The Temper of the Times Foundation is accepting applications through October 15 for grants between $5,000 and $15,000. Grants may be used to fund “the production of print, radio, or television ads, to pay for advertising space or airtime, or to produce or distribute pamphlets, books, videos, or press packets.”

These days, $15,000 is real money. It’s enough to produce a decent TV ad and buy a considerable amount of airtime in a small town. It’s enough to build a campaign website and do a lot of promotion to drive traffic to it. It’s enough to create a provocative billboard that people will blog about.

The foundation will not provide grants to run your nonprofit organization, for blatant lobbying, or to get anybody elected to office. But, they don’t seem to require matching funds, and don’t seem to care what part of the country you are active in.

Water Words readers, it’s really rare to find a grantmaker that will invest in this kind of activity… if you’ve ever contemplated taking something like this on, this could be your chance.

Hat tip to Russ Cohen of the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition, who circulates useful tips like this on the MWC listserv. If you’re in Massachusetts, the list is a must-read.