Google Workspace for churches is a set of powerful communication and collaboration tools to help your church run more efficiently. And the best part about it is that Google Workspace for Nonprofits is offered at no charge.
Formerly known as G Suite, Google Workspace includes a variety of applications you may be familiar with, such as Google docs and Gmail, but has additional business-grade features not available in the free commercial versions.
In this ultimate guide to Google Workspace for churches, we’ll talk about the specific benefits for nonprofits, the features of Google Workspace, and how to use these features to communicate with your congregation and effectively manage projects. Let’s get started!
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Table of contents
What Are the Benefits of Google Workspace for Churches?
In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to have a reliable and user-friendly shared system like Google Workspace. With many people working remotely or in hybrid-work situations, everyone needs access to shared calendars, essential documents, and other tools.
Google Workspace works for churches of all sizes. It offers a variety of features and tools that make collaborating on projects a breeze. Plus, it’s backed by the reliability and security of Google.
Here are some of the major benefits of Google Workspace for churches.
Cloud Storage
Google Workspace offers users the ability to store files in the cloud, which is a huge advantage over traditional storage methods, like keeping files on your local hard drive. Cloud storage means that you can access your files from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.
Cloud storage also eliminates the need to keep backup copies of your files, as they are automatically backed up on the server. In addition, this allows you to share files with others quickly and conveniently.
Collaboration
With Google Workspace, you can easily share documents and files with teammates. You can leave comments, make edits directly, or even work together in real-time on the same document, spreadsheet, or presentation.
You can easily hop on a virtual meeting with Google Meet and invite staff or volunteers to join you. For busy parents and professionals in your church, this is an incredible convenience compared to driving up to the church building for a weeknight evening meeting!
Integration
Google Workspace is designed to work seamlessly with other Google products, such as Google Calendar and Google Drive. This integration makes it easy to keep track of projects, deadlines, and events. In addition, Google Workspace integrates with popular third-party apps such as Salesforce and Zendesk.
Security
Google takes security seriously, and Google Workspace is no exception. Google Workspace offers a variety of security features, such as two-step verification and data loss prevention (DLP).
With two-step verification, you’ll need to enter a code that’s sent to your phone in addition to your password when logging in. This extra layer of security makes it much more difficult for someone to hack into your account.
In addition, Google’s DLP technology scans emails and documents for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and social security numbers. Google will take steps to protect this sensitive data. Overall, the security features of Google Workspace will give you peace of mind.
Familiarity and Ease of Use
One of the best things about Google Workspace is that it’s incredibly user-friendly, and most people are familiar with the free versions of popular Google apps and tools.
Even if you’re brand new to Google products, you’ll be able to use Google Workspace with ease. The interface is easy to navigate, and there’s a variety of helpful tutorials available if you need some guidance.
Features of Google Workspace
Now that we’ve gone over some of the benefits of Google Workspace let’s look at some of the features. Google Workspace has all the basics for a well-rounded experience and tools for success.
Gmail
If you’re looking for an email provider that offers a little bit of everything, you can’t go wrong with Gmail. With over 1.5 billion users worldwide, Gmail is one of the most popular email services on the planet.
The biggest selling point for the Google Workspace version of Gmail is that you can use your church’s domain name for your email address. For example, if your church’s domain name is mychurch.org, you could have an email address such as [email protected].
Custom emails give your church a more professional look and feel, and it also makes it easier for people to remember your email address.
Perhaps the most notable feature of Gmail is its focus on security. Gmail uses industry-leading security protocols to keep your data safe, and its spam filter is incredibly effective at keeping unwanted messages out of your inbox.
Google Calendar
Keeping your schedule organized is a vital priority. Google Calendar is a powerful tool that can help you keep track of events, deadlines, and appointments and it integrates seamlessly with Gmail, so you can easily add events to your calendar straight from your email.
You can also easily share your Google Calendar with others, so everyone is always on the same page. Another option is to create group calendars to share with the team, which can be helpful for different ministries or campuses.
Another great feature when you’re planning meetings is the smart scheduling tool, which allows you to check coworkers’ availability, and you can even layer multiple calendars into a single view.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud storage service that gives you access to your files from your home, office, coffee shop, or anywhere you like to work. Each team member can have a personal drive folder, and you can set up shared folders for different projects, files, photos, and more. This is helpful for both staff and volunteers, just provide them with a link to important documents.
Google Drive offers powerful search tools so you can easily find the files you need, even if you can’t remember where you saved them. In addition, Google AI can help predict and surface what’s important for you and help recognize important content, collaborators, and events.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
We’re going to lump these three tools together because they have basic similarities. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are Google’s versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
While these tools don’t have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office, they can definitely get the job done. Another great thing about Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides is that they’re all cloud-based. Again, this means you can access your files from anywhere and share them with others for collaboration.
When it comes to teamwork, there are many advantages. For one, you can see who else is viewing the document and where they are in the document. In addition, you can also leave comments for specific sections, track your revisions, and even chat with other team members in real-time.
Google Keep
Keep is a convenient notetaking app that is perfect for making to-do lists, brainstorming, and more. Google Keep integrates seamlessly with Google Docs, so you can easily drag and drop your notes into your documents. This app is available on your desktop and on iOS and Android devices so that you can access your notes from anywhere.
Google Forms
Do you need to create a church-related survey, quiz, or sign-up form? Google Forms integrates seamlessly with Google Sheets, so you can easily track responses in a spreadsheet.
Google Forms also makes it easy to create beautiful, mobile-friendly forms with custom themes, images, and branding. In addition, you can select different question types and formats with easy drag-and-drop placement. And with Google’s powerful analytics tools, you can see how people respond and make changes accordingly.
