ABSTRACT
In-kind (nonmonetary) donations are a popular form of philanthropy that have received much less scholarly attention than monetary gifts. This study documents the prevalence of types of in-kind giving and associated organizational practices, then explores links between the perceptions of nonprofit managers, organizational practices, and prevalence of in-kind gifts. Using phone survey data, we conduct a mixed-method cross-sectional analysis of 240 US nonprofit organizations. Findings indicate a wide variety of in-kind donations and ways in which they are solicited. Charity managers ascribe a variety of motivations to donors for giving in-kind, with more offering positive reasons (such as donors believing such donations are useful) than negative reasons (such as donor convenience). Using theoretical insights from contracting as a guide, we find that practices regarding in-kind donations stem from monetary and nonmonetary (such as time or usefulness) considerations, though with differing effects depending on whether there are perceived challenges or opportunities.