Since 1990, The NRA Foundation has awarded over $492 million through more than 63,000 grants. The grants enable shooting sports-related and safety programs to develop, expand and enhance their educational curriculum to deliver valuable services to millions of Americans.
“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,” explained Ruthann Sprague, assistant director of NRA Foundation Grant Outreach & Strategy.
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.
“In 2023, nearly $10 million was awarded to qualified nonprofit organizations through The NRA Foundation State Fund Grant Program,” Sprague said. “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 include:
- More than $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, Neb. 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, Calif., received $8,600 for archery and shotgun shooting supplies. The program coaches kids on hunter safety, marksmanship and outdoor conservation.
- The City of Sealy Police Department of Sealy, Texas, received $3,500 for ammunition for their agency firearm training. The funds were utilized to purchase additional ammunition to support continued firearm proficiency efforts as well as allow the department to add the training scenarios and recurring training throughout the year.
- 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, shotgun shells and targets.
- Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office in Harrisburg, Pa., received $25,000 in grant awards. Some $15,000 went toward their K-9 Program, while $10,000 was awarded for various training supplies.
The examples are just a few of the grants awarded over the past year. Applications for 2025 grants are now being accepted.
Non-profits and organizations interested in receiving an NRA Foundation grant need to get their application in soon. Deadlines vary by state—full details here [PDF]—and New York’s two regions close Oct. 4, the earliest of all states. To learn more and apply, visit The NRA Foundation’s grants webpage.
