Frequently asked questions about Adobe for Nonprofits at BigTech
Learn more about Adobe for Nonprofits at BigTech, including information on eligibility, product licensing,
downloading and installing software, and more.
Download and Installation Questions
How do I know if my computer meets the basic hardware and software requirements?
Each product includes its system requirements on the product page. Creative Cloud applications' requirements are also available on Adobe's website. To see the full list of Adobe products, visit the Adobe for Nonprofts at BigTech page.
How do I download, install, and activate Adobe products?
Follow the instructions in the fulfillment email you received from BigTech with the subject line "Your Adobe Donation Request #xxxxxx Through BigTech." You can also find the instructions in this email by viewing your Donation Fulfillment Messages on the request history page of your account.
Do I have to register for an Adobe.com account and activate the product?
Yes. You must register for an Adobe account first before you can download and install Adobe software. To register
- Go to the Adobe home page.
- Click Sign In. On the sign-in page, click Get an Adobe ID.
- Enter your information and click Sign Up.
Where can I find technical support?
If you have download, installation, or activation issues, visit the Adobe Support page.
Access to discounted rates for Creative Cloud
Adobe offers access to discounted rates on Creative Cloud memberships. The Creative Cloud Complete plan includes Adobe Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, Premiere Pro CC, InDesign CC, and many more products. See the Adobe website for a full list of products included in the Complete plan. The Acrobat Pro DC plan includes Acrobat Pro DC and access to Document Cloud services.
Is my organization eligible for Adobe products through BigTech?
See the program and restrictions details.
How much does Creative Cloud and Acrobat Pro DC plan cost when requested through BigTech?
BigTech's admin fee for the access to discounted rates is $5 USD. After requesting this access, you'll pay Adobe directly.
For the Complete plan, you'll pay Adobe for the first year of Creative Cloud membership, a discount of 60% off the retail price. Unless you cancel, you'll pay Adobe every year after, a discount of 40% off the retail price. Adobe will state during the checkout process that your contract will renew automatically at standard rates, but you will actually be billed at the discounted rate.
For the Acrobat Pro DC plan, you'll pay Adobe directly at a 13% discount. After the initial one-year period ends, Adobe will automatically renew the membership at the standard retail rate unless you choose to cancel.
Why is there an admin fee for the access to discounted rates?
BigTech charges a one-time administrative fee per to support all of our programs, services, and education, helping nonprofits and charities around the world to use technology to further their missions.
Does BigTech offer a different licensing model than Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro DC for individuals?
No. BigTech currently offers only access to discounted rates on the individual membership.
How is Creative Cloud different from Creative Suite?
Creative Cloud is the evolution of Creative Suite. Most of the products included in Creative Suite are available in Creative Cloud, including many that were not previously in Creative Suite. Creative Cloud offers these products through a subscription model. All Apps plan members can pay monthly or annually, and Acrobat Pro DC plan members must pay monthly. Both members always get the latest version of each product. The Creative Cloud All Apps plan for individuals also includes access to many online Adobe services and 20 GB of cloud storage space.
See Adobe Creative Cloud: What's New, What's Different for more information.
How is Creative Cloud different from Document Cloud?
Creative Cloud includes apps for designing creative assets, like photos, video, audio, graphics, and interactive content. Document Cloud includes Acrobat Pro DC. Both include cloud-based storage space, which integrates with Adobe's mobile apps. The Acrobat Pro DC plan also includes the Adobe Sign service.
How is Acrobat Pro DC different from previous version of Acrobat Pro?
See the comparison of versions of Acrobat Pro on the Adobe website.
Can I get Creative Cloud products with a perpetual license like the previous Creative Suite products offered?
No. Adobe has transitioned to a cloud business model for its former Creative Suite products and no longer offers perpetual licenses for those products.
How many Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro DC memberships can I request?
You can get as many Creative Cloud individual memberships and Acrobat Pro DC memberships as your organization needs through BigTech's access to discounted rates. You just need to request one product for each individual who needs a membership. Each membership is valid for one user on up to two computers.
Do the applications run in a browser?
No. You install and run the Creative Cloud desktop applications, like Photoshop and Illustrator, directly on your computer.
How many computers can I install Adobe software on?
Adobe allows each user to install its software on up to two computers. This can be home and office, desktop and laptop, Windows or Mac, or any other combination. However, you can't run the software simultaneously on both computers. If you install the software on more than two computers,
you will need to deactivate the software first on one of the computers.
Do I need to be connected constantly in order to use Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro DC applications?
No. Your Creative Cloud and Acrobat Pro DC desktop applications are installed and run directly on your computer. You only need to be online to install your software and if you are using the Creative Cloud and Acrobat Pro DC services like syncing your files. An Internet connection is required the first time you install and license your desktop applications, but you can use the applications in offline mode with a valid software license. The desktop applications will attempt to validate your software licenses every 30 days. For annual members, you can use the applications for up to 99 days in offline mode. Month-to-month members can use the software for up to 30 days in offline mode.
Do I need to store all of the files I create with Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro DC in Adobe's cloud storage?
No. You can save all of your files to your computer and share only the ones you want.
Can I install and use Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro DC products on public access computers in my library or nonprofit public access computer lab?
No. This offer is only valid for users who are employees or volunteers within an organization.
Can I renew my Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro DC membership with BigTech's access to discounted rates offer?
No. This offer is only available to new members.
My organization already has one or more memberships at retail rates. Are we still eligible for additional memberships at the discounted nonprofit rate?
Yes. Existing individual memberships are ineligible for the discounted nonprofit rate, but an organization can request new memberships at that rate for individuals who don't have them.
Are Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro DC memberships transferable? Can a new employee or volunteer use a former employee or volunteer's membership for the remaining contract obligation?
Individual memberships are managed on an individual level, and the user's email address is connected to the Adobe ID. With individual memberships, your organization can't change the member's Adobe ID or password, so you should make proper billing arrangements when an employee or volunteer leaves.
What happens if I cancel my Adobe Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro DC membership?
If you cancel within the first 14 days, Adobe will issue a full refund. If you cancel after the first 14 days, Adobe will refund half of your remaining contract obligation. Regardless of whether you pay annually or monthly, you are still obligated to pay for half of the remaining year's membership.
After you cancel, Creative Cloud and Acrobat Pro DC applications will stop working. However, you will continue to have access to your Creative Cloud membership's free benefits, including 2 GB Creative Cloud storage or 5 GB Document Cloud storage and use of certain services.
Will I lose all my files if I leave Creative Cloud or Document Cloud?
No. You can save all of your files to your computer and keep them before you leave Creative Cloud or Document Cloud. If you've stored more than 2 GB of files on Adobe's Creative Cloud storage space or more than 5 GB of files on Adobe's Document Cloud storage space when you cancel your membership, you will lose files stored beyond the initial 2 GB or 5 GB you used unless you back them up ahead of time.
