Many school districts, park associations, churches and camps around the globe are dreaming and hoping of the day they can install their new playground equipment. Whether you are replacing a rusty, old playground, or adding a new one, playgrounds can be costly. But there are many tools out there today that can help make that dream a reality.
Most of us are aware of the statistics surrounding childhood obesity and the push for national programs to improve the health of our children across the nation. What you may not know is that there are many programs out there that can help you gain funding for your commercial playground equipment.
PLAYGROUND GRANTS
Many of the programs being offered for playground equipment today are in the form of Grants. These playground grants can come from commercial playground equipment manufacturers, national health organizations and/or local government associations. With the growth of national attention to the childhood obesity epidemic, physical fitness and health have become a priority for funding, opening up numerous opportunities for playgrounds and fitness equipment in communities all over the US.
How do you find these playground grants?
First, contact your playground equipment manufacturer and see if they offer a Grants program. Not only can they offer discounts and grants, many manufacturers also offer fundraising programs as well.
Second, talk to your local community and non-profit organizations. They can serve as resources to help provide information on available programs. Make sure to contact your local government offices, parks department, school board etc. to get more information.
Next, get online and find out what organizations and programs are accepting grant applications and what types of programs you can qualify for. The amount of grant programs can be overwhelming at first, but keep digging until you find a program that fits your needs.
FUNDRAISING
If you’re serious about getting that new playground, don’t stop there. Your local community can play an integral role in making the dream of a new playground a reality.
Start by marketing your efforts and telling your community about your goals and how it can impact the children in their neighborhood, school etc. Get help from your commercial playground equipment provider. Many of them offer fundraising programs that include marketing materials, fundraising management, and goal tracking websites.
