The National Rifle Association (NRA) recently announced the reopening of the NRA Public Range Fund. Established in 2009, the NRA Public Range Fund is a grant-matching program that encourages city and county governments, along with state or federal agencies, to work with NRA to build and improve public ranges across the United States.

This matching grant program encourages federal, state, and local governments to work with NRA to construct, maintain, and augment public shooting facilities. At the NRA’s sole discretion, grants are awarded to assist with the acquisition, development, and improvement of public shooting facilities.

Make Range Improvements and Resolve Environmental Issues
In addition to physical improvements, NRA’s Public Range Fund allows qualifying agencies or local governments to improve community relations and address environmental issues related to range operations. With grants awarded on a 50/50 matching basis, 50% of project cost are provided by the applicant and the remaining 50% are provided by the Fund. In-kind services such as labor, materials, and equipment may be considered to provide the applicant’s 50% contribution.

APPLY HERE for Public Range Fund Grants »

“Our grants provide … recreational facilities for entire communities. Public ranges allow hundreds of thousands of hunters, competitive shooters, and target shooters to work on their marksmanship under safe and responsible conditions. More than 90 public ranges have been awarded funds to date and we look forward to assisting the next 90.” — Liz Bush, managing director of NRA Community Engagement

More than $2 million in NRA Public Range Fund grants have been awarded since the program began. To learn about this program and other available grants, visit the NRA Grant Program Webpage.

Photo from IBS Score Nationals at Thumont Conservation & Sportsman’s Club in Maryland.

Range Improvement Grants
Helping clubs improve shooting range facilities is one of the main missions of the NRA Grant Program. Such programs might include: Berm improvements (example below), Clubhouse improvements, Target pits, Covered firing lines, Road improvements, Trap Machines, Storage buildings and other permanent improvements to club properties and/or facilities.