⭐ How to Apply for Google for Nonprofits: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for Google for Nonprofits can feel intimidating, but don't worry. We'll walk you through it step by step so you know exactly what to expect 🙌. Follow along below, or watch this video that walks through the same steps.

🚀 Step 1: Go to the Google for Nonprofits website

Head to google.com/nonprofits.

On mobile: tap the menu (☰) at the top left, then scroll to find Sign In and Get Started.
On desktop: those buttons are at the top right.

Click the blue Get Started button.

📧 Step 2: Choose the right email address

You'll be asked which email you want to use.

Best practice: use an email that ends in your church's domain (for example, yourname@yourchurch.org).

It makes it easier for Goodstack (Google's verification partner, formerly called Percent) to confirm you're connected to the church.
If you use a generic email like Gmail, they may reach out to someone else at your church to confirm, and those emails sometimes get missed 😬.

Even with a church-domain email, Goodstack may still email someone else, so let your team know you're applying!

If the email shown isn't the one you want, click Use a different account.

🔍 Step 3: Check whether your church is already verified

Next you'll see a page listing any organizations tied to the email you used. You'll see one of these:

🟢 Your church + "Verified": Great news! You already have Google for Nonprofits. Click Manage Administrators and you're done with this guide.
🔴 Your church + "Not verified" or "Not eligible": No worries. Scroll down and click New Request.
🤷 Nothing listed: Totally normal. Click New Request.

🏛️ Step 4: Find or add your church

Type your church's name in the search box and press Enter on your keyboard.

If your church appears in the list: click it so it's highlighted, scroll down the page (not just the drop-down list), and click Next. Then skip to Step 6.
If your church doesn't appear (most won't, unless you've worked with Goodstack before): after pressing Enter, click "I can't find my organization" at the bottom. You'll then fill in your church's information yourself.

🧾 Step 5: Enter your church's information

You'll be asked for:

Your country
Organization name
Registry name and registration number (EIN)
Documentation showing your nonprofit status

Organization name: use your legal name exactly

Use your church's legal name, exactly as it appears on your IRS or state documents, even if those documents have a typo. Google and Goodstack use your EIN and church name to verify your nonprofit status with the IRS. If the name and EIN don't match, it will slow things down. Use the EIN, name, and address the IRS has on file for your church.

Don't worry about branding here. When we build Google Ads for your church, we can use whatever name your church uses in its marketing.

Registry name (US churches)

Select Internal Revenue Service from the "Registry name" drop-down. The list isn't in correct alphabetical order, so you may have to hunt for it.

Don't select your state. The state options are in the list, but for US churches, Goodstack may not approve an application that uses anything other than "Internal Revenue Service."

Registration number (US churches)

Enter your church's EIN. You'll find it on your 501(c)(3) determination letter. If your church is covered by a denomination's group exemption, still enter your church's own EIN, not your denomination's.

Upload your documentation

Examples include:

IRS determination letter
Confirmation of your church's automatic 501(c)(3) status
State tax-exempt certificate

See examples here: Example paperwork for applying for Google for Nonprofits. That article also shows how to find your state proof of tax-exempt status.

Important:

Upload one merged document if you have multiple pages.
If your federal and state documents show different versions of your name, choose one to avoid confusion.

Need help merging PDFs? Adobe works, or reach out at churchfuel.com/support.

Click Next.

🌐 Step 6: Add your website

Open your church website in a new tab, copy the full web address, and paste it into the form. This avoids typos that can delay verification 😅. Goodstack will visit your website to confirm your church is legitimate, so accuracy matters.

Click Next.

❤️ Step 7: Enter your mission statement

Copy your mission statement from your website and paste it in. Then choose:

Primary category: Religious Activities
Subcategory: Religious Organization

Click Next.

👤 Step 8: Enter your contact information

Fill in your name, job title (optional), and email. Tip: use the email you're logged in with. It makes approval simpler. You can add more admins later.

Click Next.

✅ Step 9: Agree and submit

Check the agreement box and click Submit 🎉. Then read the important follow-up steps below.

📬 What happens after you submit

1. Look for a confirmation email

You'll get an email from Goodstack within about 5 minutes. Check your inbox, spam, and "All Mail."

If you don't click the confirmation button, they can't verify you and they'll discard your application. Don't skip it! 🚨

2. Tell your team

Let everyone on staff know:

"Goodstack may email you to confirm our Google for Nonprofits application. Please respond right away, even if it lands in spam!"

If nobody responds within 30 days, your application is automatically rejected.

3. Clean up the contact info on your website

This is incredibly important. Out-of-date emails can get your application denied. Goodstack may contact any email they find on your website, so take a moment to:

Remove old staff emails.
Delete addresses nobody checks.
Make sure every email on your website is monitored 👀.

📚 Need more help?

Reach out anytime at churchfuel.com/support, or join a Live Support call (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at noon CT / 1 PM ET). You're doing great, and we're here to help every step of the way! 🌟