How to login to your Google Ad Grant

You should be able to log straight into a ready-made Google Ad Grant account that's been created for you. Do not create a new account.

It's not uncommon for new grantees to struggle to login to their Ad Grant once approved. Some make the mistake of accidentally setting up a paid account.

Do NOT at any point enter credit card details, even if prompted; doing this creates a new paid account. Instead you should be logging into the already-existing Ad Grant account.

DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT

DO not ENTER CREDIT CARD DETAILS

Login to your Google for Nonprofits dashboard at google.com/nonprofits. In the box called Google Ad Grants you should see your Customer ID number. Make a note of it.

This dashboard is where you also go to activate your Google Workspace for Nonprofits, YouTube for Nonprofits, and Google Maps platform credits.

Now go to ads.google.com and login. This is where you go to use Google Ads. Do you see the same Customer ID? If so, choose Billing from the menu. Then Summary. Does it say the all-important words "We don’t bill you"? If so, that's your Ad Grant account, continue to use it.

Or was it a different ID? That's some other account, one you previously had access to, or have just created by accident. Do not use it. Do not enter credit card details. If you have created any campaigns pause them immediately or you'll get billed.

Can't find your Ad Grant account?

Click on the profile icon in the top right. It might show your avatar image, or just a letter of your name. Is there an option to switch to another account?

Check you're logging in using the correct email address, the one you signed up for the Ad Grant with. Search your emails for the approval email: which address was it sent to?

Can't get in at all? Try this form to regain access: support.google.com/grants/contact/grants_account_access_no_info.

Who has access to your Google Ads account, and how do you manage users?

Navigate to Admin > Access & Security and stay in the Users tab. From here you can add new users, remove their access, and change their permissions.

You will only be able to add a user, if their email's domain matches one of those you've permitted. See the list in Admin > Access & Security > Security tab. 

It's good practice to have more than one person in the nonprofit who's an admin, in case someone leaves or loses their login.

Don't give a higher level of access unless it's necessary. Someone auditing your account and not changing anything probably only needs viewing, not editing rights. An admin can add, edit and remove other users, so be doubly cautious about who you make an admin.

How to give Google Ads access to an agency

Note that advertising agencies don't login to your account in the same way as an ordinary user. They should use an MCC (Google Ads manager's account) to connect to their clients' accounts. They will ask for your Google Ads Customer ID number, the one shown in the top right of your account, and then send you a request for access by email, which you will need to authorize. You can revoke their access at any time via the Manager's tab, by using the Remove access link.

Don't mark them as an owner unless you want them to be able to add, edit and remove other account users.

Resources

Login to Google Ads
ads.google.com

Manage access to your Google Ads account
support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6372672

Access levels in Google Ads
support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9978556

Regain access to your Ad Grant
support.google.com/grants/answer/66163

Ad Grant account access form
support.google.com/grants/contact/grants_account_access_no_info

Page updated: March 2024