GameTime is helping communities throughout Canada find playground funding resources and playground grants for all types of outdoor recreation projects. The right funding source can sometimes be hard to find. We want to help you find the funds you need.
How to Find a Playground Funding Partner
At the end of this article are some of the foundations we’ve discovered who provide grants in Canada for park and playground projects. NOTE: These organizations are not affiliated with GameTime. Please contact each foundation directly for specific questions, deadlines, and eligibility requirements.
How to Write a Playground Grant Application
Read the requirements of each funding entity carefully to make sure you are following their submission guidelines. Most funders provide playground grants based on need. These funders also want to see evidence of how their grant is contributing in a positive way.
Be prepared to demonstrate need, as well as a way to report back the positive outcomes of your project.
Do not send the same grant application to every organization. While it may be good to start with a rough sketch of your project’s strengths, goals, and timeline for completion, it’s not good to use the same application for every single organization. Everyone likes to feel special, including the people from whom you’re asking money.
Waiting for a Playground Grant Answer
The waiting period for each foundation to make a decision about your grant varies by organization. And the waiting is the hardest part. A playground grant decision can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, during which time they may ask for more information from you or professional references.
We Are Here to Help
If you have question about funding opportunities, contact one of our playground experts. We can help provide detailed plans for your playground project. We can also supply you with important research and information that will help you make your case for a playground grant.
Playground Grant Sources in Canada
(Updated August 30, 2020)
Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Ontario Trillium Foundation funds some 700 unique projects a year. Our investments make a difference in communities across Ontario and we are pleased to work with your organization to ensure you understand what and how we fund.
Play Here Fund Grants
BCAA has a long history of protecting kids in BC, on and off the road. The goal of BCAA Play Here is to continue this tradition by giving children in BC better places to play. To accomplish this objective, we’re looking for play spaces around the province that are in need of revitalization. Play spaces can include a park, playground, community garden, music room or after-school study area – if it’s a place where kids can spend their time and develop valuable life skills, we want to hear about how it can be improved to make it a better place for kids to play! At the end of the contest period, the 3 winning spaces will each receive revitalization worth up to $100,000.
Enabling Accessibility Fund
The youth innovation component empowers youth to identify accessibility barriers within their communities and work with local organizations to develop solutions to increase accessibility and safety in community spaces and workplaces. Funding of up to $10,000 is available to support capital costs of eligible projects, which may include initiatives like installing automatic door openers, constructing raised garden beds in a community garden, or acquiring specialized wheelchairs to access sandy beaches.
Federated Co-Op Community Spaces
Co-op Community Spaces has been developed to help protect, beautify and improve spaces across Western Canada. In keeping with our ongoing commitment to invest in the communities we serve, Co-op will contribute up to $2 million to help support projects that improve the places Canadians meet, play, learn and share.
Community Spaces
Co-op Community Spaces has been developed to help protect, beautify and improve spaces across Western Canada. In keeping with our ongoing commitment to invest in the communities we serve, Co-op will contribute up to $150,000 per project to help support projects that improve the places Canadians meet, play, learn and share.
Edmonton Community Foundation
The Community Play Space Program supports the creation or redevelopment of public use community playgrounds and parks in the greater Edmonton area.
Good Life 4 Kids
GoodLife Kids Foundation RAISES FUNDS to support national, provincial and local programs that provide sustainable physical activity opportunities for kids and remove some of the barriers currently holding children back from living a healthy life. To date GoodLife Kids Foundation has impacted the lives of over 240,000 Canadian kids through physical activity opportunities.
Citigroup Foundation Grants - Global
Average total yearly giving $52 million. Citibank’s communities around the world are eligible to apply. Neighborhood revitalization is a focus.