Playground grants in Wisconsin

Yes, but check who may apply before you start. In the Marshfield area, the Marshfield Area Community Foundation's Community Grants accept school districts as well as nonprofits, churches and government agencies, and recreation is one of the foundation's listed community priorities. The program runs two grant cycles a year, one in January and one in July.

Many other Wisconsin community foundation grants are limited to nonprofits. For example, the Mid Wisconsin Legacy Foundation Grants, offered through the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, do not accept schools or any group that receives federal or state funding. A public school should look first at programs like Marshfield's that name school districts as eligible. See our playgrounds for schools.

In some places, yes. The Marshfield Area Community Foundation's Community Grants name churches as eligible applicants, along with nonprofits, schools and government agencies serving the Marshfield area. Recreation is one of the foundation's listed priorities, so present the playground as a recreation improvement for the local community.

Not every Wisconsin foundation accepts churches. The Mid Wisconsin Legacy Foundation Grants, offered in communities once served by Mid Wisconsin Bank, specifically exclude churches. Confirm that churches are named as eligible before you apply. See our church playground equipment.

Some local foundations fund public projects directly. The Marshfield Area Community Foundation's Community Grants accept government agencies serving the Marshfield area and list recreation as a priority, with two application cycles each year. Federal Community Development Block Grant money also flows through local government. Cities and counties receive it every year and choose the projects themselves. The money must mainly benefit low- and moderate-income people, and building public facilities and improvements is an eligible use.

Rural towns of 20,000 people or fewer can also look at the USDA Community Facilities program, which accepts applications year round. The grant covers 15% to 75% of the project cost, depending on town size and income, and low-interest loans can cover the rest. You must show you cannot pay for the project from your own resources or commercial credit. See our playgrounds for parks.

Some do require outside money. The Racine Community Foundation's Competitive Grants require proposals to include financial commitments from other funders. The Mount Horeb Community Foundation does not set a match, but it prefers projects that draw other support and are sustainable over time, so showing other gifts or volunteer help strengthens a request there.

On surfacing, the Viroqua Area Foundation does not fund operating expenses, so ask for one-time costs such as equipment, surfacing or shade rather than upkeep.

Award sizes vary widely by program. In Marathon County, the Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin range from $1,000 to $100,000, depending on the scope of the project. They are open to 501(c)(3) organizations serving the greater Wausau area or Marathon County, and there are four deadlines a year.

In Brown, Kewaunee and Oconto counties, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation's Funds For Greater Green Bay awards up to $20,000 to nonprofits. It runs a winter cycle and a summer cycle each year and gives priority to community improvement and youth development.