Slack for Nonprofits: Free Pro, 85% Off, and Who Is Excluded
Pro is free only for workspaces with 250 or fewer members; above that, and for Business+, the discount is 85%. Approval at Slack's sole discretion; many org types excluded (see excludedOrgTypes); no refunds for fees paid before approval.
- Provider
- Salesforce (Slack)
- Category
- Communications
- Who qualifies
- Valid charitable status with the IRS (US), a local tax service or charity commission, or a local TechSoup Global partner; Must not discriminate based on protected characteristics or promote a religious affiliation as part of mission
- Excluded
- Legislative or political activity organizations; Churches, associations of churches, or other religious organizations; Schools, colleges, alumni or Greek groups, athletic associations, student aid or student housing groups; Government offices; Organizations that attempt to influence public opinion; Hospitals, health insurance organizations, or related organizations; Private grant-making, independent, or operating foundations
- Where
- Worldwide (with local charitable registration)
- Limits
- Free Pro up to 250 members; 85% off above that
- Billing
- Applied to the workspace subscription after approval
Standard vs. nonprofit pricing
| Plan | Type | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro $8.75/user/month billed monthly; $7.25/user/month billed annually (annualUsd = 7.25 x 12). | Standard | $8.75/user/mo | Official |
| Business+ $18/user/month billed monthly; $15/user/month billed annually. | Standard | $18/user/mo | Official |
| Pro (Slack for Nonprofits) Free upgrade for workspaces with 250 or fewer members; 85% discount for larger workspaces. | Nonprofit | Free | Official |
| Business+ (Slack for Nonprofits) 85% discount for workspaces of any size. Dollar price not published; 85% off the $15 annual rate would be $2.25/user/month (computed, not quoted). | Nonprofit | Varies | Official |
Prices in USD as published on the date verified. Vendors change pricing; always confirm before purchasing.
Is Slack free for nonprofits?
For many small nonprofits, yes. Slack for Nonprofits upgrades eligible workspaces with 250 or fewer members to Pro for free, as of October 2026. Larger workspaces get 85% off Pro, and Business+ is 85% off at any size. The catch is eligibility: Slack's exclusion list is one of the broadest of any major vendor.
Who is excluded
Check this before anything else. Slack excludes:
- churches, associations of churches, and other religious organizations, plus any organization that promotes a religious affiliation as part of its mission;
- organizations engaged in legislative or political activity, or that attempt to influence public opinion;
- schools, colleges, alumni and Greek groups, athletic associations, and student aid or housing groups;
- government offices;
- hospitals, health insurers, and related organizations;
- private grant-making, independent, or operating foundations.
Approval is at Slack's sole discretion. Advocacy organizations and private foundations, which qualify for most other programs, should not assume they qualify here.
What the discount actually covers
The 250-member line is the key number. At 250 or fewer, Pro costs nothing. Above 250, the whole workspace moves to 85% off. Slack doesn't publish nonprofit dollar prices, so the figures below are our arithmetic from Slack's pricing page (annual billing):
| Plan | Annual list (per user) | Nonprofit (computed) |
|---|---|---|
| Pro, 250 members or fewer | $7.25 × 12 = $87 | $0 |
| Pro, over 250 members | $87 | 15% of $87 = $13.05 |
| Business+ | $15 × 12 = $180 | 15% of $180 = $27 ($2.25/mo) |
Worked example
A 20-person nonprofit pays for Slack Pro on annual billing.
- Current cost: 20 × $87 = $1,740 per year
- Nonprofit Pro: $0
- Saving: $1,740 per year
Billed monthly at $8.75, the same team pays 20 × $8.75 × 12 = $2,100, all of which goes away.
A 300-member workspace on annual Pro pays 300 × $87 = $26,100. At 85% off, that becomes 300 × $13.05 = $3,915, a saving of $22,185 (computed; confirm the exact figure with Slack).
Do you need Slack at all?
If you are excluded, or you're paying for Slack on top of a suite you already have, compare it with the chat included in the free nonprofit editions:
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic includes Teams, free for up to 300 users. See the Microsoft 365 page.
- Google Workspace for Nonprofits is free for up to 2,000 users. See the Google Workspace page.
For an eligible team under 250, free Slack Pro is hard to beat, and there's no reason to switch. For an excluded organization, moving chat into the suite you already have can save the full Slack bill. Our Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 comparison helps if you haven't chosen a suite.
Protect yourself against pricing changes
Nonprofit programs are discretionary and can change. If your workspace grows past 250 members, your cost moves from $0 to a paid rate. Keep an eye on member counts (deactivate people who have left), and know how to export your workspace data in case terms change. The free audit records when each program was last verified so you can spot changes at renewal.
Church eligibility
Churches and religious organizations are excluded from Slack for Nonprofits. A church using Slack pays standard rates. The most practical alternatives are Teams or Google Chat through the Microsoft or Google programs, if the church qualifies for them. See church software discounts and church eligibility for nonprofit discounts.
How to apply
- Create a workspace if you don't have one
- A Workspace Owner submits the Slack for Nonprofits application (one per workspace)
- Provide legal name, location, website and description
- Complete the tax exemption checklist (send exemption certificate to tax@slack.com if applicable)
Catches and limitations
- Religious organizations, private foundations, hospitals, and advocacy groups are excluded
- No refunds for fees paid before approval
Frequently asked questions
Is Slack free for nonprofits?
For eligible nonprofits with 250 or fewer workspace members, Slack Pro is a free upgrade, as of October 2026. Larger workspaces get 85% off Pro, and Business+ is 85% off at any size.
Can churches get the Slack nonprofit discount?
No. Slack's eligibility rules exclude churches, associations of churches and other religious organizations, and organizations that promote a religious affiliation as part of their mission.
Will Slack refund what we paid before approval?
No. Slack says it does not refund fees paid before the nonprofit discount is approved, so apply as early as you can.
Do we need to move to a new workspace?
No. The discount is applied to your existing workspace after approval.
Sources
- Slack Help - Apply for the Slack for Nonprofits discount (accessed 2026-10-17)
- Slack pricing (accessed 2026-10-17)
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