In the midst of reports that America is facing an education crisis, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently gave its support to developing projects that could bring some high-tech solutions to classrooms.

The foundation recently announced ten winners of its Digital Media and Learning Competition. These winners will share $1.7 million in funding to use mobile phone applications, social networks and virtual tools to create learning laboratories. Funds will go toward the development of games about the environmental impact of everyday actions, programming language that lets young people create interactive stories and more.

MacArthur Foundation officials believe these types of programs are necessary to break through to young students in a digital age. "This competition is helping us to identify and nurture the creation of learning environments that are relevant for kids today and will prepare them for a 21st century workforce," said Connie Yowell, the foundation's director of education.

This is the third year of the competition, but it's the first year that the foundation is collaborating with the Obama administration - the president's Educate to Innovate initiative participated in the launch of this year's event.

Education-based organizations may consider dedicating some of their nonprofit fundraising dollars toward the development of classroom tools this year. Organization leaders may be able to get the support of the Educate to Innovate campaign as the initiative is looking to partner with nonprofits for education reform.