12Grants

The Tohono O’odham Nation’s 12% grant cycle for 2026 is officially open!

We are seeking proposals from Arizona cities, towns, counties, and nonprofit organizations for our revenue sharing program. More than 500 projects have been funded since the inception of this program in 2003. We’re honored to have impacted so many communities over the past two decades.

For any questions about the grant process, please email us at 12Grants@tonation-nsn.gov. Good luck and we look forward to reading your proposal!

Background

In 2002, Arizona eligible voters approved Proposition 202, which implemented a new requirement that Tribal/State Gaming Compacts must include a provision that the compacting tribe would contribute a portion of its annual net gaming revenues (the “Annual Contribution”) for the benefit of the general public. Pursuant to Proposition 202, each tribe may determine the recipients of 12 percent of its total Annual Contribution (the “12% Payments”). For fiscal year 2026, the Tohono O’odham Nation has chosen to distribute 12% payments directly to local governments and non-profit organizations.

Proposal

• Proposals are limited to four pages in length, typewritten in 12-point font.
  If the proposal is more than four pages, only the first four pages will be considered. Budgets are required and therefore will be counted as part of the four pages. Attachments, such as photos, are not considered as one of the four pages.
• All proposals must be emailed to 12Grants@tonation-nsn.gov no later than June 12, 2026.
  Please use your organization’s name in the subject line followed by “proposal.” For example: Tohono O’odham Nation Proposal. The completed proposal must be emailed as an attachment in either PDF or a Word doc. The Nation is no longer requiring proposals to be sent via Certified Mail. Only proposals emailed to the address above will be considered.
• Proposals must address one or more of the following priority areas:
  • Education
  • Health Care
  • Public Safety
  • Child Advocacy
  • Economic Development
  • Cultural & Environmental Development and Protection
• Proposals must include brief responses to the following sections:
  1. Explain the perceived need and explain how the proposal will address that need.
  2. Describe the population who will benefit from the proposal if approved.
  3. Include a budget of the requested funds, with the total amount requested clearly notated.
  4. List any other funding requests that have been made for this or substantially related proposals and provide the status of those requests.
  5. Indicate whether the entity has previously received a 12% distribution from the Tohono O’odham Nation or other Arizona tribes, along with the amount and date awarded.
  6. Identify a designated contact person and alternate contact person for follow-up. Include the following information for each contact person: e-mail address, phone number, mailing address, and fax number.
  7. Indicate which priority area (from the above list) the proposal falls under.
  8. If the proposal is from a non-profit organization, include the name of the city, town, or county an agreement will be made with if funds are granted. A letter from the governmental entity acknowledging its agreement to work with the non-profit is not necessary for the initial proposal. However, it is recommended that non-profit organizations contact the government entity they plan to work with and secure approval.

Requirements

If you, the applicant, are a city, town or county located within the State of Arizona:

1. You will need to provide proof or cite some authority that you are authorized to seek and enter into a grant of this nature.
2. If selected, you will need to ensure that the government you represent is willing to negotiate and execute the Grant-in-Aid with the Nation no later than November 30, 2026.

If you, the applicant, are any other non-governmental entity (not-for-profits, fire districts, etc.):

1. You will need to enter into an agreement with a city, town or county located within Arizona whereby that city, town, or county will agree to accept the grant funding from the Nation on your behalf. As a non-governmental entity, you bear the responsibility to find a municipality to flow the funding through and the Nation is not responsible for matching you with a government capable of receiving the funding. Please note that each 2 government may have their own approval process to serve as the fiscal agent that is separate from the Tohono O’odham Nation’s requirements.
2. The city, town, or county that has agreed to assist you to receive the grant will be required to enter into a Grant-in-Aid, Fiscal Agent agreement with the Nation in which the city, town, or county agrees to accept the funding on your behalf.

Timeline

1. All proposals to be considered must be emailed no later than June 12, 2026.
2. Notification of decision will be mailed by the end of September 2026. Notifications will be distributed via email from 12Grants@tonation-nsn.gov. Please add this address to your safe sender list. If you do not receive a response, please check your spam folder.
3. Negotiation of Grant-in-Aid Agreements with the respective governmental disbursement entities will commence immediately after notification of the awards. Grant-in-Aid Agreements must be executed by the governmental disbursement entity and the same received by the Tohono O’odham Nation no later than November 13, 2026 in order to comply with the Gaming Compact disbursement deadline.
4. Distribution of grant funds will occur as soon as possible after the Grant-in-Aid Agreement signed by the governmental disbursement entity is received by the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Submitting Your Proposal/Contact Information

All proposals must be emailed to 12Grants@tonation-nsn.gov. Please do not mail hard copies of your proposal to the Nation. Only proposals that are emailed to the address above by the deadline will be considered.

Please use your organization’s name in the subject line followed by “proposal.”

For example: Tohono O’odham Nation Proposal.

The completed proposal must be emailed as an attachment in either PDF or a Word doc.

Proposals must be EMAILED no later than June 12, 2026.

Proposals not in compliance with the above procedures will not be considered