The NRA Foundation: Iowa Grants

The NRA Foundation supports projects promoting shooting sports and firearm safety through grants. Eligible organizations must hold a Federal Employer Identification number and can include 501(c)(3) entities, government bodies, and state-recognized nonprofits. Grants fund educational programs and public service initiatives but exclude commercial ventures and personal benefits. The Foundation emphasizes inclusivity, requiring applicants to avoid discrimination based on age, race, or sex. Overall, the Foundation aims to enhance community engagement in shooting sports and education.

We Fund the Future of the Shooting Sports
The NRA Foundation provides financial support to eligible projects, programs and organizations through its grant program. Each year, volunteer committees from across the country tirelessly raise charitable dollars and generous donors make gifts that are in turn awarded as grants in support of educational and public service programs relating to the shooting sports in our communities.
The General Focus of Foundation Grants is to:

• Promote, advance and encourage firearms, shooting sports and hunting safety
• Educate individuals with respect to firearms, firearms history, participation in the shooting sports, hunting safety, and marksmanship
• Conduct research in furtherance of improved firearms safety and marksmanship facilities and techniques

Eligibility

All applying organizations must possess a Federal Employer Identification number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service and be an/a:IRS 501 (c) recognized entity (must submit IRS Determination Letter with application) OrFederal, State or local government entity (law enforcement, public school, college) OrState recognized nonprofit organization (must submit copy of state nonprofit registration)Applicants shall not discriminate against any member, person, or other user of its facilities or equipment on the basis of age, race, color, sex, or national origin, or any other class protected by applicable law.
Applicants are not required to be members of or have association with the NRA to receive funds under this grant program.
Organizations that are not a governmental agency or are not recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) entity:Must provide a public benefit equal to or in excess of the amount requested.
If you seek funding to conduct a program such as a Women on Target event or support of a youth league, and these programs are open to the public, the public benefit is clear.
Public benefit may also be shown by the nature of the qualified group benefiting from the project or activity, for example the Boy Scouts, a school, a local law enforcement agency, a veterans group, or other qualified groups may meet this requirement.
Projects or activities that further amateur sports competitions may meet the public benefit requirement.
Simply being open to the public, and charging the public for use, does not provide a public benefit.

Ineligibility

The following organizations are NOT eligible for grants:Labor organizations.Private businesses and enterprises, including LLCs.Organizations or groups that do not have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service.Friends of NRA Committees or NRA Foundation State Fund Committees.Individuals.The following types of projects or items are among those not eligible for State Fund grant funding:Deficit financing: i.e. payment for something already purchased, work already started or completed, or reimbursement for an event that has already taken place prior to grant approval by the Foundation
Projects for commercial ventures, i.e., private businesses
Projects that require membership in the NRA or in the applying club or group
Administrative fees, office overhead, advertising, insurance, postage or other similar charges
Computers, laptops, televisions
Multi-year funding of projects: Requests must be submitted for consideration each year for that year’s costs only
The Foundation only funds items that will be used for a 501(c)(3) purpose as part of a program activity. Prizes, such as trophies, ribbons, certificates, medals, for competitive shooting and other similar activities may be allowable.
Fundraising or sponsorships for organizations not falling within the mission statement of The Foundation, to include charity shoots held for those purposes
Landscaping or related equipment: i.e. lawnmowers, tractors, weed eaters, snow blowers, etc.
Vehicles, such as cars, trucks, off road vehicles or ATVs
Duty ammunition for law enforcement: Only training ammunition can be funded
Archery-only requests: Archery programs may only be considered if they are part of an overarching shooting program OR part of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP)
Projects for schools, public or private, that fall under the NRA School Shield Program, such as school security improvements or training for security or school staff: These must be applied for separately under the NRA School Shield Program
Projects which are contingent on future funding from the NRA Foundation to be completed: If funds are awarded in one year, there is no guarantee of funding in subsequent years