The Maine Community Foundation’s Androscoggin County Committee is seeking proposals from nonprofit and public organizations.

Proposals should be based on funding new initiatives or start-up projects, rather than ongoing support, and should focus on building on the strengths of the community. Previous grants have supported efforts to foster local leadership, civic engagement, or preservation and promotion of cultural or environmental resources. An advisory committee of local residents reviews proposals and awards grants.

The next deadline for submitting grant applications to the Community Building Grant Program is May 15. Applicants will be notified in mid-July. Application, guidelines and a list of recent grants can be found at www.mainecf.org.

The Androscoggin Committee has $13,000 available to distribute in the second funding cycle of 2005.

In the first cycle, which began Jan. 15, the committee received 10 proposals requesting nearly $63,000; it recommended awards for 20 percent of these, totaling $12,000. The average grant was $6,000. Grants are restricted to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax status or public agencies serving Androscoggin County.