Microsoft Advertising for Social Impact
Reach more supporters with Microsoft Search Advertising.
Overview
Microsoft's Ads for Social Impact program was designed to provide eligible nonprofits with a monthly grant for advertising credits to be used across the Microsoft Search Network (including Bing, Yahoo, and AOL). This allowed organizations to reach people searching for their cause, attract donors, and recruit volunteers. However, recent reports indicate that Microsoft is discontinuing the grant portion of this program in late 2025, which will significantly change its value proposition for nonprofits.
✨ Key Features
- Advertising on the Microsoft Search Network (Bing, Yahoo, AOL)
- Ability to run search and audience network ads
- LinkedIn profile targeting capabilities (e.g., by industry, job function)
- Direct competition with paid advertisers (unlike Google Ad Grants' second-price auction)
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Access to a different search engine audience
- Unique LinkedIn profile targeting
- Historically allowed direct competition with paid ads
Unique Value: Provided nonprofits with free access to a secondary search audience and unique professional targeting capabilities, complementing the reach of Google Ad Grants.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Driving qualified traffic from search engines other than Google
- Reaching specific professional audiences with targeted ads
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Organizations seeking a long-term, stable ad grant program (due to its reported discontinuation)
- Nonprofits that want to reach the largest possible search audience (Google's market share is much larger)
🏆 Alternatives
Its main advantage over Google Ad Grants was the ability to target based on LinkedIn data and compete directly on bids. However, its smaller audience and reported discontinuation make it less of a cornerstone program.
💻 Platforms
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Live Chat
- ✓ Phone Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Varies tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
Free tier: The grant program, which provided up to $3,000/month in ad credits, is reportedly ending for new applicants and will be discontinued for existing users.
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