Google Meet
If you have zoom fatigue, Google Meet gives you another option – at least as far as platforms go! Google Meet is Google’s video conferencing tool that offers many of the same features as Zoom, including HD video and audio, screen sharing, etc.
One advantage of Google Meet over Zoom is that it integrates seamlessly with the rest of Google’s suite of tools. For example, you can easily start or join a Google Meet from Google Calendar, Gmail, or another Google app. Google Meet also offers enterprise-grade security features to keep your meetings safe and secure.
Additional Google Workspace Features
We’ve talked in detail about the main Google Workspace tools, but there are a few more worth mentioning.
- Chat is Google’s instant messaging tool that offers real-time messaging, file sharing, and more.
- Sites is a website builder that lets you easily create beautiful websites without coding knowledge.
- Cloud Search is an enterprise search tool that lets you easily find the information you need, whether it’s stored in Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, or another Google app.
- Jamboard is a digital whiteboard tool that’s great for creative collaboration, allowing you to brainstorm, draw, and sketch with others in the room or join you virtually.
- Apps Script requires some technical knowledge and skill, but this tool lets you create custom solutions with a low-code platform that integrates with Google Workspace.
Under the security and management category, you have:
- Google Admin console: This is where you manage your Google Workspace account.
- Endpoint: Google’s endpoint management tool lets you easily secure and manage your devices.
- Vault: Google Vault lets you retain, hold, search, and export your organization’s valuable information and content.
- Work Insights: Provides insights on adoption, work patterns, collaboration, and other key information as your team transitions to Google Workspace.
Pricing for Google Workspace for Nonprofits
The good news for those with a nonprofit status is that Google Workspace for Nonprofits is offered at no charge. That means you get the primary features and tools that come with Google Workspace without having to worry about a subscription fee.
Google Workspace for Nonprofits
$0 / user / month
- Professional email addresses at your nonprofit’s domain
- 100 participant video meetings
- 30 GB cloud storage per user
- Security and management controls
- Standard support
If the free Google Workspace plan isn’t sufficient to meet your needs, you can upgrade at a discounted rate. Here’s a breakdown of the additional offers for nonprofits.
Business Standard
$3.00 USD / user / month
75% off standard pricing
- Professional email addresses at your nonprofit’s domain
- 150 participant video meetings + recording
- 2 TB cloud storage per user
- Security and management controls
- Standard support (paid upgrade to Enhanced Support)
Business Plus
$5.04 USD / user / month
72% off standard pricing
- Professional email addresses at your nonprofit’s domain + eDiscovery, retention
- 250 participant video meetings + recording, attendance tracking
- 5 TB cloud storage per user
- Enhanced security and management controls, + Vault, advanced endpoint management
- Standard support (paid upgrade to Enhanced Support)
Enterprise
70%+ off standard pricing for Enterprise editions
- Professional email addresses at your nonprofit’s domain + eDiscovery, retention, S/MIME encryption
- 250 participant video meetings + recording, attendance tracking, noise cancellation, in-domain live streaming
- As much storage as you need
- Advanced security, management, and compliance controls, including Vault, DLP, data regions, and enterprise endpoint management
- Enhanced Support (paid upgrade to Premium Support)
Google Perks for Churches and Nonprofits
Google says it’s dedicated to making the world a better place, and it has given millions of dollars in grants and support to nonprofits over the years.
One of the key benefits of working with Google is the access it gives nonprofits to cutting-edge technology. Through programs like Google for Nonprofits, these organizations can gain free access to professional development tools, training, and software.
Programs offered under Google for Nonprofits are
- Google Workspace for Nonprofits
- Google Ad Grants
- YouTube Nonprofit Program
- Google Earth and Maps
Here at REACHRIGHT, we love to help churches take advantage of the Google Ad Grant which allows nonprofits to get up to $10,000 a month in Google ads to drive traffic to your website. Click here to get started.
How to Get Started with Google Workspace for Nonprofits
The Google for Nonprofits site is the best place to start if you want to learn more about what Google has to offer churches and nonprofits.
You’ll need to request a Google for Nonprofits account and be approved before you can access Google Workspace for Nonprofits.
Once you’re approved, you’ll be able to learn more and start using the Google products and services available to nonprofits.
In conclusion, Google Workspace has incredible potential to bring your church team together and help with productivity, collaboration, and communication.
Has your church utilized Google Workspace for Nonprofits? If so, what are the biggest pros and cons you’ve discovered?
About The Author
Comments 2
I am the pastor of a church and I was frustrated to see that Google Workspace is REQUIRING us to sign off on this:
“Your organization does not discriminate against any person or group of people in either hiring/employment practices or in the administration of programs and services, including on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity”
As a church that teaches and lives what the Bible says, we CANNOT agree to this. Quite frankly, this is discriminating against, it is intolerant of what we believe to be true. We do not neglect caring for people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but we cannot hire/employ people at a church that teaches what the Bible says about sexual activity outside of one man-one woman marriage.
Please reconsider this “agreement” as this is unfairly targeting people who are honest enough not to just check the AGREE box to get this valuable free resource. As of right now, I suppose we will pay for the service, until we find a service that will not force us to this agreement. OR, as we would prefer, you can make an exception for churches as they should clearly not have to agree with a statement that would deny the authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures.
Thank you for your consideration. Please let me know if we can opt out of this part of the agreement.
Author
I appreciate your perspective on this Jackie. Unfortunately, we have no control over Google’s policy. 🙂
The way I see it, there is a difference between sexual orientation and sexual practice. In churches I pastored, we did not “discriminate” based on orientation, but we did based on practice. Our orientations, struggles, and temptations are not sins in themselves. It is the practice that we should concern ourselves with.