# Password Protect PDF for nonprofits

_Updated July 2026 · Arthize · https://arthize.com/for/nonprofits/protect-pdf_

Arthize lets nonprofit and NGO teams password-protect a PDF in a private workspace — free, with no watermark. Protecting a PDF encrypts it with a password, so only people with the password can open the file — the encryption travels with the document.

## Why nonprofits password-protect a PDF

A nonprofit merges its narrative report with financial statements into one grant submission, signs the board approval remotely, and compresses the package to meet a funder's upload limit — free.

**Built for grant reports.** Whether it's grant reports, financial statements, board minutes, Arthize's password protect pdf keeps the work inside your private workspace. Donor and beneficiary data is sensitive; nonprofits need private processing without a costly subscription.

## What matters when you password-protect a PDF

Password protection encrypts the PDF so it can't be opened without the password.

The encryption travels with the file, unlike a folder lock that stays on your computer.

A separate permissions password can restrict printing or copying.

## How to password-protect a PDF

1. **Open the protect tool** — Sign in and open the Protect tool.
2. **Add your PDF** — Upload the document you want to encrypt.
3. **Set a password** — Choose a strong open password and, optionally, a permissions password.
4. **Download** — Get an encrypted PDF that requires the password to open.

## FAQ

### How do nonprofits password-protect a PDF for free?

Protecting a PDF encrypts it with a password, so only people with the password can open the file — the encryption travels with the document. On Arthize it's free with no watermark, and the file is deleted after the job — which is why nonprofit and NGO teams can use it for grant reports without a confidentiality risk.

### Is it private to password-protect a PDF sensitive grant reports?

Yes. Donor and beneficiary data is sensitive; nonprofits need private processing without a costly subscription. Files are processed inside your private Arthize workspace and deleted after the job.

### How do I password-protect a PDF?

Protecting a PDF encrypts it with a password, so only people with the password can open the file — the encryption travels with the document. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.

### Is a password-protected PDF actually encrypted?

Protecting a PDF encrypts it with a password, so only people with the password can open the file — the encryption travels with the document. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.