Google: No Free Gmail for you!
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Controversy on Aug 26th, 2011 | 8 commentsBrian Young had big plans for his church’s IT strategy. But his vision suffered a serious setback this summer after Google Inc. altered its nonprofit program to prohibit all churches and religious organizations from participating.
For years, the search and software giant individually offered some of its products—including its office software and popular Gmail—for free or discounted use to qualifying nonprofits. Eligibility requirements varied by product, but churches and faith-based groups were welcome to use some.
All of that changed in mid-March when the company launched “Google for Nonprofits.” The new initiative united a robust set of Google’s tools into one program, but it also came with new guidelines that excluded numerous entities, including schools, political thinktanks, churches, proselytizing groups, and any organization that considers religion or sexual orientation in hiring decisions.
The shift caught church leaders like Young by surprise. As the IT director for Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Young spent two months researching Google for Nonprofits before applying on July 12. A rejection e-mail arrived the next day.
Young had originally planned to unify 50 paid staff members and 270 volunteers with customized Gmail and office software; distribute video of Sunday services through a premium YouTube channel; beam live feeds of faraway missionaries using Google Video; and map locations of service projects and missionaries with Google Earth. He expected the 3,000-member church would also use Google AdWords (up to $10,000 worth) included in the program.
“There were so many things for nonprofits that were going to benefit us,” said Young. “We just wanted to use them.”
Disappointed by the rejection, Living Hope scaled back its plans and paid $2,500 ($50 per user) to use Google’s office software and Gmail for one year. Young is happy with the products, but also unhappy that he’ll have fewer capabilities—and fewer remaining budget dollars to aid his church’s social ministries.
Tim Postuma, council chairman of a 418-member church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, expects the same scenario to play out for other churches. “That $50 per user is going to be a problem, especially for smaller churches with limited resources,” he said. Overall, he supports Google but said the company is “missing the mark here.”
Thoughts?
8 Responses to “ “Google: No Free Gmail for you!”
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I’ll probably be in the minority here because Evangelicals often portray themselves as “the whipping boy.” But when I read the original article and the quotes from Nick Nicholaou it reminded me of some other charity pricing programs for which we have applied and been denied. With the wide range of definitions of “church” and “religious organization” it is a common ploy for those with less than noble goals to hide under the guise of 501(c)3 status. I can understand how a for-profit business would not want their tools to be used by a non-profit scam. While this policy eliminates some worthwhile ministries, it prevents Google from being placed as the judge of which “ministries” are legit.
I’m for companies (like Google) deciding for themselves who and when they offer their services and how they are priced.
I’m sure this would have been incongruous with their previous support for that California marriage act (Prop 8?).
No question they are a big dog in the park.
However, in doing so, I have no qualms about responding in kind, but not using their services. I am not forced to use them.
Decisions that do not have a cost are not as strong those that take a risk or require a sacrifice elsewhere.
Sounds like they need a new non-Google IT strategy to me.
We are going to be seeing more and more of this in the days to come, and I think it is going to be a great opportunity for the church to be the church and love the world (or react badly and confirm the stereotypes that people believe about us).
Not to sound too harsh, but the philosophy of churches wanting reduced pricing on everything from software to equipment, needs to be nipped in the bud. It has lead to rampant abuse by numerous organizations who are not legitimate churches. I believe the concept of tax exemption was setup from the beginning as a future control mechanism that could be implemented to manipulate church policies that are not acceptable to governmental interests. At the same time, we as churches should be battling the “something for nothing” complex that is destroying major parts of our society. If a company puts out a good product, then they need to be paid for it. God does not “bargain shop” in his care of us. If your church has to pay full price for something, God will supply the finances if He wants you to have it. At the same time, we need to be good stewards and look for competitive pricing.
Great value at $50 per seat. Requires no hardware or software = no maintenance = significantly reduced annual IT spending.
Can’t agree more with David McBride, “the philosophy of churches wanting reduced pricing on everything from software to equipment, needs to be nipped in the bud.”
Find another free option or be like Jesus and don’t hire people based on religion or sexuality.
I wrote about this issue in a blog post a few months ago. http://www.thechurchbusinessguys.com/google-apps-for-your-church/
Since then, they have limited the amount of users utilizing free accounts to 10. While for churches needing a bigger option this is not a very cost effective solution, Google Apps Free Accounts are still a very viable option for smaller churches that need less than 10 users.
We are still setting up churches that fit into this criteria all the time with Google Apps Accounts.