Ruth, my experience with ED is that the only rules which count are the written
ones.  We regularly submit proposals with matching funds; sometimes the award
letters we get back include the match, other times they don't.  When they
don't, we don't account for them nor report them.  But when they do, of course,
then we do.  Chances are, whatever ED has done in the past, they will do again.

My recommendation is to compute what the actual match is likely to be and write
it into your proposal.  I think it's generally good proposal-writing strategy
to show a match, it impresses the readers and helps convince your
administration that they have some ownership of the project.  But keep in mind
that you will probably be held accountable for that match through time & effort
reports, annual reports, etc.--so don't include any match you can't account
for.

Regards, Bill Campbell
Director, Grants & Research
University of Wisconsin-River Falls

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