NBCUniversal Foundation And NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations Open New Round Of Grant Funding For Local Non-Profits

21st Century Solutions grant challenge will award $1.2 million in grants to help non-profits advance innovative solutions in local communities.

The NBCUniversal Foundation has partnered with the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations to announce the launch of the fourth annual 21st Century Solutions competitive grant challenge. The program will award 30 grants totaling $1.2 million to local non-profit organizations that are embracing innovation to advance community-based programs in the areas of civic engagement, education, environment, jobs and economic empowerment, media arts and technology.

The grant challenge is open for submissions and will be accepting applications from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations today through July 3 in 10 of the markets served by NBCUniversal-owned stations: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C., Miami-Fort Lauderdale, San Diego and Connecticut.

"This grant challenge allows the NBCUniversal Foundation to support local organizations that share our mission of finding innovative ways to move people and communities forward," said Beth Colleton, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, NBCUniversal. "We are proud to launch this year’s grant challenge and look forward to awarding exciting new projects that serve our communities."

"We are honored to support 21st Century Solutions once again to help make a difference in the communities our viewers and our employees call home," said Valari Staab, President, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations.

21st Century Solutions supports non-profit organizations addressing community challenges with fresh perspectives and encourages social innovation to make change.

Interested 501(c)(3) organizations in the 10 markets wishing to compete in the grant challenge can find more information on eligibility requirements and a link to the application at their local station’s website. One winning organization and two runners-up will be awarded grants in each market. The recipients will be announced by the end of 2015. The 21st Century Solutions challenge is funded by the NBCUniversal Foundation with promotional support from the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations.

Click here to read more about how past winning organizations make a difference in their communities. Since the program’s inception in 2012, 21st Century Solutions has awarded approximately $3.6 million to 90 non-profits in the 10 markets.