VIDEO

How Copilot (Formerly Known as Bing Chat) Provides Original Sources to Help Fact-Check

Highlighting how you can understand the veracity of a Microsoft Copilot response on country research by viewing source information within the Microsoft Copilot responses.

blog-2.0-23.06.28-ai-and-chatgpt-inline
VIDEO

How to Use Copilot (Formerly Known as Bing Chat)

Learn how to leverage Microsoft Copilot in Edge and understand the differences between search tools and Microsoft Copilot including key support for writing a first draft of an email to your funder and how to think about choosing the conversation style.

blog-2.0-22.05.13-aws-grant-writing-inline
VIDEO

Tips for Effective Prompts in Copilot (Formerly Known as Bing Chat)

Showing an example of two ways to ask for support on writing a draft email to your funder with basic prompts versus targeted prompts that still protect your organization and funder’s information.

Illustration of person holding a folder and types of content
VIDEO

How to Use Copilot (Formerly Known as Bing Chat) to Summarize Content

Explore these tips for summarizing content with Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat.

microsoft teams logo and group of people
VIDEO

How to Use Microsoft Loop in Teams

Discover how to use Microsoft Loop, an online collaboration platform, within Microsoft Teams.

powerpoint
VIDEO

How to Use Rehearse with Coach in PowerPoint

Discover how to use Rehearse with Coach in PowerPoint, to generate summaries of your presentations and receive recommendations.

excel
VIDEO

How to Use the Forecast Feature in Excel

Learn how to use Excel's Forecast feature to calculate or predict a future value using existing values.

Guide
Guide

Getting Started with Microsoft Copilot

Learn how to use Copilot (formerly known as Bing Chat), Microsoft’s conversational AI tool that provides comprehensive answers to natural-language queries.

AI Usage Policy
Guide

AI Usage Policy

An AI Usage Policy is a document that outlines the rules and principles for using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in an ethical and responsible way within an organization. It is also called an AI Acceptable Use Policy

How to Write Effective Prompts with I.M.P.A.C.T.
Guide

How to Write Effective Prompts with I.M.P.A.C.T.

Generative AI technologies are changing the way organizations work. But in order to fully benefit from these technologies, crafting effective prompts is pivotal. This guide is designed to help nonprofit organizations optimize their communication efforts and develop clear, purposeful, and actionable prompts.

How to Leverage Microsoft Copilot for Fundraising
Guide

How to Leverage Microsoft Copilot for Fundraising

This guide is designed to help nonprofit organizations optimize their communication efforts and develop clear, purposeful, and actionable prompts. We will explore strategies, techniques, and best practices along with prompt writing examples and templates to help you extract the maximum value from this groundbreaking technology.

Frustrated man on computer using phone
three women in office
Woman on Tablet
Friends on laptop

Join over 46,000 nonprofit learners from around the world and learn how to get more out of the Microsoft tools you use every day.

Have questions? Check out our FAQ

Picture of TechSoup Website on a monitor and tablet with two adults at computers

Tech Lessons You Can Use in Real Life

The Digital Skills Center focuses on "microlearning," delivering specific bite-size portions that are easier to absorb and use, and also more easily searched. These courses can double as on-the-job support materials, and all are available on demand, at a pace that fits each user’s needs.

Completion of each learning path is formally recognized through a certificate, co-branded by Microsoft and TechSoup.

Excel for Nonprofits

Excel for Nonprofits

This popular training series not only teaches you the basics of Excel, but also covers advanced topics such as worksheet design, how to use functions, how to best create PivotTables, and the most effective ways to analyze charts.

Power BI for Visualizing Data and Measuring Your Impact

Power BI for Visualizing Data and Measuring Your Impact

Power BI is a suite of business analytics tools that deliver insights throughout your organization. In this track, you will learn how Power BI services and applications work together and explore how Power BI can make your organization more efficient.

Teams for Nonprofits

Teams for Nonprofits

Chat, collaborate, share files, host meetings, and run live events using Microsoft Teams.

Nonprofit productivity

Organizing Your Remote Working Team

Identify tools and best practices to help set you and your team up for remote working success.

Nonprofit Data and Impact Measurement Mega-Pack

Nonprofit Data and Impact Measurement Mega-Pack

Start with the basics of Excel, walk through the process of analyzing data, and learn how to use Power BI's data visualization tools.

Power Apps for Nonprofits

Power Apps for Nonprofits

Building your first app is easier than you think. Learn how to set up your app-building environment, and use data connectors to link to other software that you already use and build an app with a custom data source.

