Frequently Asked Questions

The NRA Foundation’s State Fund Grant Program is made possible through the fundraising efforts of its volunteer driven Friends of NRA program. Thanks largely to these efforts, The NRA Foundation has awarded over 60,000 grants totaling more than $473 million since inception.

The State Fund Grant Program allows The Foundation to provide supplies, equipment, and financial support to a variety of qualified groups and programs at the local level; geared towards youth, women, law enforcement, veterans, the disabled, and the general public, including:

• General shooting programs
• Competitive shooting
• Education, training and safety
• Hunting and conservation
• Community outreach

Grant funding provided by The NRA Foundation must be used within its mission for charitable purposes as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3).

The NRA Foundation strives to provide funding to programs that further its mission and that make a difference in the local community.

Applications are first considered by the appropriate State Fund Committee (SFC). State Fund Committees are composed of one representative volunteer from each individual Friends of NRA fundraising committee within that State Fund area. The SFC reviews applications and makes funding recommendations based on application merit, funding availability, and focused program areas of the Committee. The SFC's recommendations are then forwarded to the NRA Foundation's Board of Trustees for review and approval.

The NRA Foundation provides support in the form of program supplies or equipment through its Grant Product Fulfillment Program. The NRA Foundation works with a number of industry suppliers to provide items needed to operate a variety of programs. In cases where approved requests fall outside of the products available through the Grant Product Fulfillment Program, the NRA Foundation provides direct financial support.

Grant awards vary greatly based on project and the State Fund area. Across the country, the average State Fund grant award is between $3,000 to $5,000.

No, you are not required to be a 501(c)(3) organization to be eligible for an NRA Foundation grant. However, all grants must be for a 501(c)(3) purpose and all grant recipients, other than governmental entities, must be formally recognized as nonprofit organizations by their state or by the IRS. Click here for more information.

Possibly. If you are not a 501(c)(3) and the only users are your members, you are probably not eligible. But, if you are a private membership club that also provides access to qualified groups (government or 501(c)(3) entities) or provides qualified activities, (e.g., education and training or competitive shooting open to the public), you may be eligible for funding. To be considered for funding, you would have to provide proof of substantial public benefit. All awards granted by The NRA Foundation must be for the purpose of providing a qualified public benefit.

Yes, government entities are eligible and may apply for an NRA Foundation grant for qualifying programs or projects.

Yes, however the process differs depending on the specific organization. Boy Scout Councils may apply directly to The NRA Foundation. However, an application for any individual Venture Crew, Naval Cadet Unit or Boy Scout Troop (per the rules of the parent groups), must be submitted by an organization that takes on the role of fiscal sponsor for that group and also meets The NRA Foundation’s grant eligibility requirements to receive funding. In these instances, the fiscal sponsor is the applicant and is the entity to who any grant award will be made. The fiscal sponsor is responsible for administering the grant and ensuring the grant award is utilized as stated in the application, as well as for all reporting requirements under the grant. Before applying, the fiscal sponsor should be advised of any restrictions the parent organization has imposed on your proposed grant, including restrictions related to any equipment or other items you may request from the Foundation.

Deadlines vary by State Fund Committee. View the current grant year deadlines. 

• All Grant Applicants must submit an IRS W-9 form, signed and dated in the past two years
• 501 (c) organizations must submit their IRS Determination Letter
• Government entities/agencies (public schools, law enforcement, public colleges/universities):
• State issued tax exempt certificate or letter, if it includes their federal EIN

Or

• A letter on Agency or School Board letterhead detailing the name of the entity submitting the application and the corresponding federal Tax ID, signed by an appropriate fiscal officer/manager
• State recognized nonprofit organizations must submit a copy of their state nonprofit registration from the state Secretary of State (or equivalent) website

Some applicants may be requested to supply additional documents, such as letters of public benefit. These are letters written by 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or government entities detailing how they stand to benefit from the project being funding by The Foundation. These are typically required with an application that includes a request for a capital improvement to a facility or property owned or operated by a non-profit other than a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, or government entity.

• Letters of public benefit should NOT be letters of thanks for past events or programs. Instead, the letters should be in support of the project for which you are requesting funds and describe how the letter writer’s organization will benefit from the grant.
• Letters must be signed, dated, and should be submitted on the supporting organization's letterhead (and if that is not an option, letters should clearly detail the author's organization, position within that organization, and his or her duties).
• Letters from for-profit businesses, individuals writing on their own behalf, or members of the club or applying organization are NOT sufficient.

All applicants must use the NRA Foundation Funding Request Development Tool, built into the application, to create your grant request list (also known as your cart). Your item list will include your request for any items offered through The NRA Foundation’s Grant Product Fulfillment Program, as well as your request for any items not offered through the Grant Product Fulfillment Program, such as items required for capital improvement projects. All items to be considered for your grant request must be included in this list.

Once you have created your list, or cart, the system will generate a six-character alpha numeric ID. This ID will be entered into the application.

Yes. Grant recipients must provide a final report to The NRA Foundation through the online application system. This report must detail the results of the program, number of participants, impact on intended audiences, and any recognition of The NRA Foundation for the award. Final reports are due 30 days after the program end date stated in the initial application, or no later than November 1 of the grant award year, whichever comes first. Failure to submit the Final Report on a timely basis or spending grant funds for purposes other than those for which they were sought will affect future grant requests.

For any portion of a grant award made by check, copies of receipts or paid invoices for items purchased with grant funds must be included.

Any funds not used for the purposes stated in your grant request (unused funds) must be returned to the Foundation and may not be retained for other use. Please return unused funds via check made payable to "The NRA Foundation, Inc.", noting the grant reference number in the memo section, by mail to:

NRA Foundation Finance
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030

Yes, you may submit an application for consideration. However, all outstanding final report requirements must be completed before any new awards will be made.

Final reports are sent to the grant account that was used to submit the original application. You can log-in here to complete your online final reporting requirement.