ELLSWORTH – The King and Jean Cummings Charitable Fund of the Maine Community Foundation seeks to fund projects in the arts, education, the environments and cultural preservation in Maine.

The fund supports organizations and projects in areas or communities where King Cummings lived, worked or had an interest, including Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis and Washington counties, and in Newport and Islesboro. Exceptions will be given to proposals having statewide impact or impact on broader regions of Maine that include the aforementioned areas or communities.

The Cummings fund advisory committee will give preference to proposals for matching funds, for startup funds for new and innovative projects, and for proposals that provide evidence of local support. Projects or programs in rural areas are also given preference.

The deadline for applying for funding is Sept. 15, 2004. For full guidelines and a list of recent grants from the fund, please visit www.mainecf.org or call (877) 700-6800.