Since 1990, The NRA Foundation has awarded over $492 million through more than 63,000 grants. NRA Foundation grants enable shooting sports-related and safety programs to develop, expand, and enhance their educational curriculum to deliver valuable services to millions of Americans. Ruthann Sprague, assistant director of NRA Foundation Grant Outreach & Strategy explains, “The NRA Foundation State Fund Grant program is the country’s premier funding source for the shooting sports, hunting and conservation programs, Second Amendment protections, range improvements, and law enforcement support.”
Every year, The NRA Foundation allocates half of all net event proceeds for use by the state in which it was raised. Friends of NRA volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees who then make recommendations on how the local grant funding is dispersed. The other half is used by The NRA Foundation to fund operations and projects like those on the local and state levels, but with a national scope. These monies sustain vital NRA programs such as Youth and Women’s Programs, Range Services, Eddie Eagle, Education & Training, Law Enforcement, Competitive Shooting, Hunter Safety & Services, and the National Firearms Museum.
According to Ruthann, “In 2023, nearly $10 million was awarded to qualified nonprofit organizations through The NRA Foundation State Fund Grant Program. Often, an NRA Foundation State Fund Grant means a youth team can train and compete, or the program must be cut.”
Examples of Grants awarded in the past year:
- Over $77,500 was awarded to the Louisiana 4-H program, enabling the state 4-H program to win the national championships this past June in Grand Island, Nebraska. The grant supported 3,565 4-H students in the state. The Bayou State teams took home first place in air pistol and small-bore rifle.
- Kids Outdoor Sports Camp in Vacaville, CA received $8,600 for archery and shotgun shooting supplies. The program coach’s kids on hunter safety, marksmanship, and outdoor conservation.
- Shepherd Public Schools Trap Team in Shepherd, Michigan received $2,400 worth of ammo, ear protection, and eye protection.
- Hydro-Eakly FFA in Hydro, OK received a grant in the form of merchandise. Their program was awarded shotgun shells to use for practice.
- The City of Sealy Police Department of Sealy, Texas received $3,500 for ammunition for their agency firearms training. The funds were utilized to purchase additional ammunition to support continued firearms proficiency efforts as well as allow the department to add the training scenarios and recurring training throughout the year.
- Elizabethton High School NDCC/JROTC in Elizabethton, TN received $5,700 for the development of a Creedmoor 10-point air rifle range.
- Piedmont Council Boy Scouts of America in Gastonia, NC received $6,500 for shotguns, ammo, clays, and more to support the local summer camp program that teaches over 1500 campers each summer. These young men and women learn responsibility, and work to improve good sportsmanship, self-discipline, logic, and concentration.
- Linton Stockton Schools Archery Club in Linton, IN received $3,500 in archery supplies.
- Ross S. Sterling High National Defense Cadet Corps in Baytown, Texas received $3,100 for air rifles and pellets. Through their affiliation with the Army National Defense Cadet Corps program, these students will be eligible for college scholarships after four years of NDCC classes.
- St. John Bosco Academy located in Greencreek, Idaho received a grant for $13,200 to fund training materials for the school’s pistol club and trap shooters. Items included handguns, ammo, clay pigeons, shot gun shells and targets.
- Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, received $25,000 in grant awards. $15,000 went towards their K-9 Program, while $10,000 was awarded for various training supplies.
These examples illustrate just a small portion of the grants awarded over the past year. Organizations and non-profit groups from across the country are encouraged to apply, so start planning early and apply for 2025 grant funding now.
The Richland County 4-H Shooting Sports Program, located in Montana, was granted 10 new air rifles, cases and kneeling rolls. The equipment allowed members to participate in shooting programs and continue to learn about the safe and ethical use of firearms.
A representative from Hydro-Eakly FFA said, "This began as a fun activity and now has risen to the level of one of our premier activities. In other words, kids now join the Hydro-Eakly FFA for the sole reason of competing in shooting sports. This has helped our enrollment for Agriculture Education and still exposes students to the benefits of hunter education and responsible gun ownership. Our team is among the elite in the state of Oklahoma and that is a testament to the NRA Foundation as well as our alumni, administration and volunteers."
This year’s grant from The NRA Foundation also allowed students in the St. John Bosco Academy Gun Club in Greencreek, Idaho to participate in free training once a month for pistol courses which include gun safety, marksmanship, and tactics by American Freedom Defense (AFD).
The Dauphin County Sheriff's K-9 program provides support for events at Great American Outdoor Show by conducting explosive detection “sweeps” before events. The K-9 unit is funded solely by donations. This year’s grant award included $15,000 slated for the K-9 Program.
Interested in receiving an NRA Foundation grant? Learn more and begin your application by visiting nrafoundation.org/grants/. Applications open August 5, 2024.
Each state has its own grant application deadline to meet state and local regulations. Check the deadlines here:
nrafoundation.org/media/1xvjpe2i/grant-application-deadlines-webpage-list-2025.pdf
