Schools, arts-focused groups and other non-profit organizations can apply for grants from the Madison Street Festival (MSF).

“Providing Madison-based grants is a way that the Madison Street Festival Committee can say, ‘Thank you,’ to Madison residents for their support of this wonderful local festival,” Pat Cross said.

Coordinators for grants this year are Cross, chairman Tim Holcombe and Karen Morris.

Cross describes the festival as “a day of family entertainment that unites the community as all of us enjoy arts and culture, interactive exhibits and entertainment.”

Festival organizers “wish to reinvest some of the festival profits back into the community to improve educational experiences and opportunities for residents of all ages,” Cross said.

“Candidates must be groups or organizations who focus on educational growth for citizens within the City of Madison,” Cross said.

Interested groups can apply by completing a grant application on the festival website, madisonstreetfestival.org. Deadline is Sept. 30.

After the festival, the MSF Committee allocates an amount for grant awards following payment of all outstanding expenses incurred during the festival. This amount varies annually, Cross said.

In October, the grants committee will review grant applications for eligibility and recommend nominations and amounts to the festival board of directors at the year’s last meeting, usually in early November. The committee will mail letters to notify recipients.

“A scholarship of $1,000 each will be provided to a senior graduate at Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools annually,” Cross said about a new provision.

Previous grant recipients have included Madison Children’s Theatre, Daylife Camp, Rainbow Elementary School, Bob Jones Chorus and Madison Public Library.

For more information, visit madisonstreetfestival.org, Facebook/Madison Street Festival, Flicker or Twitter.