Accessing Resources
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ACCESSING RESOURCES
Funding, Volunteers, and Partnerships
Finding resources to build your park projects, whether those resources are financial, people powered, knowledge sources, or valuable partnerships that can facilitate sometimes complex processes, is easier when you start early.
Depending on the project you have in mind, you may need to get creative with funding sources. Some projects require large capital budgets and have maintenance needs that stretch into the future; some projects require smaller investment to start but may require year over year funding commitments to complete and maintain.
Be optimistic but realistic about funding opportunities.
Sometimes an opportunity for funding from a government agency will arise suddenly - this may require a shift in project timelines, but might ultimately still allow you to meet your park masterplan goals.
Tips for Grant Applications
Be organized. A well written proposal should include a clear and concise description of how the grant funding will be used. Break up larger plans into smaller projects if that helps you meet the grant requirements or funding availability.
Select projects to fit as closely as possible and be aware of eligible activities as you write your business case. Be concise in your request, and ensure that the activities included meet the requirements as closely as possible.
Grants may not cover the entire cost of a proposed project. Be concise about your contribution and how that contribution will be financed. You may be able to shift approved budget funds so that you can take advantage of a grant that has eligibility restrictions. Be creative!
Research the framework backing the grant, and get a good idea of how your project, or a part of your project, fits into the framework. Most grants have a specific goal; do your best to align your application with the goals, and the language used in the framework.
Get help! You may be able to use a consultant experienced in grant writing to help you be efficient. Additionally, most government grant programs have representatives that can guide you in proposal development. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.
Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Agency provides grant funding for many projects. Sign up for their newsletter to stay on top of grant opportunities, or get in touch with their team.
Donations, Sponsorships & Fundraisers
Finding partners to assist with park projects can be a daunting task, but local businesses and philanthropic organizations can often see the benefits of supporting projects in their community for a variety of reasons.
Once you have a plan in place, and a budget estimate, you can create a sponsorship opportunity that appeals to potential supporters on a case by case basis. What can you provide to a sponsor that aligns with their organization’s goals?
Approaching sponsors can be challenging, so be prepared! Craft a good story about the positive impact of your park project, and how the partner can get involved. Some background research into other projects a sponsor has funded can help you create a good connection to your project.
Be clear in your request and how the funds will be used to reach your project goals. Give the funder an opportunity to consider, and to suggest other options if available. Be open to conversations and be considerate about timelines.
Show your appreciation! Good partnerships require long term nurturing and relationship building. Sponsor appreciation events, ongoing contact about the projects, and updates on how the community support and use for the project keeps partners engaged.
Each ASUPCA member park or conservation area provides opportunities for residents in the community to provide donations. In exchange, communities provide donor recognition in the form of tree planting, benches, plaques or other commemorative amenities or signs.
Donor programs do require some consideration as to what is appropriate for the donation, but it’s a great opportunity to provide residents with a piece of the park or conservation area.
VOLUNTEERS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Organizing volunteers to assist with park activities, conservation efforts, events, and public outreach provides you with additional enthusiastic resources, and an opportunity to provide more education to the public about the value of parks!
There are a number of methods to drive public participation, depending on your needs. First, identify how you could use volunteer assistance: is it a one time effort, ongoing and regular, or time sensitive? This will direct your communication, outreach, and engagement strategy.
Meewasin Volunteer Schedule Tips: Education, Support, and Community Engagement
Meewasin Valley Authority is a large park network with diverse needs, and a relatively small staff. How do they get everything done? They’ve built a strong network of volunteers to help care for their parks! There is a dedicated volunteer organizer on staff to get out to events to educate the public about the volunteer opportunities, and sign them up for a regular newsletter.
The newsletter goes out every 2 weeks, sometimes more often when there are special events, and requires 4-6 hours to prepare. This might be too much for your organization or staff to handle, but keeping an up to date email list of volunteers means you have an engaged group interested in helping out for your events, maintenance and cleanup in parks, and for education potential.
Meewasin staff also keep in touch with organizations and corporations that contribute their time, and their staff, so they can easily organize volunteer activities and events.
Sign up for their newsletter and get some tips on keeping your volunteers engaged!
Weyburn Tree Planting Event: Fun for Kids and Families
Weyburn has organized the Tatagwa Tree planting event for the past 5 years, and it has gained traction and community support. The city’s public relations staff handles communications around the event through social media, the City of Weyburn website, and local radio and Discover Weyburn, a local news outlet.
A popular event always benefits from word of mouth and regular attendees. This event appeals to kids, and provides a great opportunity to educate and inspire children to enjoy the outdoors and interact with nature.
Using a booking system or a simple online form helps organize signups and capture visitor information for future use. This can help to build your outreach network and email list, and to gauge interest in the community for parks and outdoor events in general. Social media is an effective and efficient way to get the word out to new participants.
Door prizes and draws are a big part of the event’s success, and is an easy way to get kids excited about parks. Set aside some budget for door prizes, or approach potential sponsors for donations for your event.
CHECKLIST ITEMS
Organize a team to develop strategies to apply for grants, or to approach potential sponsors. Craft a compelling story about the purpose behind your project and develop a concise request that will meet your needs as well as your potential funders.
Donated Bench, Taagwa Parkway, Weyburn
Look into the costs and benefits of hiring professional consultants to assist with grant applications and economic development related to your project.
Start building a network of resources that you can draw on as park plans come together. From funding opportunities to building networks to finding volunteers, it takes a village to create a great park!