Local Sportsmens Group Grant Program

Helping Sportsmen’s Groups Fund Projects

Created in 2007, the Local Sportsmen’s Group (LSG) grant is to help local sportsmen’s groups fund projects that promote wildlife conservation through hunter, angler, shooter and trapper recruitment and retention through a competitive application process each year.

program information

Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program focus, overview and funding information.

See contact below for details.

Grant cycle and program information

FY2026 Local Sportsmen’s Group grant applications will be accepted starting May 15, 2025

The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ time), Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Instructions, information and optional application

Grant focus FY26: Hunter or Angler Recruitment/ Development via Progressive Skills Programs

Hunter or Angler Development and Retention through Progressive Skills Programs.

The Local Sportsmen’s Group grants program places priority on projects that align with event types 2, 3, 4, & 5 that involve the pursuit, or harvest of fish or wildlife with a license/ tag, and are designed for and target participants who have the appropriate experience and skills relevant to the event.

Record of Applicant List Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program from FY2025

Overview

AZGFD continues to evolve this grant program for the best results by incorporating the latest national science in Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3), Adoption Sequence, partnership building, and through review and evaluation.

Key elements related to R3 are: right audience, progressive events, providing continued engagement / support, partnership models, collecting customer data, evaluation and improvement.

There is no cost to Arizona taxpayers for the Local Sportsmen’s Group grant program. Game and Fish does not receive any of the state’s general funds and operates on a user-pay, public-benefit model.

The Local Sportsmen’s Group grant program is an investment in the continuance of wildlife conservation efforts and outdoor recreation participation in Arizona and funded through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, permit-tags and stamps.

apply online

how much grant funding is available?

The Arizona Legislature and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission determine how much money is available each year, typically, $75,000 is available each Fiscal Year (July 1 – June 30).

Applicants may apply for single or multiple grants; more than one grant may be awarded to the same group and must be stand-alone projects. The Arizona Game and Fish Department may partially fund project(s) at its discretion.

Frequency

The grant is an annual program. It typically coincides with the State’s new Fiscal Year, which begins July 1. When that grant cycle opens, it will be posted on the Department’s website and announced and the application will become available. Application window is a minimum of six weeks.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Local Sportsmen’s Group Grants applicants must meet the following requirements. Applications that do not meet these criteria will be rejected.

Be a not-for-profit, non-commercial, local, Arizona-based, or Arizona-chapter of national sportsmen’s / outdoor development group / organizations.

The project must meet the current Funding Window. The project must be related to hunter, angler, shooter, trapper, recruitment, retention, reactivation – and specifically related to the annual Funding Window.

The project must be conducted in Arizona and open to Arizona’s public.

The project must register participants using the Department’s free online registration system.

The project must collect survey information using the Department’s online survey tool.

The project must be completed before before June 30 of the fiscal funding year.

The applicant must register in ProcureAZ at https://procure.az.gov or call 602 542-7600.

The applicant must obtain, and submit a certificate of general liability insurance coverage including sexual abuse and molestation insurance (S.A.M.I.) to the Department prior to signing the grant agreement to receive funding.

What types of projects are eligible to receive grant funds?

The project must be related to hunter, angler, shooter, trapper, recruitment, retention, and / or reactivation. Specific Funding Window Focus priorities can change from year to year depending on objectives and priorities for the program and will be outlined in the annual application packet.

Grant dollars cannot be used for activities such as group banquets, raffle prizes, hunting competitions, for-profit projects, or for the purchase of hunting or fishing licenses, tags or stamps. Capital equipment investments and pilot educational projects are typically not funded.

Contact

Douglas A. Burt
Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Administrator
dburt@azgfd.gov, 623-236-7487

Outdoor Skills & FishAZ Networks and Other Grants

Things you need to know.

Outdoor skills & Fishaz networks

Groups that apply for the Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program are encouraged to join the Outdoor Skills and/or the FishAZ Networks (OSN and FAN respectively). The OSN and FAN are collaborative partnerships with local conservation groups that are dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and their recreational pursuits. The primary approach of OSN and FAN for assuring wildlife conservation is through hands-on, skill development, mentored, in the field experiences, events, activities and informative programs.

events, projects and activities

If you’re interested in attending an event funded by the Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant program, visit the Outdoor Skills or FishAZ Network program page. Both are filled with events, opportunities, projects and activities that are hosted by our dedicated partners to help you learn the ins and outs of hunting, fishing, trapping, shooting and conservation.

• Outdoor Skills Network – www.azgfd.gov/outdoorskills
• FishAZ Network – www.azgfd.gov/fishaz

other grants

Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation: The Wildlife Conservation Fund from the conservation license plate program is a grant program open to 501c3 organizations for the purpose of habitat projects deemed beneficial for all species of wildlife in Arizona, wildlife conservation education, and hunter/ angler recruitment activities.

For information, visit https://azsfwc.org/grant-information