NRA membership and donating to the NRA

The NRA is divided into several organizations that have different tax status and functions. 

Your NRA membership dues go to the main organization, is not used for political purposes,
and is not tax deductible. 

NRA ILA http://www.nraila.org/ is the lobbying branch of the NRA and this is funding used for NRA people in DC and the state capitals who interact with various legislative bodies. 

The NRA PVF http://www.nrapvf.org/ is the fund used for making contributions to political candidates and for political advertising. 

The NRA Foundation http://www.nrafoundation.org/ is tax deductible and it does things like safety and marksmanship training and range programs. This is a Section 501(c)(3) organization making donations tax deductible. 

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund http://www.nradefensefund.org/ is the branch that helps with things like law suites and other gun rights court cases. This one is also tax deductible as a Section 501(c)(3) org.

NRA/Friends of NRA use grass roots "Friends Committees" to raise funds and State "Grant Funding Committees" to spend the money raised.

Most membership money goes to your magazine subscription and operations of the club, HQ salaries, etc. Donations account for most other expenses and undertakings.

My question... Why do most people buy an annual membership instead of donating directly to the NRA ILA? I say, "NRA, keep your hats, duffle bags, and magazines. I demand my money go directly to the front lines to fund those that defend our 2A rights!

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Originally Posted by kidicarus13

Why do most people buy an annual membership instead of donating directly to the NRA ILA?

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I do both....and tick the box on the membership form that says "no magazine". I receive exactly one (1) piece of mail from the NRA each year, which is my membership renewal letter. I find the myriad of posts on gun forums whining about the heaps of junk mail from the NRA puzzling, -people can very easily opt out of those mailings but many are apparently strapped for time and when they assess their available time they choose to spend that time posting about the junk mail rather than simply calling the NRA and opting out of the mailings.

The NRA isn't perfect, but the small pittance the annual membership costs is a less than a single box of pistol ammo and the mere fact that being a member irritates people like mikey bloomberg is well worth the cost to me.

NRA-ILA is obviously a great destination for a donation but merely being a standard NRA member at least gets people psychologically engaged in the topic.

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My question... Why do most people buy an annual membership instead of donating directly to the NRA ILA?

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Since this has been [beatdeadhorse] The main reason that has been mentioned is in order to belong to most of the ranges you have to be a member.

Excellent response hatidua. Another question... Why is it that everytime the NRA promotes their "promotional" lifetime membership for $250 people get so excited to join all the sudden? Is it because the members see the opportunity to get more bang for their buck? A sense of pride for being a LIFETIME member? We'll $250 over a member's 25 year existence is only $10 a year. Do you think some use it as a chance to say "Look at me, I am a lifetime NRA member"? I hope not.

I ask you to give what you can to the NRA ILA. Me? I like to give each time a new shooting occurs and I see the libs trying to capitalize on the tragedy such as this most recent California shooting.

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day weekend everyone!

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Originally Posted by kidicarus13

Excellent response hatidua. Another question... Why is it that everytime the NRA promotes their "promotional" lifetime membership for $250 people get so excited to join all the sudden? Is it because the members see the opportunity to get more bang for their buck? A sense of pride for being a LIFETIME member? We'll $250 over a member's 25 year existence is only $10 a year. Do you think some use it as a chance to say "Look at me, I am a lifetime NRA member"? I hope not.

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My guess is that the NRA has taken a look at membership trends/behavior and figures that some will not re-up for ten years and so better to get the cash up front. That said, I'm not sure of the motivation for individuals to do the lifetime thing. I've considered it purely from an economic standpoint but remain a lowly annual member.

I've pretty much upgraded my membership as far as it can go to Benefactor. Not for any reason of status but I just considered it a donation. I also contribute a fair amount every year to the NRA/ILA. The NRA may not be perfect but there's no doubt when they talk in DC, people listen. I pretty much buy life memberships to most pro-gun organizations when possible just because I don't have to worry about annual memberships and it seemed to be a better way of maintaining higher membership rolls in the organization.

Life membership in the NRA also allows voting privileges in the organization (I think you need a minimum 3-year membership to vote for board members...but by the time you pay for that a couple of times you could buy a life membership).

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

I've pretty much upgraded my membership as far as it can go to Benefactor. Not for any reason of status but I just considered it a donation. I also contribute a fair amount every year to the NRA/ILA. The NRA may not be perfect but there's no doubt when they talk in DC, people listen. I pretty much buy life memberships to most pro-gun organizations when possible just because I don't have to worry about annual memberships and it seemed to be a better way of maintaining higher membership rolls in the organization.

