As a kid, I have always loved playing on the swings, slides, and monkey bars. They were a source of joy and fun for me and my friends. But not every child has access to these simple pleasures. That’s why I am here with this article on free playground equipment for churches.
We’ll be sharing sources that assist churches in getting free or low-cost playground equipment for their communities and how this can benefit the children and families they serve. In this blog, you will find tips and resources from churches that have successfully installed playground equipment on their grounds.
Free Playground Equipment For Churches: Sources
A playground is a child’s first step toward personal growth. They learn community building, develop leadership qualities, and inculcate team-building while having fun with their peers. To help the kids in your community, here’s a list of sources that offer assistance with free playground equipment for churches:
1. KaBoom!
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that helps communities build playgrounds. They offer grant programs, like the Playful Place Challenge, to fund playground projects.
Name of the program: Playful Place Challenge
Type of Assistance: Offers funds to build playground and buy playground equipment
How To Apply: Submit a pre-application, which includes questions about the community’s need for a playground, its plans, and its financial capacity to complete the project.
Official Website: https://kaboom.org/
Once your pre-application is accepted, you will have to fill out the complete application form, which is more detailed and requires you to submit more information about the project, including a site plan, budget, and timeline.
2. Playcore
PlayCore is a leading playground equipment manufacturer that also offers a variety of grant programs to help communities fund and build playgrounds. One of the most popular grant programs is the PlayCore Community Grant Program.
Name of the program: PlayCore Community Grant Program
Type of Assistance: Offers funds to build and renovate the community playground
How To Apply: Submit a pre-application, which includes questions about the community’s need for a playground, its plans, and its financial capacity to complete the project.
Official Website: https://www.playcore.com/
3. The National Association of Recreation and Parks (NRPA)
A non-profit organization that offers a variety of resources to help churches and other organizations plan, develop, and manage playgrounds.
Name of the program: N/A
Type of Assistance: Offers guidance regarding the resources that help with free playground equipment for churches
How To Apply: Visit their official website
Official Website: https://www.nrpa.org/
4. Play Mart Inc.
Play Mart’s goal is to donate free playground equipment for churches and worthy causes. It is a playground equipment company specializing in playground equipment made from recycled milk jugs.
Name of the program: The Play Mart Inc. Grant Program
Type of Assistance: Offers funds up to $10,000 to purchase new playground equipment
How To Apply: Submit an online application form that informs the organization about the need for the equipment, plans for its use, and the financial capacity to maintain it.
Official Website: https://playmart.com/
Name of the program: The Play Mart Inc. Donation Program
Type of Assistance: Churches receive free used playground equipment from Play Mart Inc.
How To Apply: Submit an online application form that informs the organization about the need for the equipment, plans for its use, and the financial capacity to maintain it.
Official Website: https://playmart.com/
5. GameTime
GameTime is a leading playground equipment manufacturer that does not offer free playground equipment for churches directly, but they do offer a variety of resources and programs to help churches and other organizations afford and build playgrounds.
Name of the program: The Play Mart Inc. Donation Program
Type of Assistance: Churches receive guidance regarding free used playground equipment
How To Apply: Visit their official website
Official Website: https://www.gametime.com/
While seeking free playground equipment for churches, you can also look for grants to help build churches. You can benefit from them as playground building can also be considered a part of church construction and renovation.
Free Church Grants For Playground Equipment
85% of parents say that having a playground nearby is important for their children’s physical and mental health. That’s why numerous non-profit organizations, like the Happy Kids Foundation, are offering free church grants for playground equipment.
Here’s a list of the 5 most sought-after organizations that want to create or improve outdoor play areas:
Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP)
Keurig Dr Pepper’s “Let’s Play” initiative promotes play as an essential part of a child’s development.
Through “Let’s Play,” Keurig Dr Pepper provides funding, grants, and in-kind donations to support the development of play spaces and recreation programs.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s has a history of supporting community projects, including renovating and constructing playgrounds.
Churches can apply for Lowe’s community grants to help fund playground projects, with awards typically ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Walmart
Walmart’s Community Grant Program supports a range of community-focused initiatives, including those related to education and recreation.
Churches must apply for funding to support projects that benefit their communities, including playground improvements.
Disney
The Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division has a philanthropic arm supporting projects to improve children’s lives.
You can visit their official website to check the eligibility for free church grants for playground equipment that they offer.
The Home Depot
They provide grants, volunteer assistance, and in-kind donations to help build and revitalize play spaces.
Through their Community Impact Grant Program, you can get free playground equipment for churches or funds to buy the same.
Eligibility For Free Church Grants For Playground Equipment Programs
Here is the list of common eligibility criteria that you are required to fulfill for any non-profit organization to get free playground equipment for churches:
- The church must be a registered non-profit organization with a valid tax ID number.
- It is necessary to demonstrate a need for playground equipment and a lack of funds to purchase it.
- The church must have a suitable site for installing the playground equipment, with adequate space, drainage, and accessibility.
- An agreement to maintain the playground equipment and follow safety guidelines is required.
- The church must be willing to share the playground equipment with the surrounding community and promote inclusiveness and diversity.
When your church meets these criteria, you will be able to apply for free playground equipment for churches from organizations like Kaboom, Playcore, Miracle Recreation, and many more.
People Also Ask
Free playground equipment for churches is not only a boon to the organization but also to the children in the community. Here are the three most-asked questions regarding the application procedure:
What are the benefits of free church grants for playground equipment?
They can enhance your church’s outreach and ministry efforts, improve your property value, and curb appeal while creating a safe, fun, and accessible space for children and families.
How to write a successful grant proposal to get free playground equipment for churches?
A successful grant proposal should clearly and compellingly describe your project goals, objectives, activities, budget, timeline, and evaluation plan.
What are some sources of free playground equipment for churches?
Some sources are KaBOOM!, Play It Forward, Miracle Recreation, KOMPAN, and Playworld.
The Bottom Line
Getting free playground equipment for churches is not impossible, but it requires some planning and effort. Churches can apply for grants from organizations such as the KaBOOM! Foundation or the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation that support community development and children’s welfare. Churches can also partner with local businesses or schools to share or donate playground equipment or organize fundraising events to collect donations from their members and neighbors.
