NSSF® Announces 2021 Hunting Heritage Trust Grant Recipients

NEWTOWN, Conn. – NSSF®, the firearm industry trade association, is pleased to announce that it has selected six recipients to receive grants made available by the NSSF Hunting Heritage Trust®.

“We at NSSF are really excited by the thoughtful, innovative projects proposed by these organizations. These projects will help to address the needs of diverse groups who are passionate about taking part in hunting and the shooting sports,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF’s President and CEO. “It’s an honor for NSSF to be able to help them on the path to success by awarding them Hunting Heritage Trust grants.”

The recipients and projects funded by the grants include:

  • Georgia Wildlife Federation’s “Extending Academics Afield to Advance Equity in College R3 Programming” will diversify engagement by expanding Academics Afield, which focuses on diversifying hunting and shooting sport participation, to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Grant amount: $35,600.
  • New Mexico Wildlife Federation’s “Field to Table/Campo A Mesa Project: Introduction to hunting and conservation for Native Americans and Hispanics” will deliver a unique Field to Table (“Campo A Mesa” in Spanish) project for both rural and urban participants from across New Mexico and for non-traditional participants. Grant amount: $10,000.
  • National Deer Association’s “An Equitable Expansion of Field to Fork with Strategic Partners” will work in conjunction with NSSF’s +ONE® MovementSM, The Nature Conservancy, Hunters of Color, New York Department of Environmental Conservation and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to create equitable and sustainable learn-to-hunt programs that can serve as models. Grant amount: $15,000.
  • Minnesota Conservation Federation’s “Conservation Leadership Corps: Mentored Introduction to Hunting for Wildlife College Students” will introduce, mentor and guide the next generation of conservation leaders to hunting and the shooting sports. Grant amount: $7,400.
  • National Wildlife Federation, Artemis Sportswomen’s “Increasing Women’s Access, Participation, and Representation in Conservation Leadership Roles” will create a comprehensive and accessible training resource to support sportswomen and increase their capacity and participation in conservation leadership roles. Grant amount: $25,000
  • Wyoming Women’s Foundation’s “Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt” will invest in the economic self-sufficiency of women and opportunities for girls in Wyoming, focusing on mentoring and teaching women the skills necessary to hunt game with rifles and provide food for their families. Grant amount: $7,000.

These 2021 grant funds are the third to be released from the $1 million fund established in October 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.

Media contact:
Bill Brassard
203-426-1320 ext. 212

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, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.