NRA Sues Its Charitable Foundation, Alleging Misuse of Funds and Unfair Competition

By Blessing Nweke

The National Rifle Association filed a federal lawsuit Monday against its charitable arm, the NRA Foundation, accusing it of trademark infringement, unfair competition and the misuse of roughly $160 million raised alongside the NRA.

In the complaint, filed in Washington, D.C., the NRA alleges the foundation violated “the law of charitable trusts” by improperly using donor funds and by presenting itself to the public as the NRA or an authorized affiliate. The association said the lawsuit aims to stop the foundation from “passing itself off to donors and the public as the NRA” and from misappropriating contributions intended to support NRA charitable activities.

The suit lays bare deep internal divisions, claiming the foundation has been “seized by a disgruntled faction of former NRA directors” who lost control of the NRA’s board following revelations of financial improprieties and mismanagement. According to the filing, those former leaders are attempting to reclaim influence by using the foundation as a rival power base after being “booted out of power by the NRA’s members.”

Attorneys for the NRA describe the foundation’s leadership as driven by personal animosity and resentment stemming from past scandals. Those disputes followed a civil corruption trial in New York, where a jury in February 2024 found that longtime NRA leader Wayne LaPierre diverted millions of dollars for personal luxury while the organization failed to manage its finances. LaPierre stepped down in January 2024, days before the trial began, and a judge later barred him from NRA membership for 10 years.

In the new lawsuit, the NRA claims the foundation’s leaders intend to slash funding to the association, take control of certain programs, sue the NRA and undermine its financial stability. The filing alleges the foundation plans to compete directly with the NRA in fundraising and programming.

The NRA is asking a federal judge to block the foundation from using the NRA name or logo and from creating the impression that its activities are sponsored or endorsed by the association. The NRA Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.