1. What is a validation token? 
  2. What does a validation token look like?
  3. How do I get a validation token?
  4. My organization is qualified, but I still cannot generate a validation token.
  5. What do I do once I have a validation token?
  6. How often will I need to use a validation token?
  7. When will my validation token expire?
  8. What do I do if my validation token expires?
  9. How many validation tokens can I have?
  10. Why would I want a new validation token? 
  11. Can several people in my nonprofit each have validation tokens?

1. What is a validation token?

  • A validation token is a unique code that a person uses on behalf of a nonprofit that has been validated by TechSoup Canada. The token is used to access products and services intended for nonprofits.
  • Once a validation token is successfully used, the nonprofit is considered valid by the provider of the service or product for the time period applicable to that program.

2. What does a validation token look like?

A validation token looks something like 123a4567@1b234c5de6789000.

3. How do I get a validation token?

  • Validation tokens can only be created by the TechSoup Canada account holder and only issued to someone who is authorized to represent the nonprofit.
  • Because validation tokens expire after 60 days, it is best to create them only when they are needed.
  • If you are the TechSoup Canada account holder in your organization:
  1. Log in to your TechSoup Canada account.
  2. On your My Account page, go to the tab called Validation Token.
  3. Click Add a new token.
  4. Enter the first name, last name, and email address of the person who will be using this validation token.
    Important! This must be a person who is authorized to represent your nonprofit. For example, it could be a staff member, a volunteer, a board member, or a consultant acting with the full knowledge of your nonprofit. Do not create a validation token for someone who is not authorized to act on your nonprofit’s behalf.
  5. Click Add new token. Your new validation token appears.
  6. If you created the validation token for your own use:
    a. Copy the validation token.
    b. Paste the validation token where it was originally requested.
  7. If you created the validation token for an authorized representative of your nonprofit to use:
    a. Copy the validation token.
    b. Paste it into an email to the authorized representative.
    c. The authorized representative then pastes the validation token where it was originally requested.
  • If you are not the TechSoup Canada account holder in your organization:
    - You will need to contact the TechSoup Canada account holder and ask them to create a validation token for you.
    ­ - A validation token will only be created for you if you are authorized to act on behalf of the nonprofit.
  • If your nonprofit has not yet been validated by TechSoup Canada:
    - You will first need to go through the registration process.
    - Once your nonprofit has been validated and confirmed as meeting the required criteria, you will be able to create a validation token by following the steps outlined above.

You can also follow TechSoup's step-by-step video walkthrough on "how to use TechSoup validation tokens".

4. My organization is qualified, but I still cannot generate a validation token.

5. What do I do once I have a validation token?

  1. To access services or products designed for nonprofits, companies or retailers that work with TechSoup Canada will ask you to provide a validation token to prove your nonprofit’s validity.
  2. Copy the token from your TechSoup Canada account and paste it where the token is requested.

6. How often will I need to use a validation token?

  • To access most services or products, you will only have to use the validation token once. However some services might ask you for your token at more than one place in the process.
  • You may use that token for offers from other providers as well, until the token expires.

7. When will my validation token expire?

  • Each validation token has a life span of 60 days.
  • Because validation tokens expire after 60 days, it is best to create them only when they are needed.
  • Expiration of your token does not affect your existing services. 

8. What do I do if my validation token expires before it is used?

The TechSoup Canada account holder can create a new validation token if their previous one has expired. Every code created has a 60-day expiration date.

If you are the TechSoup Canada account holder:

  1. Log in to your TechSoup Canada account.
  2. On your My Account page, go to the tab called Validation Token.
  3. Click Add a new token. You will be prompted for your information.
  4. If the expired validation token is in your name, add a number at the end of your name (eg Maryam1). This will not affect your account setup for Google or other services; this information is for your organization’s internal tracking.
  5. If you updated the validation token for your own use:
    a. Copy the validation token.
    b. Paste the validation token where it was originally requested.
  6. If you updated the validation token for an authorized representative of your nonprofit to use:
    a. Copy the validation token.
    b. Paste it into an email to the authorized representative.
    c. The authorized representative then pastes the validation token where it was originally requested.

If you are not the TechSoup Canada account holder, contact the TechSoup Canada account holder and ask them to create a new validation token for you.

9. How many validation tokens can I have?

You can have unlimited validation tokens, provided you are authorized to act on behalf of the nonprofit.

10. Why would I want a new validation token?

  • The TechSoup Canada account holder can update an expired validation token or create a new one, at his or her own discretion.
  • For example, the account holder may choose to create a new validation token, rather than update an existing one, if the new token will be used to apply for a different product or service.

11. Can several people in my nonprofit each have validation tokens?

  • Yes. Validation tokens can be created for anyone who is authorized to act on behalf of a nonprofit when they need to access a product or service that requires a token.
  • Because validation tokens expire after 60 days, it is best to create them only when they are needed.