Charities sometimes receive goods as donations, rather than cash. The value placed on gifts in kind included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) should be the estimated value to the charity of the gift received. Current value to the recipient charity will usually be the price that it estimates it would have to pay in the open market for an equivalent item. Where gifts in kind are recognised, an equivalent amount should be included as expenditure under the appropriate heading in the SoFA. Gifts in kind can take several forms, including buildings and major equipment donated for the charity’s own use (treated as fixed assets in the accounts), other smaller equipment or supplies, or goods for distribution (treated as stock). Donated services should be included in the SoFA as both income and expenditure where the benefit to the charity is quantifiable and measurable, at the value to the charity. Volunteer time is not recognised in charity accounts.
How should donated goods be treated in the accounts?
