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The Grant Seeker's Handbook: A Guide to Finding Funds
Chapter 9
INFORMATION ABOUT IN-KIND OR NON-CASH GIVING
There
seems to be a tendency to limit efforts in developing nonprofit
resources to M-O-N-E-Y. As understandable as this might be, it’s a
mistake.
For one thing,
businesses might be more easily induced to consider non-cash support,
since this allows for good corporate citizenship without having to
shell out hard-earned cash. Stockholders may also be more comfortable
with such an approach. Perhaps a non-cash contribution such as a gift
from product inventory will allow for some benign tax treatment (for
guidance, check the Internal Revenue web site at http://www.irs.gov/charities/).
Whatever
might motivate in-kind giving from a donor’s perspective, you should
equate it to cash giving. In effect, an in-kind donation represents the
absence of money your organization would have to spend to purchase what
has been donated. Money saved is as valuable as money granted in such a
situation.
Here are
some ideas about possible non-cash resources from corporations. The
list is only suggestive; there are plenty of other ideas that could be
added to it.
- Group purchasing to reduce costs
- Volunteers from the workplace
- Board members
- Surplus equipment and supplies
- Products
- Help with publicity and public relations
- Developing promotional materials
- Printing and duplication services
- Audio-visual services
- Computer services
- Financial services and advice
- Legal/tax services and advice
- Providing contacts
- Consulting on office administrative procedures
- Lobbying, advocacy
- Piggyback advertising and no-cost advertising production
- Telecommunications services
- Company facilities
- Special event, conference, meeting planning
- Personnel policy and practice reviews
As
you can see, the possibilities for creative thinking abound when it
comes to visualizing prospective resources other than money.
Tactically, your organization’s willingness to weave in such resources
makes very good sense. This is especially so with corporate
representatives, because you will demonstrate your organization’s
capacity to be enterprising and to cut costs, two actions that will
impress them. Continue to Chapter 10
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