Imagine that you finally settle on a blueprint for your dream playground after years of planning. It has everything you wanted, but when you look at the budget, you wonder, "how can we afford everything we want?"

Fortunately, there are many ways to generate playground funding in your community and reach your goals. This article will explore how to fund preschool and church playgrounds and bring your dreams to life.

Raising Funds for Preschool Playgrounds

One great way to build funds for your playground is through fundraising. For preschool playgrounds, try planning a special event that encourages the whole family to come out and support your efforts.

An event like a talent show would excite children and encourage their immediate and extended families to attend. Even a modest admission fee for tickets can raise significant funds. If you also run a bake sale simultaneously with the talent show, sales from the talent show tickets AND baked goods could contribute to funding your playground. 

A talent show also gives you a stage to explain why this playground is essential and encourages families to make additional donations toward the project. 

You never know who will be in the crowd at your talent show. Suppose one of your students' parents, grandparents, aunt or uncle works at a large company. They might be willing to sponsor the playground project. You can put the business' name on the playground signage or surfacing as a way for the business to get its name out there and show the community they care about its quality of life.

Another great way to fund your playground is through grants. Websites such as Candid.org provide a comprehensive database of grants that you can navigate and apply for. GameTime also offers a playground funding guide you can download free of charge. The guide includes hundreds of state, regional, and national funding sources.

You can search for organizations that focus on children's play and playgrounds, but don't forget to think outside of the box! Reach out to organizations that promote education, physical fitness, health and wellness, outdoor recreation, and community development, especially if your project fits their philanthropic mission, vision, and requirements.

Church Playground Fundraising Ideas

Church playgrounds also benefit from a fundraising event. When selecting an event, try to pick one that reflects the age group of your church. If most of your congregation is older adults without children/grandchildren attending the church, choose an event such as "coffee and conversation." 

Events like these are perfect opportunities to discuss why it's essential to invest in youth who will be the congregation's future. If your church does have a large youth population, a talent show and bake sale is also a great idea. Don't be afraid to reach out to influential people in the community and build relationships for sponsorship opportunities.

Grants are also an excellent option for church playgrounds. If your church belongs to a specific denomination, see if they offer any grants. You'll find plenty of resources in our playground funding guide, too. 

Unite Your Community

Playground funding can take time, but it isn't an impossible task. Tap into your community and build genuine connections with those around you. Share how the playground will benefit the children who use it now and those who will use it in the future. 

Raising money for a playground can also be a fun way to bring everyone together, such as through a talent show or bake sale. If you need more tips and ideas for raising playground funds, reach out to a GameTime representative today.