Range Partnership Grant Program

Purpose & Application

Program Purpose: The Range Partnership Grant Program provides funding to help public shooting facilities, as well as private facilities with public shooting programs, jumpstart recruitment and retention efforts. We want to help you grow shooter numbers and shooting opportunities. The best way to increase participation by the public is to promote and enhance shooting opportunities at the local level.

Many of the Range Partnership Grants will be pilot projects designed to test new or existing recruitment techniques and see if they are worth the investment. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is looking for unique models that move the needle on recruiting new shooters, re-activation of lapsed shooters and increasing opportunities for active shooters. If your project is shown to be successful, NSSF can then share this model with other public and private shooting facilities across the country as encouragement to do the same.

Who May Apply? Only project proposals submitted by and in the name of public shooting facilities and private facilities that offer the public shooting opportunities shall be eligible for funding under the Grant Program. Separate proposals must be submitted for each project to be funded. A group of ranges may band together and submit one proposal.

How Much Grant Funding Is Available? A total of $400,000 will be available to qualifying shooting ranges for the purpose of supporting projects designed to put more recreational shooters and hunters in the field. The amount of funding that selected applicants may be awarded shall be at the sole discretion of NSSF. NSSF's award decisions are final and non-reviewable.

How to Apply: Download the Application Process PDF and submit according to guidelines. All grant applications must be received by NSSF no later than 5pm (EST) on June 1, 2012.

Are you a NSSF Member?: Proposal submissions from current NSSF Members will automatically receive additional scoring points upon review. If you are not a member, download the Membership Application PDF and submit the completed membership application with your proposal.

Questions on NSSF Membership and member benefits? Contact Samantha Hughes at (203) 426-1320 or shughes@nssf.org

Project Eligibility

Projects Eligible for Grant Assistance: All projects must help NSSF's goal of increasing shooting participation AND must address one or more of the following:

a. Recruitment of new shooters;

b. Re-activation of lapsed shooters;

c. Increased opportunities for active shooters to try another discipline;

d. Communications or outreach programs/projects geared toward retaining and/or recruiting shooters.

e. NSSF will consider funding public and private shooting facility sponsored meetings, symposia or conferences with the specific goal being to look at the future of recreational shooters and hunters in a state/county/town and determine what types of projects are needed to address recruitment, retention or access.

Projects NOT Eligible for Grant Assistance: The following types of projects are not eligible for Grant Program funding:

a. Projects that involve building new or improving facilities not essential to the operation of a shooting range.

b. Projects including activities other than with a firearm.

c. Projects that include the purchase of land.

d. Operation and maintenance of equipment and supplies and purchase of new equipment.

e. Engineering and design documents and plans.

f. All other projects that are not directly related to the above-stated project eligibility requirements as determined by the NSSF.

Project Completion Deadline: Projects must be completed by February 1, 2013.

Reporting Requirements: Grant recipients shall also be required to submit final written reports regarding their projects. Final written reports shall be due February 15, 2013, no later than 5pm (EST).

**Be advised of the following when planning your use of funds:

a. Upon receipt of a signed Agreement from Grantee, NSSF shall disburse 50% of the funds to Grantee.

b. The remaining 50% of the funds shall be disbursed to Grantee within a reasonable time following NSSF's receipt and satisfactory review of final written reports.

Please seriously consider this schedule prior to submitting a grant proposal to be sure that your shooting facility can cover up-front costs.

Proposal Review and Selection Process

A committee of the NSSF shall evaluate Grant applications for eligibility. Grants shall only be made to applicants with proposals that comply with all application requirements and guidelines, and who, in the sole judgment of the NSSF, propose activities that best promote target shooting and hunter recruitment, participation and retention objectives. All decisions of NSSF are final and non-reviewable.

Grant recipients shall be required to sign a written Grants Condition Acknowledgement Agreement with the NSSF immediately following notification of acceptance. Grant awards are not final and shall be non-binding on NSSF until agreements are signed by grant recipients and returned to the NSSF. Please review what a typical Grant Conditions Acknowledgement Agreement looks like. Grant recipients shall also be required to submit all other necessary documentation (e.g., final written reports) as directed during the term of the grant to ensure their commitment to the Grant Program.

The NSSF reserves the right, at any time, to terminate, suspend or amend the Range Grant Program, to adjust the total amount of funding available under the program or awarded, to correct any errors made in awarding grant funds, or to take any other action deemed necessary and appropriate, in NSSF’s sole discretion. NSSF shall also be authorized to terminate, suspend or amend the Grant application process, reject any or all grant applications, in whole or in part, waive minor irregularities in applications, or to allow applicants to correct minor irregularities, if the best interests of the Grant Program will be served by doing so.

For more information contact:
Melissa A. Schilling
Manager, Recruitment & Retention
National Shooting Sports Foundation
11 Mile Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470-2359
(P): (203) 426-1320
(E): mschilling@nssf.org