If all the following three questions can be answered, “yes”, then the cost is probably eligible as cost share:
• Is it funded from a non-federal source?
• Is it necessary and reasonable for the accomplishment of project objectives?
• Can it be adequately valued and documented?

• Volunteer services
• Volunteer employee time
• Donated supplies
• Donated equipment
• Cash contributions - from donors able and willing to fund a portion of the project

Calculate the total costs of your project.. Applicants must explain their cost-share contributions in terms of type of contribution and value. If the cost share is not in cash, you must assign a monetary value to it. If the cost share is in cash, you must describe the source(s) of funding.
Regulations regarding cost share for non-U.S. organizations may be found here:
Http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/303mab.pdf (pages 46-49).

Example 1: Volunteer time
A Grantee is going to revitalize a Survivor’s Center by using volunteer labor to paint the center:
• Grantee recruits volunteers to paint the Survivor Center.
• A doctor volunteers to paint.
• The cost of volunteer time of the doctor is the rate he is valued as a painter, not at his professional rate as a doctor
• The average labor cost is used to demonstrate the contribution of volunteer labor cost share for each volunteer painter.
Documentation Required: Grantee documents with survey results, the average labor cost to hire a painter in the location. Time sheet and rate calculation per volunteer documented.

Example 2: Donated Space
A private company lets a Grantee use space in its office free of charge:
• Grantee should obtain a letter from the company stating that the company is letting the grantee use the space.
• Grantee must then obtain an independent appraisal by an authorized authority as to the value of the donated space.

Documentation Required: Signed letter from the private company stating that the space was donated and an independent appraisal of the value of the space.

Example 3: Donated Space
A hotel donates space for the Grantee to conduct Workshop:
• Grantee should obtain a letter from the hotel stating that the hotel is letting the grantee use the space for the workshop.
• Grantee should obtain a copy of the hotel’s pricing list for room rentals for functions and room rents.

Documentation Required: Signed letter from the hotel stating that the space was donated to the Grantee

Example 4: Donated Equipment
A grantee is given an Auto from a private company or individual:
• The grantee should get a signed letter from the donor clearly stating what has been donated
• Value of the donated equipment shall not exceed the fair market value of equipment of the same age and condition at the time of donation

Documentation required: A letter from an independent appraiser stating the value of the donated auto.

Example 5: Cash Contribution
A private company gives Grantee Rupees 5,000.
• The cash contribution will allow the Grantee to conduct additional research to further the goals of their project.
• The Grantee should get a letter from the donor clearly starting how much cash / funding was donated.

Documentation required: Letter between the grantee and the donor documenting the amount of cash donated and date receive by the Grantee.