The NBCU Foundation and NBC's owned TV stations have teamed to launch the fourth annual 21st Century Solutions competition.

Non-profits are competing for $1.2 million in grants intended to "advance community-based programs in the areas of civic engagement, education, environment, jobs and economic empowerment, media arts and technology.:

Submissions are open until July 3 to nominate community-based efforts targeted at the 10 NBC O&O markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C., Miami-Fort Lauderdale, San Diego and Connecticut.

Last year's grant winners included Girls Write Now, New York, for its digital media mentoring program for young women in underserved communities, and the Operation Renewed Hope Foundation, Washington, D.C., for a program providing housing to homeless veterans..