Before You Apply for Google for Nonprofits

By Ben Downey Updated August 26, 2026
Parent-group leader gathering records before applying for Google for Nonprofits

The Google for Nonprofits application is short. Gather these items first so you can complete it without stopping to search through old files.

What you need

  • Your parent group’s EIN
  • Its full legal name
  • Its current bylaws (so you can draft a short mission statement).
  • Your name, parent-group role, and email address

The rest of this guide explains where to find each item.

Your EIN

You will need the parent group’s Employer Identification Number, or EIN.

Google uses it to find your organization in its nonprofit database.

You can usually find the EIN on the group’s IRS determination letter, EIN Verification Letter, or a previous tax filing.

Use the EIN that belongs to the PTO or PTG, not the school or school district.

Use the full legal name shown on the organization’s IRS records, even if families know the group by a shorter name.

For example, families may know the group as:

Jefferson PTO

But the IRS may list it as:

Jefferson Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization

Use the full legal name in the application.

Your bylaws

Google will ask you for a mission statement. Plenty of nonprofits have one, but many parent-teacher groups do not.

The easiest way to prepare one is to open your bylaws and find the purpose or mission article or section.

This part of the bylaws addresses the purpose of your organization.

Turn that into one or two clear sentences. For example:

Jefferson PTO supports students by bringing families and teachers together to strengthen the school community.

Keep the statement focused on the work of the PTO or PTG, not the mission of the school.

Your contact information

Have your name, email address, and role in the parent group ready.

For your role, use your PTO or PTG position, such as President, Treasurer, or Vice President.

Do not enter your paid profession unless it is also your role in the parent group.

Prefer an email address on your organization’s domain

If your PTO or PTG already has email on its own domain, apply with a role address such as president@jeffersonpto.org. Goodstack encourages applicants to use a work email that matches the organization’s domain because it can speed up affiliation verification.

A personal Gmail address or other Google Account may still be allowed. It does not automatically disqualify an application. But when a domain-based organization address is available, it gives a reviewer a clearer affiliation trail than an address such as jeffersonpto@gmail.com.

Ideally, put the exact email used for the application on the organization’s website next to your full name and current role:

Jordan Lee, President
president@jeffersonpto.org

Next step: Prepare Your Domain and Website.