The NRA Foundation is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Rifle Association (NRA) that functions as the lobbying organization’s charitable arm. The Foundation has awarded millions in grant funding to police organizations, gun clubs, and school groups. 1 2
In 2020, the District of Columbia Attorney General’s Office sued the Foundation, alleging that its finances were not independent from the NRA. 3 The NRA Foundation is challenging the allegations, and the case is unresolved as of June 2021.
Background
The NRA Foundation was established in 1990. It is the charitable and education arm of the National Rifle Association (NRA). 4 The NRA Foundation has given $426 million in grants to promote firearms and hunting safety. It also supports public education programs on Second Amendment rights and firearms history. 5 6
The NRA Foundation and the NRA share office space and staff in Fairfax, Virginia. 7 The foundation is incorporated in Washington, D.C., while the NRA is incorporated in New York City. 8
Fundraising and Grants
NRA Foundation volunteers raise money each year through Friends of the NRA, a fundraising organization established in 1992. 9 In 2019, about 1,100 Friends of NRA events across the United States raised $65 million for the NRA Foundation. 10
The NRA Foundation contributed $7.3 million to 500 schools between 2010 and 2016. The foundation funds the Eddie Eagle Gun Safe Program for children and provides grants to the Boy Scouts, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), agriculture clubs, and 4H groups. 1 2
The NRA Foundation also awards grants to police and sheriff departments. 11
Financial Controversies
In 2020, the office of District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine (D) sued the NRA Foundation alleging the Foundation did not operate independently of the NRA advocacy group, using tax-deductible dollars for non-exempt purposes. 3
In 2018, the NRA Foundation reportedly gave $12 million to the NRA in grants, along with a $5 million loan. 7 In May 2019, the New York Times reported that since 2010, the NRA has received at least $206 million in assistance from the NRA Foundation. 12
NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre sat as an ex-officio member on the Foundation’s board of trustees. The NRA Foundation reportedly did not disclose donations between 2013 and 2017 to Youth for Tomorrow, which provides services for children with psychological and behavioral problems. LaPierre’s wife, Susan LaPierre, is a former president of Youth for Tomorrow and was a board member at the time of the donations. 13
In September 2020, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) led a letter written by Democratic U.S. Senators to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The letter urged the office to prevent federal employees from donating to the NRA Foundation through workplace giving programs. 14
Leadership
William H. Satterfield is the president of the NRA Foundation. 15 He is a retired U.S. Army colonel and former Army Ranger. 16Wayne Sheets is the executive director of the NRA Foundation. 15 Sheets is the owner of HWS Consulting, a fundraising firm used by the NRA. 17
References
- “The NRA Foundation Inc.” Great Nonprofits. Accessed May 20, 2021. https://greatnonprofits.org/org/the-nra-foundation-inc
- Binkley, Collin and Hoyer, Meghan. “AP finds the NRA gave $7 million to hundreds of schools.” Associated Press. March 9, 2018. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://apnews.com/article/shootings-north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-in-state-wire-ce39136dad7c49d6977ba851018f5d92
- Press Release. “AG Racine Sues NRA Foundation for Diverting Charitable Funds to Support Wasteful Spending by NRA and Its Executives.” Office of Attorney General, District of Columbia. August 6, 2020. Accessed May 20, 2021. https://oag.dc.gov/release/ag-racine-sues-nra-foundation-diverting-charitable#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C+D.C.+%E2%80%93+Attorney+General+Karl,the+NRA+and+its+executives.
- [1] “About the NRA Foundation.” NRA Foundation. Accessed May 19, 2021. https://www.nrafoundation.org/about-us/
- “More Than $426 Million Awarded in Grants Since 1990.” NRA Foundation. Accessed May 19, 2021. https://www.nrafoundation.org/grants/
- NRA Foundation. Open 990. Accessed May 19, 2021. https://www.open990.org/org/521710886/the-nra-foundation-inc/
- Conway, Marian. “As the NRA Turns: The Latest Episode.” Nonprofit Quarterly. December 4, 2020. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/as-the-nra-turns-the-latest-episode/
- Wofford, Benjamin. “DC Attorney General Is Suing the NRA Foundation.” Washingtonian. August 6, 2020. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/08/06/dc-attorney-general-is-suing-the-nra-foundation/
- NRA Foundation. Volunteer Match. Accessed May 20, 2021. https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/org340129.jsp
- “NRA Foundation Grants and Funding.” NRA Foundation. Accessed May 19, 2021. https://www.friendsofnra.org/national.aspx?cid=9
- DeBergalis, Joseph. “NRA Salutes Our Hero Police Officers.” NRA America’s First Freedom. May 7, 2021. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://www.americas1stfreedom.org/articles/2021/5/7/nra-salutes-our-hero-police-officers
- Hakim, Danni. “At the N.R.A., a Cash Machine Sputtering.” The New York Times. May 14, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/14/us/nra-finances-executives-board-members.html
- Spies, Mike. “The N.R.A.’s Questionable Charitable Giving.” The New Yorker. May 30, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-nras-questionable-charitable-giving
- White, Eric. “Senators want NRA Foundation out of the Combined Federal Campaign.” Federal News Network. September 21, 2020. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2020/09/senators-want-nra-foundation-out-of-the-combined-federal-campaign/
- NRA Foundation. Pro Publica. Accessed May 19, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521710886
- Bill Satterfield. Committee for a Strong Board. Accessed May 22, 2021. https://www.nrastrong.org/bill-satterfield
- Maremont, Mark. “NRA Awarded Contracts to Firms With Ties to Top Officials.” The Wall Street Journal. November 30, 2018. Accessed May 22, 2021. https://www.wsj.com/articles/nra-awarded-contracts-to-firms-with-ties-to-top-officials-1543590697