The phrase in kind has two main definitions. First, it means in goods rather than in money. For example, if you don’t have money to contribute to a cause, you might instead give furniture or computer hardware. Second, in kind means repaid in the same manner. For example, if you have your friend over for dinner, she might repay you in kind by having you over for dinner next week.
Hyphenate in kind when it precedes what it modifies (e.g., in-kind contributions, in-kind repayments). Elsewhere, there is no reason to hyphenate it.
Examples
But sending gifts in kind — like old clothing, canned goods or radiators — can be counterproductive. [New York Times]
The Cambodian people appeared to answer Obama’s cold shoulder in kind. Just a few small clusters of curious Cambodians gathered on the streets to watch his motorcade speed though. [Huffington Post]
Even by the low standards of India’s government, its system of distributing benefits in kind to the needy stands out for waste and inefficiency. [Economist]
Instead of scurrying away or returning the girl’s nastiness in kind, she’d wear her hair like that all week. [Washington Post]
UPS’s charitable foundation oversaw nearly $US100 million in donations and in-kind services to charities last year. [News.com.au]