Nonprofits | High Point, NC
IT Support for Nonprofits in North Carolina
Preferred Data supports the computers, Microsoft 365, networks and donor and client data of North Carolina nonprofits on the same managed IT plans our business clients use, priced per user per month and quoted in writing. We are based in High Point, work on-site within 200 miles, and every plan includes 24/7 threat detection and response. Schedule a consultation or call (336) 886-3282.
What we look after for nonprofits
- Managed IT and helpdeskComputers, Microsoft 365 and networks, monitored, patched and supported.
- Cybersecurity24/7 detection and response, MFA and email threat protection on every plan.
- Backup and recoveryRestore-tested backup for workstations and Microsoft 365.
- Cloud and Microsoft 365Licensing matched to each role, and moves off aging servers.
- In business since 1987
- 39 years
- Active clients
- 100+
- Average client tenure
- 20+ years
- BBB Accredited rating
- A+
- On-site radius from High Point
- 200 mi
- Threat monitoring on every plan
- 24/7
What IT support does a nonprofit need?
A nonprofit needs the same foundation as any business: computers and Microsoft 365 that are secured, patched and backed up, a helpdesk staff can call, and someone planning the next budget cycle. North Carolina's nonprofit sector employed more than 298,000 people, over 8.4% of the state's workforce, in Independent Sector's state profile (2016 data), and those organizations hold the same kinds of personal data businesses do.
- Workstations, laptops and Microsoft 365, monitored and patched under managed IT
- Donor, member and client records protected by the security baseline on every plan, backed by our cybersecurity services
- Accounts created and removed promptly as staff and volunteers come and go
- Restore-tested backup for workstations and Microsoft 365
- A technology plan and budget your board can approve
Key takeaway: Mission-driven does not mean lower risk. A nonprofit holding donor and client data needs the same security baseline as a business.
What Microsoft 365 discounts can nonprofits get?
Microsoft gives eligible nonprofits up to 300 free Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses and discounts of up to 75% on many Microsoft 365 plans, including Business Premium and Business Standard, according to Microsoft Learn. The free Business Premium grant and the Office 365 E1 grant were discontinued: existing grant licenses expire at the next renewal date and do not renew.
| Offer | What Microsoft provides | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic grant | Up to 300 granted (free) licenses | It is a different plan from Business Premium, so compare features before moving users |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant | Discontinued; grant licenses expire at the next renewal and do not renew | Your renewal date, so users are moved before licenses lapse |
| Office 365 E1 grant | Discontinued; licenses expire at the next renewal | Same as above |
| Business Premium and Business Standard | Nonprofit pricing, part of discounts of up to 75% on many Microsoft 365 offers | Which staff actually need the paid features |
| Azure | $2,000 in Azure credits a year | Whether you have a workload that belongs in Azure |
Eligibility is decided by Microsoft: your organization registers and is validated through Microsoft's Nonprofit Hub. Preferred Data does not set these prices. Every Preferred Data plan includes Microsoft 365 licensing matched to each role, so we plan your licenses around the offers you qualify for and move users before a grant lapses.
Does North Carolina's data breach law apply to nonprofits?
Yes. North Carolina's Identity Theft Protection Act defines a business as any group "whether or not organized to operate at a profit" (N.C.G.S. 75-61), so a nonprofit that holds North Carolina residents' personal information must follow the breach notice rules in N.C.G.S. 75-65: notify affected people without unreasonable delay, notify the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General's Office, and notify the consumer reporting agencies when more than 1,000 people are notified at one time.
Recent incidents show nonprofits are not overlooked. Read our article on the ransomware attack claimed against a Western North Carolina YMCA for what that looks like in practice. This page is general information, not legal advice; your attorney decides what a specific incident requires.
- Multi-factor authentication on every account: Microsoft research shows MFA can block more than 99.2% of account compromise attacks
- 24/7 managed detection and response and endpoint detection and response on every plan
- Email threat protection and security awareness training for staff
- Backups we verify by restoring them
How much does managed IT cost for a nonprofit?
