In-Kind Donations: A Practical Guide to Giving More Than Money
Not long ago, during a volunteering initiative, we saw a group of children receive brand new sports kits, jerseys, boots, and even simple things like cones and skipping ropes. For many of them, it was the first time they had ever owned something new.
One of our nonprofit POCs captured this emotion really well:
“These are children from very disadvantaged backgrounds, and this kit meant more than just equipment. It gave them something to call their own.”
You could see it instantly, the excitement, the pride, the way they ran onto the field just a little more confidently. They weren’t just playing a game; they were experiencing something they hadn’t before.
If you’ve ever wanted to support a cause but felt limited by budget, you’re not alone. And here’s the part that doesn’t get talked about enough: More money doesn’t always translate to immediate or visible impact. What nonprofits often need just as urgently are the right resources, tools, skills, and time, things that can be used right away, without delay.
An in-kind donation is one of the most practical ways to give, whether it’s equipment like these sports kits, professional expertise, or everyday essentials. Having worked closely with nonprofits and communities across the globe, we’ve consistently seen how these contributions create direct, tangible impact, often in ways that are deeply felt and immediately visible.
In this guide, we’ll talk about:
- What is an in-kind donation
- Meaningful in-kind donation examples
- A list of companies that participate in such volunteering drives
The idea is to help you understand everything about in-kind donations and an action plan to make it count.
What Is an In-Kind Donation?
An in-kind donation is a non-cash contribution given to a nonprofit. Instead of money, you donate goods, services, or expertise that the organization needs to operate or serve its community.
In simple terms, it’s giving what you have instead of what you can pay.
Common Examples Include:
- Donating laptops, books, academic materials, etc. to a school
- Offering free legal or marketing services to local nonprofit organizations
- Providing essential daily supplies to support local communities
- Giving event space or catering for a fundraiser
These donations reduce costs for nonprofits and often meet immediate, tangible needs faster than cash.
In-Kind Donation Examples That Actually Make an Impact
The most meaningful in-kind donations aren’t always the biggest or most expensive. They’re the ones that match what nonprofits actually need. Across different programs, one pattern shows up consistently: when donations are practical and immediately usable, the impact is easier to see and easier to feel.
What High-Impact In-Kind Donations Look Like
1. Everyday Essentials That People Rely On
Hygiene kits, clothing, and basic supplies are used every single day. For many communities, access to these isn’t guaranteed, and receiving them can bring a sense of comfort and normalcy that often goes unnoticed from the outside.
2. School Supplies That Help Students Show Up Ready
Backpacks, notebooks, and learning materials do more than support education. They help students participate with confidence, without worrying about what they’re missing.
3. Sports and Recreational Kits That Create Joy and Belonging
Sports equipment, uniforms, and play materials give children a chance to engage, connect, and enjoy shared experiences. As we’ve seen, even a simple kit can completely change how a child shows up on the field.
4. Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
Journals, wellness kits, or access to guided sessions can make space for reflection and support. These are often small additions, but they matter in ways that aren’t always visible right away.
5. Environmental and Sustainability Kits
Tree planting kits, seed balls, and cleanup materials allow individuals and teams to take part in environmental efforts in a hands-on way.
6. Skills-Based Volunteering That Brings in Expertise
When professionals contribute their time, whether it’s design, legal guidance, or mentoring, nonprofits gain access to skills they might not otherwise have. These contributions often stay with the organization long after the engagement ends.
7. Technology and Digital Access
Devices, software, and digital training open up access to learning, communication, and opportunity. For many, this is the first step toward participating in a more connected world.
8. Event and Program Support
Providing spaces, materials, or on-ground support helps nonprofits run programs more smoothly, without stretching already limited resources.
What connects all of these is simple. They fit into real needs, real contexts, and real lives.
That’s what makes in-kind donations feel immediate and meaningful, not just for organizations, but for the people they’re meant to support. A simple rule is: if the nonprofit would otherwise have to spend money on it, it’s a valuable in-kind donation.
List of Companies That Give In-Kind Donations to Nonprofits
Many companies today support nonprofits through structured programs, but what’s equally important is when and how that support shows up.
Across the year, there are natural moments when corporate giving and volunteering pick up. It could be heritage and awareness months like Pride month, and Hispanic Heritage Month, cause-led campaigns like Hunger Action Month, Back-to-School, and Earth Day, year-end giving seasons, or urgent responses during disaster relief efforts.
