If you're a 501(c)3 fundraising options are far more plentiful.

One idea is to check with your state or county to see if you have an "Open Space" grant program. We have them in New Jersey and we received close to $40,000 since the playground would be protecting open space available to the public. We couldn't get a Lowe's grant since we weren't doing a community install.

Other than that the usual suspects are good for fundraising - we were particularly successful with a walkathon, and a tricky tray (chinese/yankee auction whatever you call them in your neck of the woods). Both earned us well over $10,000 each.

Also check out the Lowe's grant on the site here.

I applied and received $5000 a year ago which was specifically for playground improvements.

PresidentJim

You might have to fundraise for a few years to raise the funds needed to get what you are wanting--
Walk-a-thons with pledges work great-- Great family fun nights with a fee work as well.
Good luck!

Cindi-

We are a large scool of 500+ and we have just finished installing our new playground. We finished our fundraising ahead of schedule thanks to the generous parents and friends of our school. Lowes grants are great. Some of your local Elks, VFW's and Legions might be willing to help. Also, check with the vendor you will be using. Sometimes (as was in our case) they might have a matching grant program where you raise half and they will kick in the other half.
We also did Gertrude Hawk chocolates, raffled off a big creen tv, and moved any money that was not needed or alloted for our working fund over to the playground. Hope this helps

Our school is a small Title 1 school. We need a new playground and need to raise around $50,000. Does anyone have any good fundraising ideas or grant ideas? Thanks so much. Cindi