Conservation First USA is a non-profit organization launched by volunteer sportsmen and women that raises funds to improve and restore wildlife habitat in the Southwest. Its mission is to raise money for wildlife habitat and conservation work and return proceeds from Arizona Special Big Game Tags to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for on-the-ground habitat improvement.
Arizona Big Game Super Raffle Inc DBA Conservation First USA channels fundraising from raffles and donations into wildlife habitat and conservation work in the Southwest. Its recent grant history is dominated by support for Arizona Game and Fish in Phoenix, including a $1,171,835 grant in 2024 and a $706,200 grant in 2023, both for wildlife conservation. The organization also returned $100,000 in 2024 to AZ Game & Fish Dept in Phoenix for conservation work, alongside other project-specific grants to partners in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. The group was launched by volunteer sportsmen and women and describes its mission as raising money for habitat improvement and returning proceeds from Arizona Special Big Game Tags to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for on-the-ground habitat improvement. That structure connects its fundraising programs directly to field work, with 100% of Arizona Special Big Game Tags sales routed to the Habitat Partnership Committee for species-specific conservation.
Wildlife conservation is the clearest throughline in the grant record. In 2024, the foundation gave $1,171,835 to Arizona Game and Fish in Phoenix for wildlife conservation, after a $706,200 grant to the same recipient in 2023 for the same purpose. Habitat-oriented work also appears through a $150,000 2024 grant to Salt River Project in Phoenix for a conservation grant. Beyond Arizona, the group supported the Mule Deer Foundation in Clearfield, UT with $100,000 in 2024 for a conservation grant, and gave $25,000 in 2024 to Vermejo Park Ranch in Raton, NM for a conservation grant. The funding pattern points to species protection, habitat improvement, and conservation projects tied to named partners rather than broad unrestricted support.
Typical grant size is mid-to-large: the 25th percentile is $43,750, the median is $100,000, and the 75th percentile is $289,050. The record shows repeat support rather than one-off giving, with Arizona Game and Fish appearing in both 2023 and 2024 at different amounts. The foundation is a nonprofit grantmaker that also runs raffles and accepts general donations to fund conservation grants and operations. Its active programs include unsolicted-path support through Arizona Special Big Game Tags and direct donations, alongside raffle-based fundraising.
$630K
$719K
$525K
$702K
Most grants fall between $44K and $289K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$44K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$289K
Tracy Unmacht
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Grantmaking is regional and heavily concentrated in Arizona, which accounts for 62% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Phoenix appears repeatedly as a recipient city, and Raton, NM also shows up more than once in the recent grants list. Outside the United States, there are no recipient-country grants in the file; the distribution is 100% US. The pattern is primarily Southwest-focused, with Arizona as the main destination and smaller activity in Utah and New Mexico.
It funds wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, species-specific conservation, and conservation projects. The grant record ties support to on-the-ground habitat improvement and conservation work, with named recipients including Arizona Game and Fish, Salt River Project, and conservation partners in Utah and New Mexico.
The grant-size distribution is relatively high: the 25th percentile is $43,750, the median is $100,000, and the 75th percentile is $289,050. Recent awards also include very large grants above $1 million to Arizona Game and Fish.
Yes. Arizona Game and Fish received grants in both 2023 and 2024, including $706,200 in 2023 and $1,171,835 in 2024. That shows a recurring relationship rather than isolated one-time support.
Arizona is the top state by grant count, and 62% of grants went to recipients in Arizona. Phoenix is the most visible recipient city in the recent grants, with additional grants in Scottsdale, Clearfield, UT, and Raton, NM.
It uses raffle-based fundraising and direct donations. Active programs include Arizona Special Big Game Tags, the Pure Silver Raffle, the Mathews Phase4 29 Bow Raffle, the 2025 Vermejo Elk Hunt Raffle, and general donations that support conservation grants and operations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Arizona Big Game Super Raffle Inc Dba Conservation First Usa that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Must be 21 years of age or older at time of purchase. Winner responsible for purchasing general hunting license; federal withholding on prize required prior to claiming.
Deadline: Purchase deadline (listed): December 15, 2024 9:00 PM AZ (PDT) (for the 2025 raffle referenced).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARIZONA GAME AND FISH | PHOENIX, AZ | $507,930 | 2026 | WILDLIFE CONSERVATIO |
| SALT RIVER PROJECT | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION GRANT |
| BLOOD ORIGINS INC | COLLIERVILLE, TN | $42,500 | 2026 | CONVERSATION GRANT |
| THE ARIZONA SPORTSMEN FOR WILDLIFE | NEW RIVER, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | PURC WATER TRAILER |
| AZ GAME & FISH DEPT | PHOENIX, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION GRANT |
| Arizona Game and Fish | Phoenix, AZ | $1,193,320 | 2025 | Wildlife Conservation |
| AZ Game & Fish Dept | Phoenix, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | Conservation Grant |
| Vermejo Park Ranch | Raton, NM | $25,000 | 2025 | Conservation Grant |
| Salt River Project | Phoenix, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | Conservation Grant |
| Arizona Game and Fish | Phoenix, AZ | $1,171,835 | 2024 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Salt River Project | Phoenix, AZ | $150,000 | 2024 | Conservation Grant |
| Mule Deer Foundation | Clearfield, UT | $100,000 | 2024 | Conservation Grant |
| AZ Game & Fish Dept | Phoenix, AZ | $100,000 | 2024 | Conservation Grant |
| Rail Lazy H Contracting | Scottsdale, AZ | $50,000 | 2024 | Conservation Grant |
| Vermejo Park Ranch | Raton, NM | $25,000 | 2024 | Conservation Grant |
| Arizona Game and Fish | Phoenix, AZ | $706,200 | 2023 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Turner Holdings Ltd Partnersh | Raton, NM | $25,000 | 2023 | Conservation Grant |
ARIZONA GAME AND FISH
$507,930WILDLIFE CONSERVATIO
SALT RIVER PROJECT
$50,000CONSERVATION GRANT
THE ARIZONA SPORTSMEN FOR WILDLIFE
$20,000PURC WATER TRAILER
AZ GAME & FISH DEPT
$10,000CONSERVATION GRANT
Arizona Game and Fish
$1,193,320Wildlife Conservation
AZ Game & Fish Dept
$50,000Conservation Grant
Vermejo Park Ranch
$25,000Conservation Grant
Salt River Project
$25,000Conservation Grant
Arizona Game and Fish
$1,171,835Wildlife Conservation
Salt River Project
$150,000Conservation Grant
AZ Game & Fish Dept
$100,000Conservation Grant
Rail Lazy H Contracting
$50,000Conservation Grant
Vermejo Park Ranch
$25,000Conservation Grant
Arizona Game and Fish
$706,200Wildlife Conservation
Turner Holdings Ltd Partnersh
$25,000Conservation Grant