In-kind fundraising has the potential to help nonprofits advance their mission, especially when monetary donations are scarce. It is a great way for nonprofit organizations to stretch resources and meet their needs effectively. Donors can readily offer material resources or services other than cash as they will know how it will be used. In today’s podcast, Kyle Kothe from RightGift and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss Nonprofit in-kind fundraising and item procurement.
Summary
Nonprofit In-kind donation and Item Procurement
Nonprofits need support from donors to thrive and reach their mission effectively. Over the years, it has become obvious that monetary donation is not the only way to advance a nonprofit cause. In-kind fundraising has gained traction and has become a veritable means of helping nonprofit organizations to make a great social impact.
There are many services and items that are so indispensable for the success of nonprofits. Donated goods and services can help a nonprofit cover event costs. For example, in-kind fundraising from accountants, where they provide their services with no fees, would free up money to be reallocated to other aspects of your organization.
As a nonprofit leader, it’s pertinent you learn to leverage in-in-kind funding to run your organization, as it helps save you enormous costs.
What Are In-kind Donations?
Successful nonprofits know how to solicit support from people that are sympathetic to their cause. Supporting a nonprofit organization is not limited to monetary donations alone. There are various ways people can support your organization’s cause, including transferring assets and items or rendering services.
That said, in-kind donations are non-monetary donations made to nonprofits. These non-cash gifts offered to nonprofit organizations help them reach their mission effectively. In-kind donations can include volunteer work, donated goods, or service.
In-kind donations can be broadly categorized into two which are:
Items: They include cars, equipment, machinery, furniture, and more given to nonprofits to enhance their operation. These physical materials allow nonprofits to perform specific duties that contribute to the realization of their mission.
Services: It involves rendering professional services that would otherwise need to pay for. For instance, a professional web developer or accountant can offer a free service to a nonprofit organization.
| Items | Services |
| The donation of physical materials/assets that nonprofits can use to optimize their operational strategy | The rendering of a free service such as legal counsel or accounting services to a nonprofit organization |
Moreso, in-kind service can also occur when an organization or individual pays for a service on behalf of your nonprofit. For instance, when an individual decides to pay for the legal expenses of your organization for an entire year.
What Are the Benefits of In-kind Donations for Nonprofits?
In-kind donations help nonprofit organizations save costs as they can access goods and services that would otherwise be expensive and eat deep into their budget. Hence, it frees up resources for other important projects and programs. 
Additionally, in-kind donations are helpful during periods of economic difficulty. Take, for instance, the Covid 19 pandemic that left many companies, organizations, and individuals in financial distress. During this period of economic upheaval, it was more convenient for many individuals to give their assets than dig deep into their lean pockets to contribute cash.
Some businesses do cherish in-kind donations more than the other way around. This is because they don’t have to consider their cash flow or budget. There are times companies have excess or unsold inventory to spare. As a result, they can afford to donate more products than they could in cash.
Some other many important in-kind donations are highlighted below:
- An in-kind donation can come in handy during the time of economic downturn
- It can create an immediate impact on a nonprofit organization
- It allows nonprofits to reallocate their resources to other pressing needs when some goods and services are already provided in kind
- Goods or services donated can be immediately put to use without waiting for approval
What Are the Sources of In-kind donations?
Generally, the two major sources of in-kind donations are individuals and corporations.
Individual: During economic hardship, some donors would still want to support organizations they are sympathetic to in the form of in-kind donations. You should consider reaching out to these people and asking them exactly what you want, especially those that have previously donated.
Businesses or Corporations: You should strive to build a partnership with different companies and organizations and ask them to support your nonprofit’s cause in kind. For example, your relationship with an accounting firm can pay off dearly when they provide accounting services to your organization.
Strategies for Getting In-kind Donations
An in-kind donation can be ultimately helpful to nonprofits, especially when they are the things that will facilitate your nonprofit’s operation and advance your mission. Below are the tips for asking for in-kind donations.
Create a website highlighting the item you need: Use a page on your website to list recurring items within your organization, such as furniture, and clothing, among others.
Register for a wish list when kickstarting a new program: When setting up a new program and you need specific items, try registering them as a wish list using a platform like Amazon.
Write a personalized letter asking for the in-kind donation you need: Write a letter or email to your supporters who have the properties or can offer the services your nonprofit need.
Learn About Our Guest
Kyle Kothe is the CEO and Co-Founder of RightGift.com, a Benefit Corporation on the mission to empower nonprofits and their donors to expand their social impact through conscious utilization of item purchases and in-kind donations. RightGift aggregates its nonprofit partners’ spending power in order to reduce costs on items and increase social impact. RightGift’s free technology platform allows nonprofits to successfully run virtual wish list campaigns, coordinate spending and approvals, and shop directly for social impact items.
Learn About Stephen Halasnik
Stephen Halasnik is the host of the popular Nonprofit MBA Podcast. The Nonprofit MBA podcast’s purpose is to help nonprofit leaders and their teams. Stephen is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Financing Solutions, a leading provider of loans for nonprofits in the form of a Line of Credit. Stephen is a best-selling Amazon author and is considered a leading authority on building great, purpose-driven businesses.
Stephen lives in New Jersey, and his top life mission is to raise his two sons, Michael and Maxwell, to be good men.
