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WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is pleased to announce that it has selected five recipients to receive a portion of the $100,000 grant allotment provided by the NSSF Hunting Heritage Trust for 2023.
“Preserving our hunting and shooting heritage relies on community-driven initiatives that find new and creative ways to engage both longtime enthusiasts and newcomers. Making hunting more accessible and welcoming for everyone is crucial for ensuring the future of these activities we hold dear,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “We’re pleased to see numerous passionate organizations dedicated to getting more non-traditional audiences involved in the proud traditions of hunting and the shooting sports. We are honored to support them through these grants.”
The recipients and projects funded by the grants include:
- Georgia Wildlife Federation will prepare BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) college students for careers within the outdoors industry. Grant Amount: $20,000
- Hunters of Color will train BIPOC ambassadors to lead local hunter recruitment efforts in their communities. Grant Amount: $26,000
- National Deer Association will introduce a BIPOC Field to Fork program just outside Philadelphia in a National Wildlife Refuge. Grant Amount: $20,000
- Pheasants Forever will launch a BIPOC Learn to Hunt/Learn to Shoot program. Grant Amount: $10,000
- Ambassador Academy will educate 16 non-traditional participants to be more effective communicators in the hunting, conservation, shooting sports, and the 2nd Amendment communities while promoting personal safety and proficiency with firearms. Grant Amount: $24,000
These 2023 grant funds are the fifth to be released from the $1 million fund established in 2018 as the NSSF Hunting Heritage Trust. The grant was funded equally by NSSF and the Hunting Heritage Trust, which was founded by retired NSSF President and CEO Bob Delfay. This first-of-its-kind grant program works directly to support NSSF’s mission of promoting, protecting and preserving hunting and the shooting sports. It is designed to distribute funds for 10 consecutive years to organizations meeting eligibility requirements and intending to use the funds to support recruitment, retention and reactivation programs, known collectively as R3 efforts.
About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.