Tom's of Maine is gearing up to award more than $500,000 to nonprofits for this year's "50 States for Good" initiative.

This is the sixth year of the program and the first year in which the Kennebunk-based natural personal care products company has donated to projects that benefit communities in all states and the District of Columbia.

Since it was founded in 1970, Tom's of Maine has donated 10 percent of its profits back to the community. It also encourages employees to use part of their paid time off to volunteer.