Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Lottery Announce up to $32,000 in Funding for Wildlife Education Programs

K-12 teachers can apply for up to $3,000 for wildlife projects

PHOENIX (August 4, 2025) – The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Lottery are proud to announce an application period through September 1, 2025 for K-12 teachers to receive a portion of up to $32,000 in funding for wildlife education programs. These funds are provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Department's annual allocation of the Heritage Fund, which receives up to $10 million annually from Arizona Lottery ticket proceeds.

These project grants reaffirm both organizations' commitment to fostering wildlife conservation and education among Arizona's youth. The funding, up to $3,000 per teacher, aims to support programs that engage students in learning about Arizona's diverse wildlife, habitats, and the importance of conservation.

Since 1994, the Arizona Lottery has provided over $473 million to the Heritage Fund and those  contributions have provided invaluable opportunities for K-12 teachers to develop and implement innovative wildlife education programs. Watch the video below to see how our ongoing funding has played an important role in shaping future stewards of Arizona's wildlife and landscapes.

"The Arizona Game and Fish Department is proud to help Arizona educators bring quality wildlife education to their students through these grants," said Kellie Tharp, Education Branch Chief at the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "For example, these grants could help educators offset the cost of attending wildlife-related professional development or provide funds to develop K-12 STEM resources that focus on Arizona's wildlife. We're grateful for the opportunity to invest in these types of projects as a result of the Heritage Fund."

"The Arizona Lottery is committed to conserving and protecting the great Arizona outdoors and our partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department through the Heritage Fund is a prime example of this commitment," said Alec Thomson, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. "Every time someone plays the Arizona Lottery, they are contributing to programs like these that are working to protect our environment and to educate the next generation of Arizonans about how they can be part of these conservation efforts with direct investments for programming in K-12 classrooms across Arizona."

Supporting wildlife education and broader community initiatives remains a cornerstone of the Arizona Lottery's mission. In addition to supporting environmental conservation, Lottery ticket sales generate funding for various state programs, including higher education, health and human services, and economic and business development. In fiscal year 2024, the Arizona Lottery contributed over $314 million to beneficiaries across the state.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Lottery encourage eligible K-12 teachers to apply for this funding. Applications are now open, and the deadline for digital application submission is 11:59 p.m. on September 1, 2025. Interested teachers can learn more and apply here.

For more information on Arizona Lottery Gives Back initiatives, visit ArizonaLottery.com/GivesBack.