A few weeks ago, I discussed applying for matching grants. After that email, a couple of grant writers reached out to me and expressed that their organization doesn’t qualify for matching grants yet because its budget is small, and it can’t guarantee that the matching funds will be available.
There is a workaround…
Many matching grants will accept a soft match.
What is a soft match?
A soft match doesn’t require available cash. Instead, a soft match is when you assign in-kind services a value and use that as your match.
For example, if your program needs a storage unit to be successful and a local storage facility has agreed to donate one, determine the market value of that unit and count that as a soft match.
Volunteer labor is the most common type of in-kind soft match. A report by Independent Sector determined that the value of an average US volunteer is $33/hour. If your volunteer is highly skilled, assign a higher hourly value. Add up your volunteers and the hours they will dedicate to the program, and use this as part of your soft match total.
Any service, equipment, labor, etc, that is being given to you for the program and has value can be used.
Using in-kind values can help budgets in general, but soft matches are a great way to qualify for a grant if your organization is smaller.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants
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