How to Get Grants for School Playground Equipment
Grant programs are available for various school projects. Schools needing to buy and set up equipment for their playground can apply for grants from various government agencies and private companies as well. Obtaining grants to buy school playground equipment involves a few steps. With careful planning and strategic research, you can locate funding and submit a request that meets each financier's specification.
- Determine what equipment you need to purchase for your school playground and the cost. Make a list of what you will purchase with the grant funds, and their specific costs including installation charges. Find out if the playground will incur additional expenses like new liability insurance. If you intend to contract with a specific supplier, obtain a bid on the supplier's letterhead and include this as an attachment with the grant request.
- Obtain permission from the school authority. Before you apply for grants for school playground equipment, have the school superintendent sign the grant application. You may be required to obtain permission from the school board.
- Locate grant sources. Both federal grants and private grants are available to schools for projects like playground equipment. You can find government grants by visiting the website of Government Grants, which provides information on both state and federal grants. Also you can visit the website of Grants for Teachers for information on school grants, including playground equipment grants that are available from various private sources.
- Contact the prospective grantmaker to find out about the application process. You can call them on the phone or send an email or send a letter of inquiry. Choose your approach based on the information on their website. Follow their suggestions or instructions to apply for the grant you need.
- Submit the grant request within the grantmaker's deadline. Don't deluge the grantmaker with emails or telephone calls inquiring about the status of your grant request. You can call them about two weeks after you have submitted the request to confirm that the proposal arrived. It is a good idea to send a thank-you note to the grant program's officer, no matter the outcome. If you are approved for the grant, follow the guidelines that they provide.