Verification partner

Connecting Up (Infoxchange) - Australia

Connecting Up, run by the charity Infoxchange, is Australia's TechSoup Global Network partner. It checks that you are a genuine not-for-profit and then gives you donated or discounted software, cloud subscriptions and hardware. Joining is free.

Official page ↗

What you get

Free membership and one eligibility check that unlocks the donation and discount catalogue
Donated or discounted Microsoft (including Microsoft 365), Adobe, Zoom, Xero, Little Green Light and 100+ other partner products, usually for a small administration fee
AWS promotional credits (Connecting Up says one grant of US$1,000 per financial year, 1 July to 30 June)
Webinars, on-demand courses and the Digital Transformation Hub
Also supplies TechSoup New Zealand as the Australasian partner

Who's eligible

Australia (including Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands). New Zealand is served by TechSoup New Zealand, which Connecting Up also runs. Connecting Up says it also supports organisations in a number of Pacific nations.

Be a non-profit, non-government organisation with a charitable purpose and an ABN
Be listed on the ACNC Charity Register, or have income tax exempt (ITE) status recognised on the Australian Business Register
Meet the extra rules of each donor or discount partner (for example Microsoft's own eligibility criteria)

Usually not eligible

Organisations that are not non-profit and charitable in nature
Self-assessing organisations that cannot supply the tax-exemption evidence below
Government bodies and individuals

How to apply

1Go to connectingup.org and sign up for a free membership as an individual (use a work email).
2Register your organisation. Details are pre-filled from your ABN.
3A Connecting Up customer experience officer confirms your registration and may ask for documents. Email them to customercare@connectingup.org.
4When you receive the eligibility email you can place donation and discount requests on the platform.
5For Microsoft: register your organisation on the Microsoft Nonprofit Portal (Microsoft validates you through Goodstack), then follow Connecting Up's email instructions to request licences through the TechSoup Cloud Manager.
6Other vendors (Google, Canva, Zoom and so on) mostly verify you directly through Goodstack, not through Connecting Up.

Typical approval time: Qualification usually takes 3 to 5 business days depending on volume (Connecting Up's own wording).

Have these ready

Your ABN (details are pre-filled from the Australian Business Register)
If you are on the ACNC register or ITE register, normally no document is needed
If you self-assess income tax exemption: Certificate of Incorporation or your current constitution showing the not-for-profit and dissolution clause, plus a signed ATO 'income tax status review worksheet for self-assessing non-profit organisations' (sporting clubs use the ATO sporting club pages instead)

Tips

Check your ACNC register entry first. If your name, ABN or status is wrong there, fix it before applying.
Each partner has its own extra eligibility rules, so being approved by Connecting Up does not guarantee every product.
Annual re-verification applies to Microsoft; if it lapses your tenant can revert to commercial pricing (reported by Australian IT providers).
Phone 1300 731 844 or email customercare@connectingup.org if you get stuck.