What Are Use-it-or-lose-it Funds?
Use-it-or-lose-it funds are marketing dollars - most often MDF - that a channel partner forfeits entirely if they aren't spent, documented and claimed within the program window. There's no carryover and no partial credit: the balance is either captured on time or lost back to the vendor.
Why it matters to IT channel partners. The phrase describes how most MDF behaves, and why it's the easiest channel money to lose. Funds don't roll over, so a missed deadline means the full balance is gone. Partners who treat MDF as a standing budget rather than a closing window leave money on the table every quarter.
Related terms
FAQ
Often, yes. Accrued co-op is typically forfeited if not claimed before the program year closes, though some programs allow limited carryover.
Stop use-it-or-lose-it funds from expiring unclaimed → See the MDF module