These moments often bring together funding, employee volunteering, and in-kind donation efforts in a more coordinated way. For nonprofits, they can be powerful entry points to build relationships that go beyond a single campaign.
If you’re a nonprofit looking to build corporate partnerships for nonprofits that include in-kind donations and grow into something more strategic over time, here are some companies that actively partner with nonprofits to support meaningful work across local and global communities.
Note: Join Goodera’s global nonprofit network and explore corporate partnerships that last.
Well-Known Companies Offering In-Kind Support:
Many of the world’s largest companies now support nonprofits through structured giving programs that combine technology, products, employee expertise, and long-term capacity building. These partnerships are often designed to help nonprofits operate more effectively, reach more people, and scale their impact over time.
Here are a few widely recognized examples:
Google’s support for nonprofits goes far beyond occasional grants. Through the Google Ad Grants program, eligible nonprofits receive up to $10,000 per month in free Google Search advertising, helping them raise awareness, attract donors, recruit volunteers, and promote services online. According to Google, the company has awarded more than $10 billion in free advertising to over 115,000 nonprofits across 51 countries since the program launched in 2003.
For many nonprofits, visibility is one of the hardest things to build. Programs like these help organizations reach people actively searching for causes, support opportunities, or community resources, something that can otherwise be financially out of reach.
Adobe
Adobe supports nonprofits by providing discounted and donated access to creative and digital tools that many organizations rely on for storytelling, fundraising, design, and communication.
For nonprofits operating with small teams and limited budgets, access to professional creative software can significantly improve how they engage donors, communicate impact, and run campaigns. Whether it’s designing educational resources, building reports, or creating fundraising campaigns, these tools often become part of the nonprofit’s everyday operations.
Cisco
Cisco’s nonprofit and social impact efforts have focused heavily on digital access and skills development. One of its best-known initiatives, the Cisco Networking Academy, has reached 17.5 million learners across 190 countries since 1997, according to Cisco. The program provides IT and networking education, often in partnership with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.
Cisco also contributes networking equipment, cybersecurity support, and digital training resources to nonprofits and community programs. These initiatives become especially important in underserved regions where access to digital infrastructure and technical education remains limited.
Salesforce
Salesforce has built one of the most established nonprofit technology programs through its Power of Us initiative. Eligible nonprofits receive donated CRM licenses, discounted products, training resources, and access to nonprofit-focused communities and implementation support.
According to Salesforce, more than 56,000 nonprofit organizations and educational institutions have participated in the Power of Us Program. The company also states that over 63,700 nonprofits and schools globally use its free and discounted technology offerings.
Beyond technology access, Salesforce has also integrated employee volunteering and pro bono support into many of its social impact initiatives, helping nonprofits strengthen operations and digital capabilities over time.
Amazon
Amazon supports nonprofits through programs that include AWS cloud credits, technology infrastructure support, logistics assistance, and product donations during community and disaster response initiatives.
For nonprofits managing growing amounts of data, digital services, or emergency response operations, cloud infrastructure support can play a major role in improving efficiency and scale. Product donations and fulfillment support also become especially valuable during seasonal campaigns and crisis-response efforts, where speed and coordination matter just as much as funding.
What stands out across these examples is that the support goes beyond one-time giving. The most impactful companies that donate to charities are increasingly investing in long-term partnerships that combine resources, expertise, technology, and employee participation, helping nonprofits build capacity in ways that last well beyond a single campaign.
How to Approach These Companies:
- Apply through their official nonprofit programs
- Clearly state your need and impact
- Show how the donation will be used
These companies don’t just give randomly; they look for alignment and measurable outcomes.
Companies That Donate to Charities: Learn What They Look For
Not all companies donate in the same way. When approaching these companies, it helps to understand how they think.
What Companies Typically Evaluate:
- Mission Alignment
Does your cause connect with their values or industry? - Impact Visibility
Can they see how their contribution creates real change? - Scalability
Will their donation reach more people over time? - Employee Engagement Opportunities
Can their teams get involved as well?
Why In-Kind Donations Matter More Than We Think
It’s easy to assume that financial contributions are always the most helpful. They’re flexible, easy to track, and widely understood. But in practice, in-kind donation often fills gaps that money alone can’t address, at least not quickly or efficiently.