Preferred Data prices nonprofits the way it prices businesses: per user per month on one of three plans, with the equipment we manage counted during a free quote and a written quote before any commitment. We do not publish a rate card.
| What you need | Essentials | Professional | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helpdesk hours | Remote helpdesk, business hours | Priority response with extended hours | 24/7, including after-hours and weekends |
| Technician hours included each month (whole account) | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 24/7 threat detection and response, MFA, patching and restore-tested backup | Included | Included | Included |
| User onboarding and offboarding | Not included | Included | Included |
| Email encryption and enterprise password manager | Not included | Included | Included |
| Technology planning | Annual technology review | Quarterly business reviews, IT roadmap and budget | Dedicated vCIO with a monthly strategy cadence |
The number to weigh against it is an incident. IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2026 puts the global average cost of a breach at $4.99 million, 12% higher than the year before. To rough out a budget first, use the free IT budget calculator, or read our guide to IT support costs for North Carolina small businesses.
What should a nonprofit look for in an IT provider?
Look for a written scope, a security baseline that cannot be stripped out to hit a price, backups that are tested by restoring them, and a provider who plans licensing around Microsoft's nonprofit offers instead of overselling seats. Preferred Data puts in writing what each plan does and does not cover, and does not let clients remove the security baseline to lower the price.
For a longer checklist, see how to choose a managed IT provider in North Carolina.
- A written proposal that lists what is excluded, not just what is included
- Prompt removal of access when staff or volunteers leave (included from Preferred Professional up)
- A technology budget the board can approve, with an IT roadmap from Preferred Professional up
- Local, on-site help when something cannot be fixed remotely
Where does Preferred Data support nonprofits on-site?
Preferred Data is headquartered at 1208 Eastchester Drive in High Point and provides on-site support within 200 miles of the office, which covers the Piedmont Triad, Charlotte, Raleigh and most of North Carolina.
- IT services in High Point, where our office is
- IT services in Greensboro and Winston-Salem
- IT services in Charlotte and Raleigh
IT questions North Carolina nonprofits ask us
Do you provide IT support for nonprofits in North Carolina?
Yes. Preferred Data supports North Carolina nonprofits on the same managed IT plans our business clients use, with 24/7 threat detection and response on every plan. Our office is in High Point and we provide on-site support within 200 miles.
Is the Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant for nonprofits still available?
No. Microsoft discontinued the free Business Premium grant: existing grant licenses expire at the next renewal date and do not renew. Eligible nonprofits can still get Business Premium at nonprofit pricing, part of discounts of up to 75% on many Microsoft 365 offers, according to Microsoft Learn.
How many free Microsoft 365 licenses can a nonprofit get?
Microsoft provides up to 300 granted Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses to eligible nonprofits. Business Basic is a different plan from Business Premium, so check which features your staff rely on before moving them.
Does North Carolina's data breach law apply to nonprofits?
Yes. N.C.G.S. 75-61 defines a business as any group whether or not it is organized to operate at a profit, so the breach notice duties in N.C.G.S. 75-65 apply to nonprofits that hold North Carolina residents' personal information. That includes notifying affected people and the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
How much does managed IT cost for a nonprofit?
Preferred Data prices per user per month on one of three plans, with the equipment we manage counted during a free quote. We do not publish a rate card; you get a written quote with no obligation. Request one on the pricing page or call (336) 886-3282.
Can you help us plan technology costs for a budget or grant request?
Preferred Professional includes quarterly business reviews with an IT roadmap and budget, and Preferred Essentials includes an annual technology review. Both give you written numbers to take to your board or funders.
Do you provide on-site IT support in Greensboro, Charlotte and Raleigh?
Yes. Our office is in High Point and we provide on-site support anywhere within 200 miles, including Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Raleigh. Preferred Professional includes on-site visits when we cannot fix a problem remotely, and Preferred Complete includes unlimited on-site support.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn, Microsoft for Nonprofits updates (grant changes)
- Microsoft Learn, Nonprofit offerings and products
- Independent Sector, State profile: North Carolina
- North Carolina General Statutes 75-61, definitions
- North Carolina General Statutes 75-65, protection from security breaches
- Microsoft Learn, Plan for mandatory Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication
- IBM, Cost of a Data Breach Report 2026
Related services and resources
Put your IT budget where your mission needs it
Tell us about your staff, your volunteers and what is not working today. We will recommend a plan, plan your Microsoft licensing around the offers you qualify for, and put the scope and price in writing before any work starts.
Preferred Data Corporation, 1208 Eastchester Drive, Suite 131, High Point, NC 27265