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Non-profit discount – DreamHost Knowledge Base
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Non-profit discount – DreamHost Knowledge Base

Phone number
- None
Category
Nonprofit
Auto tags
Nonprofit
Free Website
Shared Hosting
Email Hosting
US-based
501(c)(3)
501(c)(19)
VPS
Dedicated
Domain Registration
Credit Card
Form Submission
New Customer
Current Customer
Tax-Exempt Status
IRS Letter
501(c)(3) Determination Letter
501(c)(19) Determination Letter
Eligibility
US-based 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations
Auto Summary
DreamHost gives US-registered nonprofits a FREE Shared Hosting plan for the life of the account — includes email hosting and an SSL certificate, plus one free domain registration the first year. You must be a US 501(c)(3) (most charities) or 501(c)(19) (veterans org), and the IRS determination letter is the ONLY proof DreamHost accepts (state registrations and EIN letters don't count). One free plan per nonprofit; only nonprofit-related sites allowed. Nonprofits also get 35% off DreamPress (managed WordPress). Apply via the nonprofit signup form, then open a support ticket with your IRS letter; no phone line, support is 24/7 by ticket/chat. Verified 2026-05-30.
Value
$0
Espanol
Descuento para organizaciones sin fines de lucro - Base de conocimientos de DreamHost
URL
https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/215769478-Non-profit-discount
Last verified 2026-05-17. Active. Free Shared Hosting plan for US 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) nonprofits, lifetime of the account. DreamHost also offers 35% off DreamPress (managed WordPress) for 501(c)(3) orgs.

What you get

  • Free Shared Hosting plan, for the life of your DreamHost account. Includes email hosting and an SSL certificate.
  • One free domain registration for the first year. Renewals and extra domains are at regular price.
  • 35% off DreamPress (managed WordPress hosting) for the life of the plan, if you want WordPress-specific hosting instead of, or in addition to, shared hosting. [Source: dreamhost.com (accessed 2026-05-17)]
  • One free Shared Hosting plan per nonprofit, in one DreamHost account. VPS and Dedicated plans are not covered.

Who qualifies

  • US-based nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (most charities), or
  • US-based nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(19) status (veterans organizations).
  • You must host only domains related to your nonprofit. Hosting for-profit or unrelated sites on the free plan voids the discount.

How to apply

You need your IRS determination letter (the official letter the IRS sent when your 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) status was approved). This is the only document DreamHost accepts as proof. If you can't find it, you can request a copy from the IRS using Form 4506-A.
If you're new to DreamHost:
  1. Fill out the nonprofit signup form at https://signup.dreamhost.com/nonprofit/email/ .
  1. In your DreamHost panel, add your nonprofit's domain as "Fully Hosted."
  1. Enter a credit card billing address. Your card will not be charged — DreamHost uses this only to verify identity. If the form gives you trouble, you can add the billing address from inside the panel later.
  1. Open a support ticket from the Contact Support page in your panel and attach a PDF or image of your IRS 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) determination letter.
If you already have a DreamHost account:
  1. Add your nonprofit's domain as "Fully Hosted" in the panel.
  1. Open a support ticket and attach your IRS determination letter.
DreamHost recommends listing your nonprofit's chairperson (or another board officer) as the primary account contact. Staff and volunteers should be added via account privileges instead of being the main owner — this keeps the account stable if people come and go.

Common pitfalls

  • No determination letter, no discount. State nonprofit registrations, EIN letters, and "pending" 501(c)(3) applications are not accepted. You need the IRS approval letter itself.
  • Only one free Shared Hosting plan per organization. A second nonprofit you also work with needs its own account and its own determination letter.
  • Free domain is one year only. Set a calendar reminder before renewal so you don't get surprised.
  • Hosting an unrelated site (a side project, a friend's business, a personal blog) on the free plan can get the discount removed.

Where to get help

  • DreamHost support is 24/7 via ticket from inside the panel. There is no phone line for the free nonprofit plan.
  • TechSoup (techsoup.org) is the go-to clearinghouse for nonprofit technology benefits if DreamHost isn't a fit.
  • Google for Nonprofits and Microsoft for Nonprofits offer free email and productivity tools that pair well with DreamHost hosting.

Sources