GRANTS & FUNDING
Fit and Fun Playscapes® understands the financial constraints of purchasing equipment to enhance the development of ALL children. We especially recognize the challenges of schools, early education centers, public health departments and parks. In an effort to assist you in funding your purchase, we have collected the following excerpts from and links to some potential resources to obtain money to purchase inclusive PE, recess, playground, sensory path and active play products. Please click each link for complete funding resource information. Although Fit and Fun Playscapes® can assist you by connecting you with a grant writing assistant, please note that we do not endorse any of these organization or guarantee any award.
A WORD ABOUT ESSER FUNDING & LEARNING LOSS
If you are an educator or work with schools, you know what ESSER funds are. But, do you need top articles about how this will impact your school? Do you need some ideas on creative ways to utilize every penny of the funds you received? Do you want to know if ESSER funds cover sensory paths, social emotional learning or physical education? Check out the links directly below for great, trusted information to help you understand the impact of the impending fiscal cliff due to the ending of ESSER funding and best ways to prepare grant funding applications.
A Word About ESSER Funding & Learning Loss
"What Does the End of ESSER Funding Mean?"
This article is by Studies Weekly®. Since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the United States have relied on emergency ESSER funding from the federal government to hire more teachers, purchase instructional resources, and more. Now that this program is coming to an end, educators wonder what the future will look like without this funding.
"Advocating for Education Equity as ESSER Funding Winds Down"
Time is running out to spend the unprecedented, one-time federal pandemic-relief funds [ESSER Funds] — the deadline will happen around September 30, 2024. Between now and then, there is an opportunity for families and education advocates to encourage their school district leaders to spend down and sustain investments that are successfully addressing educational inequities.
"A Quick Guide to Writing Grants for Sensory Rooms In Schools"
This blog is by Fit and Fun Playscapes®. Grant writing can be overwhelming but it doesn't have to! Learn from our experienced and successful grant writer, Dr. Tim Davis, about his top 8 tips for writing a grant about creating a sensory room. Sensory paths, sensory pathways, sensory hallways, sensory trails as well as sensory rooms are great, creative ways to make up for learning loss and teach self-regulation for students and staff.
"Funding Your Sensory Path and Room"
We really want a sensory path and room – BUT, how can we get funding? You and your fellow teachers/staff have read the research, blogs and discussions and understand the need for a sensory pathway or sensory room in your school …. BUT you have been told by your administrator “Great idea but sorry we have no funding this year." Follow these 10 steps to prepare your ESSER funding request or other grant request.
Sensory & Inclusive Needs
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. There are a number of grants and grant services listed on their website.
Easter Seals
Easter Seals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for more than 90 years. From child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training for people with disabilities, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals. Check out their website to see their grants and grant services.
Jack's Place
Jack’s Place for Autism Foundation is dedicated to fulfilling its mission of providing support, education, compassion, and a comprehensive array of services to help families cope with the day-to-day challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals and their families impacted by ASD. Scholarships are provided for Michigan residents only.
U.S. Department of Education and Department of Special Education
U.S. Department of Education and Department of Special Education offer grant opportunities and funding. Information on grant opportunities and funding from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) can be found on their website.
Physical Education & Activity Supports
Cigna
Healthier Kids For Our Future is a 5-year, $25 million global initiative brought to life by Cigna and the Cigna Foundation. We’re committed to building better communities and a healthier future, one kid at a time. In 2019, we teamed up with schools and community groups to reduce food insecurity—connecting our partners with the resources they need to solve this worldwide challenge. In 2020, we added programming to address the mental health and emotional well-being of children, with emphasis on loneliness, anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention.
National After School Association
The mission of the National After School Association is to foster development, provide education, and encourage advocacy for the out-of-school-time community. NAA has State Affiliates across the United States. Our affiliates are statewide organizations aligned with NAA’s mission to inspire, connect and equip afterschool professionals. Affiliates' missions and strategies promote quality after-school programs and professional development in their states.
After School Alliance
The After School Alliance is an amazing resource that outlines funding sources from federal and state agencies and private companies. Use the search tool to zone in on types of grants.
Rural Health Information Hub
The Rural Health Information Hub, formerly the Rural Assistance Center, is funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to be a national clearinghouse on rural health issues. The organization is committed to supporting healthcare and population health in rural communities. Specifically, under topics and applying for grants provides an amazing resource that addresses everything RURAL! Look for topics such as physical activity, health, and obesity.
Playground, Recess, & Other
Kaboom!
Kaboom! works nationally to achieve equitable and accessible playspaces. They team up with communities to build playspaces that help give every kid the chance to thrive physically, socially and emotionally.
Fuel Up To Play 60
This fund works to improve healthy eating and physical activity opportunities at school. Up to $4,000 per year is available to qualified K-12 schools enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 to jump-start healthy changes.
Walmart
Our local community grants are awarded through an open application process and provide funding directly from Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities to local organizations in the U.S. Local Community grants range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $5,000.
Candid
Although most of the funding opportunities listed are geared toward classroom teachers, the data that you can capture here will be a HUGE help to fund after school programs and community organizations. Foundation Directory Online, the most extensive, up-to-date database of philanthropic giving, can show you where they are—and help you win more funding.
Action for Healthy Kids
Action for Healthy Kids has provided $9.3 million in grants to schools since 2009 to help them accomplish their student wellness goals.
U.S. Department of Education
Searchable database for grants pertaining to federal funding opportunities for organizations and entities supporting the development and management of government programs and projects.
Fit and Fun Playscapes® can connect you with a grant writing assistant to help you complete your grant application.
Need help with finding and preparing grant applications? Grant preparation can be time consuming and difficult to navigate. Fit and Fun Playscapes can assist your funding efforts with our FREE, 30-minute Grant Assistance Service. A grant assistant will help you discuss key concepts by identifying and clarifying opportunities and needs. For an additional fee, Fit and Fun Playscapes can connect you with an experienced grant writer to help you prepare a proposal that can be submitted to your school, writing group, funding source or other agency/foundation.
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