Microsoft Tech for Social Impact team launches Dynamics 365 Nonprofit Accelerator with open data standard

Microsoft's Tech for Social Impact group has launched a new effort to expand its nonprofit sector business apps and partner channel. The team has announced the Dynamics 365 Nonprofit Accelerator, a standards-based common data model for nonprofits, and plans for new solutions and templates.

Specific elements of the Nonprofit Accelerator include:

• The Microsoft Common Data Model for Nonprofits, a common data standard built with and for the nonprofit sector now openly available on GitHub.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365-based solutions including sample apps, templates, dashboards, and data connectors tailored for nonprofits. The constituent management solution is now available on AppSource and will be followed by the Program Management Accelerator in February.
• A partner engagement program, including assistance for nonprofits to find a partner.
• Nonprofit Early Adopter Success Credit. In Microsoft's words: "To help ensure successful deployment, we will invest in an Early Adopter Success Program which will provide design and deployment support and incentives."

"Organizations need to tie funding to impact. They need industry solutions that are built from a constituent focus " said Erik Arnold, CTO of Tech for Social Impact in an interview. "[Many of today's solutions] shoehorn in impact measures and delivery formats, and nonprofits end up with a model that doesn't address needs around delivery impact."

Arnold explained that Tech for Social impact began its product planning with the premise that a nonprofit-focused expansion of the Common Data Model should define how constituents interact with these types of organizations in particular. For example,