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Corporate Donations to the Gun Lobby

Delivered August 9, 2019. Contributor: Shannon L.

Goals

To determine how much money corporations donate annually to the U.S. gun lobby for purposes of data mining.

Early Findings

Preliminary research indicates the amount of donations from private donors (individuals and corporations) is readily available from 2004 through 2017.
  • In 2017, the NRA received $98 million in private donations against $312 million total revenue (for 31.4% of total revenue).
  • In 2016, the NRA received $125 million in private donation against $367 million total revenue (34% of total revenue).
  • In 2013, the NRA received $96.4 million in private donations, which was 27.7% of total revenue.
  • In 2012, the NRA received $86.4 million in private donations, which was 33.7% of total revenue.
  • In 2011, the NRA received $59.4 million in private donations, which was 27.1% of total revenue.
  • In 2010, the NRA received $71.1 million in private donations, which was 31.2% of total revenue.
  • In 2009, the NRA received $66.9 million in private donations, which was 28.2% of total revenue.
  • In 2008, the NRA incorrectly reported membership dues and private donations together.
  • In 2007, the NRA received $54.7 million in private donations, which was 16.5% of total revenue.
  • In 2006, the NRA received $37.4 million in private donations, which was 22.6% of total revenue.
  • In 2005, the NRA received $42.8 million in private donations, which was 26.1% of total revenue.
  • In 2004, the NRA received $46.3 million in private donations, which was 27.1% of total revenue.
  • As of 2011, 74% of corporate donations come from gun companies.

INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS

  • In 2011, individuals donated $11 million to the NRA's Political Victory Fund.
  • This donation amount increased to $22 million in 2014.
  • These contributions came from 300,000 donors and 90% of donations were less than $200 in a single year.
  • The NRA states the average donation from individuals is $35.

TRIANGULTION

  • Since individual donations made up $11 million of the NRA's contributions in 2011, this means that $48.4 million was from corporate sponsors ($59.4 million — $11 million).
  • In 2011, $35.8 million of the $48.4 million in corporate donations came from gun companies ($48.4 million x 0.74).
  • In addition to this public search, we scanned our proprietary research database of over 1 million sources and were unable to find any specific research reports that address your goals.

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