Volunteer time value calculator
Volunteer hours can count toward the in-kind match a grant requires, and they belong in the story you tell funders about community support. This tool values them using the national published rate or a figure you enter for your state or for skilled roles.
The published national rate
Independent Sector, with the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland, publishes an estimated national value of volunteer time each year. The most recent figure is $36.14 per hour, for 2025, released in April 2026. It is derived from average hourly earnings for private non-farm workers, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
State values vary widely around that national figure. The tool defaults to the national rate, and you should replace it with your state's published value when you have it, since a funder familiar with the methodology will expect the local number. Confirm the current year's figure before you cite it, because it updates every spring.
When to use a different rate
The national rate is a general volunteer value. For specialized skilled volunteer work, a funder may accept the fair market rate for that specific service instead, which is often higher. An attorney donating legal work, an accountant donating an audit, or a contractor donating construction supervision can reasonably be valued at the going professional rate for that work, documented with what a paid provider would have charged.
Whichever rate you use, keep records: sign-in sheets or a timekeeping log with dates, hours, and the task performed. A match figure a funder cannot see the basis for is a figure they will discount.
How in-kind match works in a budget
A matching or cost-share requirement means you must contribute a share of the project cost from sources other than the grant. In-kind contributions, including valued volunteer time, donated goods, and donated professional services, can count toward that share when the funder allows it.
Record in-kind match on both sides of the budget: as a revenue line showing the contribution and as an expense line showing its use, so the budget still balances. Confirm the funder accepts volunteer time toward match before relying on it, since some federal programs restrict which in-kind sources qualify.
Common questions
What is the value of a volunteer hour?
The most recent national estimate from Independent Sector is $36.14 per hour for 2025, released in April 2026, based on average earnings for private non-farm workers. State values vary around that figure.
Can volunteer time count as grant match?
Often yes. Valued volunteer time can count toward an in-kind match or cost-share requirement when the funder allows it. Confirm eligibility first, since some federal programs restrict which in-kind sources qualify.
Should I use the national rate or my state's rate?
Use your state's published value when you have it, since a funder familiar with the methodology expects the local figure. The national rate is a reasonable default when a state value is not at hand.
Can skilled volunteer work be valued higher?
Yes. For specialized professional services, a funder may accept the fair market rate for that specific work, documented with what a paid provider would have charged, rather than the general volunteer rate.
What records do I need to support a volunteer match?
Sign-in sheets or a timekeeping log showing dates, hours, and the task performed, plus the rate basis you applied. A match figure without a documented basis will be discounted by reviewers.