In-Kind Support

EOPC considers in-kind funding to be any type of support that does not involve direct dollar contributions on the part of a unit or external funding source.

Definition of In-Kind Support

For example, Penn State faculty and staff who contribute their time to work on EOPC programs are typically considered in-kind support. EOPC understands the value of in-kind support, and this policy is not meant to diminish the importance of the many Penn State faculty and staff who spend many hours working on EOPC programs. The purpose of this policy is to augment the limited amount of funds available to EOPC and to insure that sponsoring units are so committed to the success of their programs that they are willing to invest their own funds or to seek external funding to support programs. EOPC believes this policy also facilitates the transition units must make from partial funding to full funding after five years.

The basic rule-of-thumb for determining in-kind support is: would the unit be providing support for a position, program, etc. whether or not it participated in an EOPC-sponsored program? If the answer to this question is "Yes," then the support is considered in-kind. For example, many EOPC programs occur during the summer and devote staff time to EOPC programs. If staff participating in the program are normally working for 12 months regardless of their assignment, their support is in-kind. However, if the program has staff who are on 10-month contracts and would not be working during the summer unless they are working on an EOPC program, then this support can be considered direct dollar support.

Further examples of in-kind support include:

Use of offices or other facilities, unless there is a fee charged to the unit for use of the facilities and these facilities are used exclusively for the EOPC programs
Use of computers and other equipment
"External" support generated by tuition dollars