Across different nonprofit programs, the difference often comes down to timing, relevance, and how quickly something can be put to use.
1. More Room in the Budget for What Matters Most
When essential goods or services are donated, nonprofits don’t have to spend their already limited funds on procuring them. That budget can then be redirected toward areas where cash is critical, such as hiring staff, expanding programs, or reaching more communities.
2. Resources That Can Be Used Right Away
Unlike funding, which may take time to allocate and convert into action, in-kind support arrives ready to go. School supplies before a new term, hygiene kits during a crisis, or devices for a training session can be put to use immediately, without delays.
3. Partnerships That Go Beyond Transactions
When companies contribute products, time, or expertise, the relationship naturally becomes more involved. These partnerships often evolve into ongoing collaborations, with multiple touchpoints across campaigns, volunteering efforts, and shared initiatives.
ALSO READ: Nonprofit Corporate Partnerships: A Practical Guide for Both Sides of the Table
4. Access to Skills That Are Otherwise Hard to Find
One of the most valuable in-kind donation examples comes in the form of expertise. Legal guidance, design support, technology implementation, or mentoring can strengthen how a nonprofit operates over the long term, not just in the moment.
ALSO READ: Empowering Communities through Skill-Based Volunteering
5. Impact That Feels Real and Visible
There’s a different kind of connection when you can see exactly how something is being used. Whether it’s a child stepping onto a field with a new sports kit or a classroom using new materials, in-kind contributions make the outcome tangible for everyone involved.
In many cases, in-kind donations don’t replace financial support, they work alongside it. But when the need is immediate or highly specific, they often move things forward in ways that money alone cannot.
Bringing It All Together
If there’s one takeaway here, it’s this: Effective giving isn’t just about how much you contribute, it’s about how relevant that contribution is.
If you’re an individual or part of a team, start by asking a simple question: What do we already have that could be useful? It could be time, skills, access to tools, or even networks. The most impactful in-kind donation often starts there, with what’s already within reach.
If you’re a company, think beyond one-time contributions. Look at where your strengths naturally lie, whether that’s technology, expertise, logistics, or people, and build corporate partnerships for nonprofits around those strengths. The goal isn’t to do more, it’s to do what fits, consistently.
And if you’re a nonprofit, clarity is your advantage. The more specific you can be about what you need and how it will be used, the easier it becomes for others to step in meaningfully.
At its core, in-kind donation works best when it’s intentional. When the right resource meets the right need at the right time, the impact is not just efficient, it’s immediate and deeply felt.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is an In-Kind Donation in Simple Terms?
An in-kind donation is any non-cash contribution given to a nonprofit. Instead of money, you’re offering goods, services, or expertise that the organization can use directly.
This could be anything from donating laptops to a school, to offering legal advice, to providing event space or supplies. The key difference is that the value comes from what is given and used, not converted from cash.
2. Are In-Kind Donations Tax-Deductible?
In many countries, in-kind donations can be tax-deductible, but it depends on local regulations and how the donation is documented.
Typically:
- The donation must go to a registered nonprofit or charitable organization
- The value of the donation should be based on fair market value
- Proper receipts or acknowledgment letters are required
For services, tax treatment can be more nuanced. While out-of-pocket expenses related to volunteering may sometimes be deductible, the value of your time or expertise often is not. It’s always best to check local tax guidelines or consult a professional.
3. What Are the Most Requested In-Kind Donation Items?
The most requested items are usually the ones nonprofits rely on regularly but may not always have the budget to procure.
Common examples include:
- Technology: laptops, tablets, software access, digital tools
- Professional services: legal, marketing, financial, or IT support
- Office and program supplies: stationery, furniture, teaching materials
- Everyday essentials: food, clothing, hygiene kits
- Specialized resources: sports kits, mental health materials, environmental kits
The exact need varies by organization, but in general, items that are practical, usable, and aligned with ongoing programs are the most valuable.
4. How Do Nonprofits Track In-Kind Donations?
Nonprofits typically record in-kind donations by assigning them a fair market value, which is an estimate of what the item or service would cost if purchased.
This process usually involves:
- Documenting the type and quantity of goods or services received
- Estimating their fair market value using standard pricing or invoices
- Recording them in financial statements for transparency and compliance
Tracking these donations helps nonprofits report their total impact more accurately and ensures they meet legal and reporting requirements.
