Many of our friends work in the nonprofit sector and in arts organizations, and we’re always inspired by their creative drive to improve their communities. We know that many other people around the country have equally fantastic ideas for causes close to their hearts, but simply lack the funding. So we were thrilled to hear about the Pepsi Refresh Project, which is awarding $1.3 million in grants through January 2011, based on votes gathered on its website. The project accepts up to 1,000 ideas per month in six categories: health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighborhoods, and education.

Every month, 10 grants for $5,000 are awarded to individuals who need help getting their ideas off the ground. The top 10 votes for individuals and small groups are awarded $25,000 and up to 10 grants for $50,000 go to companies and organizations. Two $250,000 grants are awarded to large organizations with the most votes. We were impressed by the first round of 729 ideas, open for votes through Feb. 28. Among the highest ranking: shipping Girl Scout Cookies to troops overseas and helping senior citizens take care of their pets (both in the $5,000 category). Other top ideas include fighting childhood obesity with fresh produce (in the $25,000 category) and helping survivors of violence and abuse with Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hartigay’s Joyful Heart Foundation (in the running for $250,000). On March 1, the next round of ideas will be eligible for votes and applications for the third cycle will be accepted. Winners of the first round will be announced in mid-March.

Once signed in with your email, you are allowed 10 votes per day. Voting on your own submission is acceptable, but you’re only allotted one vote per project per day. With each vote, there’s also an option to click on a link to spread the word through Facebook and Twitter. To submit an idea, Pepsi provides a handy toolkit with step-by-step instructions, from registering and selecting a category and grant amount to titling your idea and providing the proper documentation.

After all submissions are reviewed, you’ll get word if your idea was accepted or rejected. Those whose ideas are not among the winners or 100 runners-up (which carry over to be voted upon the following month) can delete a current application and resubmit it. All ideas must benefit projects in the United States. Check out the Refresh Blog, where you’ll find spotlights on ideas up for vote and on recipients of the grants, as well as relevant news posted by Refresh Ambassadors for each category.

We’ve been casting our votes and have told our friends with great ideas about the Pepsi Refresh Project, which is partnered with GOOD, DoSomething.org, GlobalGiving and City Year. Do you think the Pepsi Refresh Project will be the impetus to give your great idea momentum?

Tags: childhood obesity, CITY YEAR, Cognition, Cola, Facebook Inc, food, GlobalGiving, Idea, Law & Order, Mariska Hartigay’s Joyful Heart Foundation, Metaphysics, Pepsi, Pepsico Inc., Philosophy, Refresh Ambassadors for each category, Twitter Inc., United States, USD