Meaning & use
in-kind contribution
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablebusinessfinance
a gift of goods or services instead of money, often to a charity or political campaign
Grammar: Countable: make an in-kind contribution; in-kind contributions.
Patterns
- make an in-kind contribution
- receive an in-kind contribution
- in-kind contribution to something
The company made an in-kind contribution of office furniture to the shelter.
In-kind contributions can include free legal advice or donated food.
The campaign reported several in-kind contributions from local businesses.
Word forms
| plural | in-kind contributions |
|---|
Common combinations
- make an in-kind contribution
- They made an in-kind contribution of printing services.
- in-kind contribution to
- Her in-kind contribution to the school was a set of new computers.
- donate an in-kind contribution
- The bakery donated an in-kind contribution of bread for the event.
- value of in-kind contributions
- The report lists the value of in-kind contributions.
Synonyms and how they differ
- non-cash contribution
- More general and used in accounting; it can include any non-money gift.
- donation in kind
- Similar, but often used for goods rather than services.
Opposites
Word family
- in kind phrase
- In the form of goods or services rather than money.
- contribute verb
- To give something to help a person or group.
- contribution noun
- Something given to help achieve or provide something.
Commonly confused: in-kind contribution or in kind?
in-kind contribution vs in kind
'In kind' can also mean 'in a similar way' (e.g., respond in kind), but 'in-kind contribution' always refers to a non-money gift.
Practice
The charity received an in-kind contribution ___ a local bakery.
Choose one answer.
We say 'a contribution from someone' when we mean the giver. 'Of' would describe what was given, not who gave it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “in-kind contribution”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.