PowerPoint for Nonprofits

PowerPoint for Nonprofits

In this three-part course track on PowerPoint, you will learn how to create powerful and compelling presentations so you can effectively share your impact stories.

Word for Nonprofits

Word for Nonprofits

Create compelling documents that can best tell your organization's story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Microsoft Digital Skills Center?

The Microsoft Digital Skills Center is a collaboration between TechSoup and Microsoft that offers a subset of training courses via TechSoup Courses. These courses are designed to help you learn how to use and get the most out of the Microsoft tools.

Read this blog post to learn how you and your nonprofit can benefit from the Digital Skills Center courses.

We also created this blog post to share some insights into the development of our courses and provide an overview of the different types of courses that we offer.

Who can take the training courses?

All nonprofit staff and volunteers can take any of the training courses we offer. And you do not need to have a TechSoup account to participate.

Are the courses available for non-U.S. learners?

Definitely! Please check the websites below for the courses available in your country and region.

Do I need to have a TechSoup account to take the training courses?

You don’t need to have a TechSoup account to take any of the courses offered.

Can I use TechSoup login credentials to take a course?

TechSoup Courses are offered on a separate platform from the TechSoup website and have different login credentials.

To start taking a course, just create a free TechSoup Courses account and begin learning!

How do I create a TechSoup Courses account?

Simply fill out the information at https://techsoup.course.tc/register.

You can also click the SIGN UP button located on the top right-hand corner of the TechSoup Courses catalog page.

Can I enroll my staff members or colleagues on their behalf?

No, each learner needs to sign up for their individual TechSoup Courses account and set up their learner’s profile. This will help them keep track of their learning progress and ensure that they are meeting their performance milestones.

However, if you would like to offer this training to your entire department or organization, please contact us to learn more.

Can I watch the Ask the Expert event later?

Yes! The recording of the live event will become available to you after the event is over. You can watch it as often as you wish.

What is the benefit of obtaining a certificate of completion?

The certificate of completion can be very important for your career development — either growing within your current organization or when searching for a new opportunity.

What browsers does TechSoup Courses support?

Our platform will work on all major browsers, but we strongly recommend using the most up-to-date version of your browser. We recommend the following browsers in the following order:

Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Internet Explorer
Safari – Mac Only
Opera
Microsoft Edge

I registered for my courses. How do I access them?

Please follow these steps to access your registered courses:

  • You should receive the welcome emails from the TechSoup Learning Program. Check your junk and spam folders if you do not see the email in your inbox.
  • Click on the My Enrollment link in the email. This will take you to the page of your registered course.

Or:

  • Log in to your TechSoup Courses Account.
  • Once you log in, you will be taken directly to your dashboard, where you can see all your registered courses.
  • Click on the course you want to access.

Can I watch the Ask the Expert event later?

Yes! The recording of the live event will become available to you after the event is over. You can watch it as often as you wish.

How do I obtain a certificate of completion?

In order to obtain a certificate of completion, you will need to complete each module in the course, which allows you to earn TechPoints. Once you complete the course and have earned the required TechPoints, you will need to finish the online short evaluation and then you will be eligible for obtaining your certificate online.

You can download your TechSoup course certificate by following these instructions:

  • Log in to your TechSoup Courses account.
  • Once you log in, you will be taken directly to your dashboard where you can see all your registered courses.
  • Scroll down to “My Courses” and go to the course for which you would like to obtain the certificate.
  • Click the GO TO COURSE button.
  • Click on My Certificate at the top right.
  • Click on Download Certificate.

What are TechPoints?

Techpoints are tokens that are earned for completing tasks or assignments.

How do I update my learner profile?

  • Log in to your TechSoup Courses account.
  • Click the user icon located on the top right-hand corner. If nothing appears on your browser, please refresh the page.
  • Click Profile.
  • Click on the edit icon (pencil image).
  • Make the changes.
  • Click the SAVE button at the bottom of the page.

How do I reset my password?

If you don’t remember your password, and you still have access to your email address, you can use our password reset tool. Please follow these instructions:

  • Navigate to the login page at https://techsoup.course.tc/login.
  • Click the Forgot your password? link.
  • Enter your email address to reset the password and click REQUEST PASSWORD RESET.
  • The password reset link will be emailed to you. Please check your spam folder if you do not see the email in your inbox.

What browsers does TechSoup Courses support?

Our platform will work on all major browsers, but we strongly recommend using the most up-to-date version of your browser. We recommend the following browsers in the following order:

Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Internet Explorer
Safari – Mac Only
Opera
Microsoft Edge