When it was announced earlier this month that I had been selected as the new Executive Director of the NRA Foundation, I heard the same question more than once: what exactly is the NRA Foundation, and how is it different from the NRA itself?
It’s a fair question. For years, many people have understandably assumed the NRA and the NRA Foundation are one and the same. The truth is that while we are affiliated, the Foundation is a separate nonprofit public charity, with its own board, bylaws, officers, and mission. And while the NRA is engaged in political advocacy, the Foundation’s role is different: we exist to provide the cultural, educational, and charitable support that keeps the Second Amendment alive for future generations.
That difference matters. Political victories are important, but they mean little if America’s shooting and hunting traditions are not preserved. Advocacy without heritage is unsustainable. My job, and the mission of the NRA Foundation, is to ensure that those traditions are taught, nurtured, and passed on.
Since 1990, the NRA Foundation has awarded more than $500 million in grants to programs across the country. These funds have supported hunter education, competitive shooting programs, law enforcement training, firearm safety initiatives like Eddie Eagle, and thousands of local ranges, youth groups, and conservation organizations. If you’ve ever seen a high school rifle or skeet team compete, taken a hunter education course, or used a community range upgraded with charitable dollars, you’ve probably witnessed the Foundation’s work firsthand.
I believe that this work is absolutely vital. Without strong and thriving shooting and hunting communities, without the next generation learning firearm safety and responsibility, without local ranges and competitions where skills are developed, the Second Amendment risks being reduced to a talking point instead of a living right. What is defended in politics must first exist in practice.
The Foundation has had to prove its resilience. In 2020, we were drawn into litigation brought by the D.C. Attorney General. While the headlines at the time suggested otherwise, no Foundation employees, officers, or board members were ever named. We vigorously defended our independence and ultimately resolved the case through a consent decree that neither admitted nor found liability. Instead, it gave us the opportunity to strengthen our governance and build on reforms we had already put in place.
As a result, today the NRA Foundation is stronger than ever. We have our own independent board of trustees, specialized audit and compliance committees, and a renewed focus on transparency and best practices. We formalized a shared services agreement with the NRA to ensure clarity and accountability in how we operate. And importantly, the Foundation now has a dedicated Executive Director – me – who reports solely to the Foundation board. That means donors, grantees, and stakeholders can be confident that their support is managed with independence and integrity.
This is a pivotal moment. Challenges to America’s firearms culture are real. Fewer young people grow up hunting or shooting. Ranges face financial and regulatory hurdles. And misinformation about firearms spreads faster than ever. The way we fight back is not only in courtrooms or legislatures but in classrooms, on ranges, and in the field. We must show the next generation what it means to safely, responsibly, and proudly exercise their rights.
That is why the NRA Foundation exists. Every grant we award - to a range, a youth program, a safety initiative, or a law enforcement training effort - is an investment in America’s future. Every time a child learns firearm safety, every time a community gets a stronger local shooting facility, every time law enforcement officers benefit from enhanced training, those are victories for the Second Amendment. And they happen because of the generosity of donors and the dedication of this Foundation.
As I step into this new role, I see the Foundation as both a steward of our traditions and a builder of our future. We are financially strong, mission-driven, and accountable. But most importantly, we are committed to ensuring that the freedoms guaranteed in the Second Amendment are lived and experienced, not just discussed.
The political battles for gun rights will always be critical. But every political victory begins with cultural strength. The NRA Foundation provides that strength. It ensures that the heritage of safe, responsible firearms ownership is preserved for the next generation, so that advocacy has real roots.
I invite all who care about these traditions to join us in this work. Whether through volunteering or simply sharing the story of what the Foundation does, you can help us ensure that America’s shooting and hunting heritage continues to thrive.
With strong governance, renewed independence, and a proven track record of more than half a billion dollars in impact, the NRA Foundation is poised to keep building for the future. I am honored to lead it, and I am excited about what lies ahead.
Peter Churchbourne is the Executive Director of the NRA Foundation and a longtime advocate for hunters and conservation. Previously Director of the NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum and a 17-year veteran of Ducks Unlimited, he has developed award-winning education resources and communications strategies to advance hunters’ rights nationwide.
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