CANTON, Mass. -- The initial deadline this year for organizations to apply for grant funding through the Tourism Cares Worldwide Grant Program is Jan. 30.

Under the program, Tourism Cares provides money to "worthy tourism-related nonprofit organizations" for capital improvements or educational programs.

Grant recipients must be classified as non-profit, tax-exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, or the equivalent in the case of non-U.S. organizations.

To date, Tourism Cares has given money to 120 organizations in 37 states and 25 countries, including a dozen national parks. The grants, when combined with matching funds, total nearly $2 million.

A Grant Letter of Inquiry Packet must be submitted by Jan. 30.

Meanwhile, in April, Tourism Cares will embark on its seventh annual Tourism Cares for America clean-up/fix-up project at Spangler Farm in Gettysburg, Pa. This battleground is one of the most significant sites in U.S. military history, producing the largest number of casualties in the Civil War.

Sitting on 80 acres in rural Pennsylvania, Spangler Farm was used as a field hospital for thousands of wounded soldiers during the Battle of Gettysburg. The farm also was the site of the death of Confederate General Lewis Armistead, who led the climactic event of the three-day battle - Pickett's Charge. Today, the property is one of the last field hospitals kept intact as it was in 1863.

Volunteers will be involved in painting, replacing fencing, demolishing modern structures, clearing brush and much more. The Tourism Cares for Gettysburg event will be April 16-18.

To get involved with the Spangler Farm project or to obtain information about the grants program, go to www.tourismcares.org.