NSSF Opens Hunting Heritage Trust Grant Application Period

Zac K. 03.27.25

Are you a member of a non-profit looking to boost hunting in your local area? As of late March, 2025, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) says it has opened the application period for Hunting Heritage Trust Grants. Now is the time to get busy filling out paperwork, and get funding.

The NSSF is the American firearms industry’s trade organization, representing the gunmakers and ammunition manufacturers of the United States. It makes sense that they want to boost hunting and attract newcomers to the great outdoors—a stated goal of the new grant program. As per the PR:

Qualified non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may apply for a portion of this year’s $100,000 Hunting Heritage Trust Grant total, to be used to support recruitment, retention and reactivation programs, known collectively as R3 efforts. NSSF will place emphasis on programs that focus on increasing participation by attracting new participants and reactivating past participants.

The NSSF says that applicants for funding need to read the program’s outline carefully, to make sure they qualify. On the website, they tell potential applicants this:

The following types of projects are not eligible for Grant Program funding:

Projects including activities other than hunting and target shooting with a firearm.

Projects that involve building new or improving existing structures.

Youth dove/pheasant hunts.

Salaries of employees and other overhead expenses.

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

You can see full details of who can apply for funding, and who can’t, at the NSSF website here.

Marksmanship programs are covered under the NSSF grant plan. [NSSF]

“We are excited to offer this new round of Hunting Heritage Trust Grants to encourage organizations to expand programs that facilitate participation among diverse groups in target shooting and hunting,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO at the announcement of the program for 2025. “We’ll be looking to reward programs that address the needs of this growing participant base. If you’ve got a program in mind that meets the grant guidelines, a Hunting Heritage Trust Grant can help elevate your efforts.”

The NSSF says all grant applications need to be submitted by April 18, 2025, and completed by February 9, 2026.

Zac K.

Zac K. hunts and fishes to feed his family in the northeast. His work has been in Outdoor Canada and other adventure and outdoors publications.