Tribal Gaming - Prop 202 Funding

Mesa supports local nonprofits in their efforts to serve the residents of our community through Proposition 202 Indian Gaming Grant funding.

In November 2002, the voters of Arizona approved Proposition 202 which initiated new gaming compacts between the State of Arizona and the Native American communities.

An important provision of Proposition 202 was the sharing of gaming revenues with the state. Henceforth, tribes would be assessed by the state a percentage of their gross gaming revenue. Tribes had the option of either paying all of this assessment into a state managed fund or to pay 88% of the assessment into the State managed fund and retain 12% of the assessment for distribution as grants.

The law also stipulates that local non-profits may submit applications to tribal entities if the non-profit organization’s application is “sponsored” by an appropriate municipality. As stipulated by the law, sponsorship means the adoption of a city council resolution authorizing the submission of the grant application and/or pass-through resolution under the auspices of the local municipality. The council resolution is a mandated part of application and/or award based on each individual tribe’s process.

In cases where Mesa agrees to act as a pass-through, the municipality receives the grant funds from the tribal community and in turn issues a check to the non-profit agency. The Mesa City Council executes a Grants Pass-Through resolution prior to the distribution of the grant funds.

To be eligible for a Prop 202 City Council Resolution of Support or authorized employee signature of acknowledgement your agency must be located in the City of Mesa and/or your proposed project must directly serve Mesa residents.

Ak-Chin Indian Community

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

Gila River Indian Community

Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Tohono O'odham

Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community - Applications are provided by invitation only