University of Nebraska Kearney

Grants Accounting:   Cost Share / Matching Funds 

Some granting agencies require that the University fund a portion of the total cost of the project. Any commitments on the part of UNK to share costs or match funds should be detailed in the contract or grant agreement. The Principal Investigator is responsible for identifying and maintaining documentation of items and expenses claimed as match. A separate cost center can be created to account for all items claimed as match.

Federal OMB Circular A-110, Section_.23 states that:

All contributions, including cash and third party in-kind, shall be accepted as part of the recipient’s cost sharing or matching when such contributions meet all of the following criteria:

1. Are verifiable from the recipient’s records.
   
2. Are not included as contributions for any other federally-assisted project or program.
   
3. Are necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient accomplishment of project or program objectives.
   
4. Are allowable under the applicable cost principles (OMB Circular A-21).
   
5. Are not paid by the Federal Government under another award, except where authorized by Federal statute to be used for cost sharing or matching.
   
6. Are provided for in the approved budget when required by the Federal awarding agency.
   
7. Conform to other provisions of Circular A-110, as applicable.

Other contributions may include:

• Un-recovered indirect costs only with the prior approval of the federal awarding agency.
  
• Values for recipient contributions of services and property where the values are established in accordance with the applicable cost principles (of OMB Circular A-21).
  
• Volunteer services furnished by professional and technical personnel, consultants, etc. if the service is an integral and necessary part of an approved project or program.
  
• Services of an employee which are furnished by an employer other than the recipient.
  
• Donated supplies such as expendable equipment, office supplies, laboratory supplies or workshop and classroom supplies.
  
• Donated property.

The descriptions and values for the above listed categories of cost share were not included in their entirety. Please refer to OMB A-110 for specific details regarding allowability.