Who Can Enter the Contest

The contest submissions period is now closed. Please come and vote to select the finalists.

Eligible organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a US registered 501c3 organization, Canadian registered Charities and nonprofits, US or Canadian public library.
• Must have a contact person that is 18 years of age or older as of May 11, 2009, and either: (a) a legal United States resident, residing in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia at the time of the contest closing date; OR (b) a resident of Canada, excluding the Province of Quebec.
• Must have requested a Microsoft product donation through TechSoup's U.S. donation service (www.techsoup.org/stock) or TechSoup Canada (http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/product) and have qualified for that donation request by May 11, 2009.
• Only one entry per organization is allowed.

The following organizations are ineligible:

• Organizations that advocate, support, or practice discrimination based on age, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
• Organizations registered outside of the US or Canada.
• Organizations registered in the states of Maryland, North Dakota and Vermont, and in the province of Quebec. Find out why below.
• Organizations whose designated representative is an employee, independent contractor, officer, or director of TechSoup Global, TechSoup and Microsoft, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising promotion and fulfillment agencies, legal advisors, and the immediate family members and persons living in the same household of such persons.

Why Maryland, North Dakota, Vermont, and the Province of Québec are not eligible for this contest?

Organizations registered in the states of Maryland, North Dakota and Vermont are not eligible for this contest due to the restrictions on contest rules in those states. The laws regarding contests in these three states dictate that purchase or payment of any kind cannot be required to enter a skill contest. Because TechSoup charges an administrative fee for the donated products distributed for Microsoft, this would be considered illegal in these three states thereby leaving TechSoup open to legal actions. Organizations that have an affiliated office or partner in another state may have their partner submit an entry on their behalf.

Canadian charities based in Québec are not eligible for this contest due to Québec's stringent requirements for publicity contests, including prior approval by the provincial authorities of contest rules and advertising, as well as the payment of fees. These requirements would have demanded more resources and time than TechSoup, a US-based nonprofit, has available to run this contest. Quebec-based charities with an affiliated office or charity in another province may have the affiliate submit an entry on their behalf.