The Toolkit
Everyone deserves a chance to play. Use this toolkit to expand inclusive playgrounds in your community.
Funding
Funding is money that you can use to buy things you need. There are many ways to find funding. Sometimes money can come from different places like the government or businesses. Sometimes you can also get in-kind donations. An in-kind donation is a donation that is not money, like free copies of flyers from a local copy shop.
Playgrounds take resources to create, maintain, and update. Without funding, a playground cannot be created or stay in good condition. One obstacle to creating inclusive playgrounds is the cost. But there are many ways to find funding for projects. Money for playgrounds can come from the government, businesses, community organizations, or individuals. Support for playgrounds can also come from people, like volunteers who build a playground for free instead of charging money. Putting together a good funding plan can help you create a strategy for how to get the resources you need for your project.
Funding can come from different places like the government or businesses. Below are some ideas.
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Federal funding for playground projects is money from the U.S. government. It is usually a grant from a government agency for a project that supports one or more of the goals of the U.S. government. You can find more information about the grants process, search for specific federal funding, and sign up for email subscriptions at www.grants.gov. You can also review The Federal Register, which is a weekly publication that highlights all federal grant notices.
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State funding for playground projects is money the state gives, usually from a state agency for a project that supports one or more of the goals of the state government. The grant application will be a long document that explains the requirements of the grant. This document may be called Grant Application, Request for Proposal, or Notice of Funding Availability. You will have to respond by following the directions in that document. For example, you might have to write answers to questions, a budget, and submit the application on time. For a list of available state grants, go to the Governor’s Grants Office website.
You can also check individual state websites and sign up for their newsletters and listservs for up-to-date information.
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Local funding for playground projects is money that is available from your city or county government. There are different ways to include your local government in your inclusive playground project. One way is by sharing about your inclusive playground project during a city or county council meeting. You or your inclusive playground committee may also decide to participate in your community's public budget process. This is when community members and stakeholders are asked how the budget should be spent. Another way to include local government in your project is by applying for funding through your city or county government. Visit your city or county’s website to find more about how to participate in meetings, comment on the budget process, and apply for funding.
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Private funding for playground projects is any kind of money or other resource you get from any private or for-profit company. This can be a grant, but it can also be in-kind donations. In-kind donations are things like if a restaurant donates pizzas for an event you are having. A private or for-profit company can include foundations, corporations, voluntary agencies, or community groups. There is no one place to go for this information. You need to think about what businesses are in your areas and look up how to ask for a donation from them.