Life membership in the NRA also allows voting privileges in the organization (I think you need a minimum 3-year membership to vote for board members...but by the time you pay for that a couple of times you could buy a life membership).

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5 continual years of membership.

I happen to enjoy the American Rifleman magazine every month and like Bailey Guns, I prefer the life membership route so I don't have to screw around with annual renewals.

I first joined the NRA because they were the most effective organization at fighting Clinton's crapola and I upgraded to Life somewhat in honor of how the organization had progressed during Charlton Heston's tenure as President. Unfortunately I didn't know about the occasional discount upgrades and paid full price for mine but it's still well worth it in the long run.

Donating to NRA-ILA and the NRA CDF are both worthy things to do for 2A supporters.

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Originally Posted by kidicarus13

Excellent response hatidua. Another question... Why is it that everytime the NRA promotes their "promotional" lifetime membership for $250 people get so excited to join all the sudden? Is it because the members see the opportunity to get more bang for their buck? A sense of pride for being a LIFETIME member? We'll $250 over a member's 25 year existence is only $10 a year. Do you think some use it as a chance to say "Look at me, I am a lifetime NRA member"? I hope not.

I ask you to give what you can to the NRA ILA. Me? I like to give each time a new shooting occurs and I see the libs trying to capitalize on the tragedy such as this most recent California shooting.

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day weekend everyone!

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I did a "lifetime" because I have a lot of organizations, and yearly fees for things; easier to just pay once. Then I don't have to worry about forgetting... Can't wait for the next "lifetime" deal so i can sign my son up. You know- more bang for the buck.

I am not a member at the moment but donate around the annual membership cost every year. As you have brought up, membership fees can not go to lobbying at state and national levels. I feel my money can be better spent this way then being able to say i am a member. Jerrymrc pretty much gives you the reason why to be a member. Just make sure you donate money every year, member or not, so they can fight for us.

If no one "joined" the NRA, and just sent donations directly, would the NRA's lobbying efforts have the same effect? Seems like being able to point to having 4.5 million members gives the lobbyists a lot more power.

I do the annual membership for myself, wife and daughter and donate to the ILA a couple of times a year. I attend Friends of NRA when I can afford it. I also do annual memberships to RMGO and Gun Owners of America as I feel that they do try to help the cause. I also try to do my part with phone calls, emails and the occasional letter to our elected public servants. I take the magazines because I enjoy reading them and after I'm done I pass them on in various ways so others will hopefully get the message and become stronger supporters of the second amendment.

To each his or her own as to how you support the cause but the NRA is the main focus of my support

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Originally Posted by wctriumph

To each his or her own as to how you support the cause but the NRA is the main focus of my support

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Good responses from all. Seems everyone does what they do for a reason. Support is the key.

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Originally Posted by kidicarus13

Excellent response hatidua. Another question... Why is it that everytime the NRA promotes their "promotional" lifetime membership for $250 people get so excited to join all the sudden? Is it because the members see the opportunity to get more bang for their buck? A sense of pride for being a LIFETIME member? We'll $250 over a member's 25 year existence is only $10 a year. Do you think some use it as a chance to say "Look at me, I am a lifetime NRA member"? I hope not.

I ask you to give what you can to the NRA ILA. Me? I like to give each time a new shooting occurs and I see the libs trying to capitalize on the tragedy such as this most recent California shooting.

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day weekend everyone!

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I am one that took advantage of one of the life member "deals" they ran about 2 years ago. I upgraded it so I wouldn't have to do the annual thing anymore and then every year when I get my tax return I send a chunk to the NRA/ILA branch. The way I look at it, the life membership upgrade at a lower price gave me a chance to hand off the yearly membership dues to the ILA wing so it's a win-win the way I look at it.

But what kinda pisses me off is when they call and send mail out asking for donations and give the impression that money is going directly to the fighting wings of the organization when in reality it's just going to the admin wing, and IMHO if they were a little more upfront about it, they'd get more donations to both sides of the coin.

I did a life years ago, and support the political aspects as well. The one thing "membership" does politically is give the other aspects a "voting block" argument that is very real. If there were 100 members who each gave $1M, that will wield less "influence" than 5M members that each gave $20.

The NRA is a scam. I protect gun rights by giving small unmarked bills to Dudley in brown paper bags.

Seriously, though, I joined when they were discounting life memberships, and I make up the rest with donations to ILA.

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