Funding Resources

Saying please and thank you will take you far on your fundraising journey. Its simple relationship building with potential funders and volunteers is important to the success of your project. So use your manners!

The more personal and sincere you are with the people on your list, the quicker you will be able to make the ask. Talk with potential donors in layman terms. Make it accessible and understandable; clarity makes people trust your message more because you show that you have nothing to hide. Now that you’ve written out your grants, you can share details of where their money will be going and at what point of the project. When other people ask them about your project, they should be able to express your goals in a concise and convincing way.

Laura Fredrick’s book, “The Ask: How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose,” offers “10 Guiding Principles for Any Ask.” We've adapted them for playground fundraising.

Here are our Ten Rules for

In previous posts, we talked about the different types of ways you can raise money for your project. In this post, we will unpack one of those examples; writing grants. A grant is a sum of “free” money given by the government, foundations, or corporations, to groups (typically nonprofits) that go through a rigorous application process against other applicants. Follow our guidelines below and your “wishes” just might be granted!  

Wish #1 - The perfect grant source

The best way to find relevant grants to apply for is to look on the Foundation Center’s website, www.foundationcenter.org, where they provide information about philanthropy and a comprehensive database on national grantmakers. You can search for organizations that focus on children’s play and playgrounds, but also think outside the box. Your playground site will promote education, physical fitness, health and wellness, outdoor recreation,

Soliciting funding sources sounds more intimidating than it actually is. If you’re ok with borrowing shoes from a friend for the night or your neighbor’s pressure washer, then asking them for money to build a playground that benefits both of you will be a breeze! And asking strangers is even easier than that! Finding funding sources requires being a little creative. It's an open-ended process that requires diligence and imagination and a sense of fun and adventure! Below are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

1. Donations and pledges                     

Donations and pledges will most likely be the primary funding source for your project. The good news is it’s relatively simple. Tell a story that will directly relate to your prospective donor and let them know the impact of their individual gift, how it will address specific needs and the progress