Many schools are asking the question, ‘How do I fund a new playground?’ Funding a school playground often involves more than one approach. Schools may explore school playground grants, cooperative purchasing strategies, and community support, or a combination of these options, to successfully create new play spaces.

Here are some effective ways to get started.

 
Start with Playground Grants for Schools

A grant for playground equipment at schools can cover part or all of equipment costs. These grants may come from public agencies, foundations, or private organizations and often support student health, accessibility, and community wellness. 

A helpful starting point is our Grant Resources Guide, which compiles local, regional, and national playground grants schools may be eligible for.

Another helpful resource for possible grants is BCI Burke’s recent article, 4 Playground Grants to Apply For, providing specific grant possibilities along with next steps in the process.

When applying for grants, it can be helpful to keep in mind the following tips: 

  • Align your project with the funder’s mission
  • Clearly explain who will benefit and why
  • Show community support and planning readiness
  • Track deadlines early

It is important to keep in mind that grant cycles vary and may last up to a year, so allowing sufficient time helps set the application process up for success. Applying for multiple grants can broaden funding opportunities, with a corresponding increase in the overall timeline. It is also worth mentioning that grants can cover anywhere from a small portion of equipment costs to the full project, depending on the grant’s size, scope, and eligibility requirements. Schools should review grant guidelines carefully to understand what portion of their playground costs may be funded.

 
Use Cooperative Purchasing to Save Time and Money

While grants provide financial assistance, matching financial needs to donor goals, cooperative purchasing gives schools compliant ways to purchase equipment. Cooperative purchasing facilitates the purchase of playground equipment through pre-negotiated, competitively awarded contracts, which is beneficial because they eliminate the need for a lengthy RFP process and have already factored in pre-approved, cost-effective pricing. This represents another way for schools to reduce their overall expenditure on a playground.

As outlined in BCI Burke’s article Streamlined Paths to Play: Understanding Cooperative Purchasing, cooperative purchasing helps schools:

  • Reduce administrative workload
  • Maintain procurement compliance
  • Stretch grant dollars further
  • Move projects forward faster

Your representative can help you explore cooperative purchasing options that may already be in place for your district, including contacts with partners such as GovMovmt, OMNIA Partners, Sourcewell, and Equalis Group.

Cooperative purchasing offers a faster, more efficient timeline to the traditional Request for Proposal process. By simplifying selection, it helps move projects forward by three to six months or more, and gets kids enjoying their new playground equipment sooner.

 
Combine Additional Funding Sources

Many successful playground projects pair school playgrounds grants and cooperative purchasing with other funding options, such as:

  • PTO or PTA fundraising
  • Local business sponsorships
  • Community foundations

By combining these funding sources, schools can maximize their budget, reduce financial barriers, and bring high-quality playgrounds to life more efficiently.

A Clear Path from Funding to Play

Funding a school playground doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By exploring grant opportunities, leveraging cooperative purchasing, and engaging community partners, schools can create safe, engaging play spaces that benefit students for years to come. While project timelines vary based on grant cycles and procurement methods, and funding awards can take several months to up to a year, strategic planning helps keep projects moving forward. Using cooperative purchasing can further streamline the process, reducing delays and supporting a faster transition from selection to installation, so students can enjoy new playground equipment sooner.