In kind contribution
Definition
A non-monetary contribution to a campaign, such as free or discounted goods, services, or staff time, or a coordinated expenditure made on a candidate's behalf. It is valued at fair market price and counts against the same contribution limits as a cash donation.
Why it matters
Because in-kind contributions are not cash, they are easier to undervalue, misreport, or overlook, whether it is a consultant donating "free" strategic advice worth far more than reported, or a coordinated ad buy that should be counted as a contribution but is filed as an independent expenditure instead.
Seen in the wild
FEC guidance treats coordinated ad buys, donated polling or consulting services, and free office space as in-kind contributions requiring disclosure and subject to limits. Enforcement complaints alleging illegal coordination, such as the 2023 complaints against the DeSantis campaign and Never Back Down, effectively argue that undisclosed coordinated spending should have been reported as an in-kind contribution.1