In 1990, Arizona voters approved the use of lottery dollars to help create the Heritage Fund. In 1992 the Arizona Game and Fish Department established the Heritage Fund “Grants” Program administered as part of the overall Heritage Fund Program. The grants program was initially developed as a way to promote outreach in order to enhance important partnerships and generate fresh approaches in support of our agency mission. Since inception, the Department has had the opportunity to award over thirteen million dollars through the Heritage Fund grants program and support over six hundred and seventy projects throughout the state.

During the 2012 Heritage Fund grant cycle a total of $432,000.00 in funding was available to support grant proposals. The Department received ninety-nine application proposals requesting a total of $2,457,078.00. The Arizona Game and Fish Department subsequently awarded twenty-three of these projects for a total of $416,646.00 in grants funded. For the 2013 Heritage Grant cycle we have added a new funding sub-category titled “Outdoor Education” that will allow Public Schools/Districts and Charter Schools to apply for these additional Heritage Fund granting opportunities.