grants and funding
How to get funding for your playground project
What is a playground grant?
Grants are a form of financial aid offered by different organisations to fund playground projects in the community. These grants can be very helpful in realizing your project as they can provide a significant boost to your overall budget. The best part about grants is that the money allocated does not have to be repaid, meaning it is essentially free. So, if you are planning a playground project or an outdoor fitness site, applying for a grant is definitely worth considering. Playground grants can come from different pools, such as:
Corporate or business grants
National grants
Foundation grants
Individual grants
Applying for funding and grants may seem like a big hill to climb, as many stakeholders are involved. We are happy to advise and guide you from the start of your funding journey.
Who can apply for a playground grant?
If you're in search of funding for a playground project for your school, nursery, local council or non-profit organisation, you should know that there are grant funding opportunities available for all. However, it's important to note that certain grants require specific projects. For instance, if you're looking for funding for an inclusive playground, you'll need to apply for grants that are specific to that project. Also, different stakeholders will be relevant to your project depending on its nature. To help you with your search, we can guide you through the process of finding funding.
How do I know if the donor is a match for my playground grant application?
1. Local Prospects
Start by searching for what’s available on a local level. Local grants often provide more value to your local project as they support something within the local community. They sometimes don’t always require the funds to be matched. Starting the search in the largest town or city in your area is a good place to start.
2. National Prospects
Follow up by applying for national funds. They tend to come with larger budgets and provide significant support - keep in mind that these types of grants may require match funding, which indicates requirements on how big your budget needs to be. This is why you’ll want to acquire national grants to supplement your local funding opportunities.
3. Fundraising
Applying for additional funds with a fundraising campaign is a viable option. Local people, local family funds, entrepreneurs, and businesses often favour fundraising. Beyond the ability to support their local community, they may see an added value in contributing to a specific part of the playground, such as a small plaque or sponsored area.
Playground grant application process
1. Get the Experts on Board
Your local KOMPAN playground consultant can offer advise and guidance on a local level. We have a vast knowledge of the grant application process and can often guide you in the right direction. We can assist you with the fundamentals of the application, such as visualising your project and break down of costs. We also recommend involving the true play experts, the children and getting their input.
2. Set the Application Team
Having a strong team around you to support you in the application process is highly recommendable. If you are applying for a playground grant for schools, getting your parent-teacher organisation involved as the core team can be beneficial. We know from experience that non-profit organisations are often more likely to get funding. Therefore, they are often a vital asset in the application process.
3. Agree on Budget and Design
Together, we can agree on a budget and the design of your project. Your playground consultant will help you determine a realistic budget, as the budget is a vital criterion of any application. You want the budget to be ambitious enough for your dream outdoor activity area. Many funds would like to see the playground project design and a breakdown of costs. We are here to help and advise you on both.
4. Start Networking
Networking is a great way to form team and business relationships to identify and create business opportunities, such as applying for a playground grant. The more stakeholders you have makes it easier to help fund your project, especially within your local community. Get in touch with local business associations or families and parent groups in the area: as they can all help participate in the grant process.
5. Sign-off and Apply
Once you have decided on a budget and have the scope and details in place, the playground project is then ready to be presented to the stakeholders for the final sign-off. And then, you can start applying for grants. Make sure to go for multiple kinds of funds, as both the size and requirements of the grants will vary.
6. Receive grant money - Let's go!
Applying multiple times for grants is not uncommon, but all good things come to those who wait. Having thoroughly researched the application process, a playground grant should be on the way to your project and community so you can realise the playground of your dreams!
Six tips for writing a playground grant application
No playground grant application is the same, but there are some common tips on how to write the best application possible and making the process go smoothly. We have collected our best tips for you here:
Start early: The application process takes time, and there is much of preparation before sending out applications. So, start early to ensure you have time to gather all the necessary information.
Know the fund you’re applying for: Ensure you follow the grant requirements thoroughly. This includes ensuring that the fund is willing to give grants to playground projects and that the grant is eligible in your district.
Align your cause to their cause: In continuation of no. 2, align your cause with the funds. If they want to create healthier communities or enhance the community’s outdoor activity areas by adding an inclusive playground, highlight and discuss that specifically about your project. Promote your story about how the playground will benefit your local community so stakeholders know how their engagement is beneficial.
Know your audience and their needs: What does your own community/school/kindergarten need? Knowing and answering these questions is a vital part of the application - highlight that people in your local community support the project.
Be specific and know your details: Write clearly and professionally and learn the details of your project; Include visuals of the layout, breakdown of costs and the timeline for the project. When the fundraising process begins, donations for a specific playground product might be more straightforward, therefore we recommend including a list with product prices within the overall budget.
Proofread – and read again: It’s a good idea to ask someone unfamiliar with the project to read through the application before applying. Typos can occur and ruin what could be an amazing application.
Remember - You have a good cause. Playgrounds help children become more active and encourage healthier lifestyles.
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