In-Kind

If you've ever had anything to do with grants, you know what those two words "in-kind" actually mean. If you haven't dealt with grants, then understanding and getting to know "in-kind" is going to take some time.

The words "In-kind" are often also known as "match," as in "grant match." SOme people mix and match both terms. CNCS uses "in-kind" so it would behoove you to adopt that phrase and forget the use of the word "match," even though you may be more accustomed to the word "match."

Pretty much all grants require some form of "in-kind." The percentage varies, the rules vary, and typically a lot of conditions are placed on what qualifies as "in-kind."

There's one thing that you need to get fixed in your brain: IN-KIND MATTERS!
If you dont' make your in-kind, you are going to be in for a world of hurt. Yes, your CNCS STate Office 'might," and the 'might' here is mighty big, give you a waiver once in a blue moon. But, by and large, in-kind waivers are scarce and unique. You are responsible for generating your required in-kind and there's simply no way to dodge that bullet.

The CNCS method of calculating in-kind varies from some other grantors. You are required to have a 30% match. When I'm from that typically means 30% of the grant amount. Well, that's not the case with CNCS. It's 30% of the total including the in-kind. In the year 2009, RSVP was receiving a $63,308 CNCS grant. In all my previous years of writing grants, a 30% match with in-kind would equate to $63,308 x .30 = $18,992. Well, CNCS-style math brings the required in-kind to $27,471, danged near 50% higher what would be normal for a typical grantor. YOu see, the @27,471 figure is 30% of the sum of %27,471 and $63,308. I guess is kind of algebra or calculus or something like that.

You can't argue with them--what they say is what they say and that's the way it is.
Everyone is stuck with this weird rule so you can gripe all you want but it won't do you one iota of good. You might as well shut up and accept it. Tough kitties, kiddy!

So, how in the world can you possibly come up with over twenty seven thousand dollars in Eastern Idaho? That's a tough challenge--no doubt about it.

Before I showed up here in August 2007, it was a piece of cake to make the match.
The RSVP Director simply took the value of all the miles driven by RSVP volunteers and calimed it an an in-kind donation. The toruble with that practice is that it was illegal. You can't count volunteer mileage as an in-kind donation. NO CAN DO!
Yes, I know that's illogical and basically insane but that's the way it is.

Next, not long after I arrived here, the Feds outlaws fund raising. We will talke more about that in teh post on Fund Raising. Suffice to say here is that any and all types of fund raising are now 100% illegal. Heck, it makes you an outlaw if you try to write your own CNCS grant on time funded by federal dollars. Amazing but true! It's even illegal for me to write our United Way grant on time funded by federal dollars.

Now, since we are in Eastern Idaho, what are the of having $27,000 grow on trees and have us be the first person to waltz by and pick money off trees? Zip, zilch, zero and nada. It ain't gonna happen.

Luckily for us, our awesome State Office 'discovered' the concept of PDV's while in California. What the heck is a PDV? The acronym stands for "Program Development Volunteer." It's too complex to explain in this post on the general nature of in-kind. We will talk about it in a separate post. What you need to know is that PDV's will save your bacon as far as in-kind goes. Unless you have a magic touch with the City COuncil or the County Commission, you're going to need to focus on PDV's and their direct in-kind value to your program.