The grant department maintains current district figures to calculate staffing, computer costs, facilities usage, etc. In-kind funds do not require a cash outlay , yet would cost actual dollars if the district paid for the services or equipment rendered to complete the project. Some funders require a certain percentage or ratio of matching funds. Indirect costs are often referred to as administrative or overhead costs. These costs are not directly listed in the budget, but are incurred in the project.
Indirect costs are often difficult to quantify.
Indirect costs may include the payroll and accounting costs incurred to implement your project, the use of a district-owned copier, fax machine, or computer, and the lights and utilities used in your classroom to implement the project . Rather than calculating a strict cost accounting of these nebulous factors, many funding sources allow you to calculate a percentage of your direct costs and add it to your budget request. A general guideline is 5 percent of the total grant request. If costs are straightforward and the numbers tell the story clearly, explanations are redundant. The section builds credibility for your school and the District.