Microsoft partners that are eligible to receive partner coop funds are in a fortunate position in that they can use accrued funds to support their business growth.
We've spoken to enough Microsoft partners to know that investing in marketing can be a challenge, so accessing funding pots that are explicitly reserved for this area of business offers a significant boost to their efforts.
What are Microsoft partner coop funds?
Partner coop funds are a form of rebate that eligible Microsoft partners can claim back as a result of their commitment and growth as a Microsoft reseller partner. They're a partner benefit, provided by Microsoft back into a partner as a reward for their efforts.
How can Microsoft partners utilise coop?
Partners can utilise coop funds to grow their Microsoft businesses, either through the execution of marketing activities that are intended to:
- Raise awareness of Microsoft cloud or device solutions
- Upskill partner staff to be able to drive awareness of Microsoft solutions
- Drive net new customer adds into both the partner and Microsoft through licensing sales
| Area | Qualifying activities |
Partner skillingActivities for the partner’s internal sales and technical personnel, and include specific expenses related to training that helps develop the partner’s sales and technical expertise on Microsoft. |
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Demand generation (marketing activities)Traditional advertising with a broad reach that furthers the marketing and promotion of Microsoft offerings. Both results and audience size must be measurable. |
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Market developmentMarketing activities designed for a specific customer audience that support the sale of Microsoft software licenses. |
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How the claims process works
Partners who have coop funds are required to carry out eligible activities and then claim back the full or partial costs of those activities. You're unable to withdraw funds in advance, they have to be retrospective.
To submit a claim, partners should:
- Sign in to Partner Center, select Co-op Management and then Create a Claim.
- Complete a coop claim for.
- Review POE policy for when POE is required.
- Upload proof of execution materials and Submit the claim.
Partners have 45 days after the coop fund claiming deadline to provide proof that activities were carried out.
What does POE (proof of execution) mean?
POE (proof of execution) refers to evidence that activities have already taken place. Microsoft requires different POE depending on the type of activity you have carried out. Here are a few examples:
Paid ads campaign
If you've run a paid ads campaign, best practice suggests that you should provide:
- Proof of one or more of the live ads
- Proof of the landing page(s) you are directing individuals to
- Reporting metrics (i.e., impressions, clicks, reach and leads)
Webinars or events
If you're hosting an event, best practice suggests that you should provide:
- Photos of the event
- An event attendees list
- Proof of the promotional activities that you have undertaken
Important things to know
Microsoft partner coop funds are available on six-month cycles, with two main periods aligned to Microsoft's financial year. These are January - July and July - December.
The coop fund amounts that partners are eligible to spend and claim back are dependent on how they have individually performed as a partner during the previous 6-month period (referred to as "the previous half").
Funding accrued over a 6-month period (or 'half') must be spent during the following 6-month period. For example, funding amounts accrued between 1st January 2024 - 30th June 2024 must be spent by the 31st December 2024. Technically, partners are eligible to spend their co-op all year round. However, due to the time it takes to work out the exact amounts partners are eligible to spend, partners do not generally find out their exact fund balance until mid-February and mid-August each year.
