FAIRFAX, VA — The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) has filed a lawsuit against the NRA Foundation, alleging the foundation has acted in bad faith by withholding funds raised under the NRA name and using the NRA’s intellectual property without authorization.
The complaint, filed in court on January 5, 2026, claims that the NRA Foundation’s current leadership has misled donors and diverted resources away from NRA programs. Specifically, the lawsuit argues that donors believe their contributions are supporting the NRA’s mission, but that the foundation is now operating in a way that undermines that purpose.
“This is a disappointing day, and it should not have come to this,” said Doug Hamlin, CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA. “A foundation established to support the National Rifle Association of America has taken actions that are adversarial at a time when the NRA is rebuilding and focused on its long-term mission.”
Founded by the NRA in 1990, the NRA Foundation was created to fund the association’s charitable and educational efforts, including well-known programs such as the Eddie Eagle GunSafe initiative and the NRA National Firearms Museum. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and contributions are tax-deductible.
According to the NRA, the current leadership of the foundation—made up mostly of former NRA directors linked to past scandals—has declined to approve any grant funding for NRA programs in 2026. These funds are typically distributed at year’s end and are vital to continuing outreach and education.
The lawsuit seeks to stop the foundation from infringing on the NRA’s trademarks, misusing funds, and attempting to sever its affiliate relationship with the NRA. The NRA maintains that the foundation’s assets were raised using the NRA name, brand, and mission, and should therefore be used solely to support NRA charitable programs.
Hamlin emphasized that “for generations, donors across the United States contributed funds with the clear expectation that those resources would support NRA educational and public-interest programs,” and that it is “unacceptable that those programs are now being placed at risk.”
The NRA asserts that this legal action is a last resort to protect its mission, brand, and the intentions of its members and supporters.
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