There are two types of donations that can be made to a 501(c)(3). A cash donation is the transfer of funds to a nonprofit. An in-kind donation is the transfer of any other type of asset.
In-kind gifts are contributions of goods or services, other than cash grants. Examples of in-kind gifts include:
- Goods, like computers, software, furniture, and office equipment, for use by your organization or for special event auctions
- Services, like meeting space, photocopy and mail services, and administrative/financial support
- Expertise, like legal, tax, or business advice; marketing and website development; and strategic planning
- Cash equivalents, like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
Corporations and businesses are a common source of in-kind gifts. In fact, corporations increasingly prefer to provide in-kind support. Thus, if your funding needs include in-kind support, this may help to start a relationship with a corporate funder.
Look for a match between what you need and a company's products. For example, if you run a soup kitchen, you might approach a food company or local supermarkets.
Here are some tips for finding in-kind support:
- Start local. Local businesses may be interested in supporting your organization, especially if your constituents are in their target audience, because it helps to promote their brand and build loyalty. Think of businesses that you might visit because they gave free coupons for your library's summer reading program or donated food for a 5K fundraiser. Also, some large, national retailers allow their individual stores to manage some types of donations at the local level.
- Approach the headquarters of large companies directly. If you're on a company's website, look for links that say something like "Community support" or "Corporate social responsibility." To find prospects, you can use Foundation Directory, by using the search term "in-kind gifts" in the Transaction Type field in addition to your subject and location filters. Use Foundation Directory for free at all Candid partner locations or subscribe to use Foundation Directory anywhere. Eligible nonprofits with revenue or expenses under $1M can also gain a free year of access to Foundation Directory Professional through our Go for Gold promotion.
- Use clearinghouses. Several organizations match nonprofits' needs with donated or discounted goods. For example, TechSoup provides access to donations and discounts from more than 60 large technology companies. Other organizations are listed below. If you're looking for items to give away or auction off for a fundraising event, some of the following websites also list potential donors. When asking for donations, keep in mind most companies need four to six weeks to process.
Please note, in-kind gifts must be accounted for differently than cash for tax purposes, so be sure to consult a tax expert.
Learn more about corporate fundraising with our video, Introduction to Corporate Giving.
See also our related Knowledge Base articles:
- How can I find sources of "pro bono" expertise?
- Where can I find information on corporate giving? What motivates companies?
- How can I find corporate sponsorship?
- What is cause-related marketing?
- Where can I learn more about workplace giving, like employee matching gifts?
Technology Product Donations & Discounts
Tech Soup
An online product donation service that connects nonprofits with technology product donations and discounts from more than 60 leading providers, including Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, and Intuit.
National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources (NAEIR)
Facilitates the exchange of excess inventory between companies from across the United States and deserving schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations.
Good360: Goods for the Greater Good
Dedicated to helping people and communities by distributing corporate product donations to qualified nonprofit organizations. Good360, formerly Gifts in Kind International, facilitates the flow of corporate product donations to charitable programs through its national network of participating nonprofits.
Free, online directory of companies who donate to nonprofits, offering food, beverages, auction and raffle items, and more.
Corporate Donation Requests
Double the Donation
This site lists companies who commonly receive donation requests and provides information on each company’s donation request process, as well as its matching gift or volunteer grant programs.
101 Fundraising Auction Donations Sources
Fundraiser Help
An extensive list of sources for fundraising auction donations from companies with links to online donation request information for each business. These fundraising auction donation sources provide items ranging from $25 gift cards all the way up to cruise ship vacations.
Buying from the U.S. Government
USA.gov
This site lets you check state and local government surplus sales and auctions pages for surplus property, available for free or at substantial discounts.
This platform enables exempt nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada to apply for in-kind donations from companies using a common application.
Beyond Cash Guide for Nonprofit Boards
Taproot Foundation
This pdf guide explains how nonprofit boards can tap pro bono and in-kind resources from board members. Co-written by Taproot Foundation and BoardSource.