501(c)(3) nonprofit Gun organizations

[doobie]

Well, at work it's the yearly time to get matching $ for donations. I was trying to find Pro Gun groups to donate, and I can only donate to 501(c)(3) nonprofits through the matching program.

EDIT: I realized that the matching donations DON'T go to the nonprofits I choose (but to the United Way general funds), so I'm just going to use the money to donate directly to the organizations.

Here's the list I found (please let me know if you feel these are anti-gun fronts or if I'm missing anything):

Nation-wide organizations

• Gun Owners Foundation
  Provides firearms rights education to the public and pro bono legal expert and support assistance in self-defense Second Amendment and other firearms-related matters. Address 8001 Forbes Place Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151, us
  
• NRA Foundation Inc. The (Gun Safety Program)
  Address 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, us
  
• USPSA
  PO Box 811 Sedro Woolley WA 98284
  
• Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety / Civilian Marksmanship Program
  PO Box 576, Port Clinton, OH 43452
  
• Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership Inc / C-o Aaron S Zelman Ex Director
  PO Box 270143, Hartford, WI 53027

Local Gun groups:

• 
  Laconia Rod & Gun Club
  358 S Main St, Laconia, NH 03246
  
  Gun Owners of New Hampshire
  PO Box 847, Concord, NH 03302
  
  Mountain View Gun Club
  PO Box 31, Guild, NH 03754
  
  Chester Rod and Gun Club
  PO Box 337, Chester, NH 03036
  
  Hampton Rod and Gun Club Inc
  Local, N Hampton, NH 03862
  
  German Gun Collectors Association Inc
  438 Willow Brook Rd, Plainfield, NH 03781
  
  Gun Owners Action League Inc
  37 Pierce, Northboro, MA 01532
  
  (it seems like almost every gun club in MA is a 503(c)(3) sorry not copy/pasting them all)
  
  Massasoit Gun Club Inc
  PO Box 14232, E Providence, RI 02914
  
  Tiverton Rod & Gun Club
  PO Box 115, Tiverton, RI 02878
  
  The Narragansett Gun Club of Kent County
  541 Austin Farm Rd, Exeter, RI 02822
  
  Wallum Lake Rod and Gun Club
  200 Brook Rd, Harrisville, RI 02830
  
  Hitormis Gun Club Inc
  PO Box 2001, Springfield, VT 05156
  
  Teago Gun Club Inc
  Local, Woodstock, VT 05091
  
  Alburg Rod & Gun Club
  2 Sowles St, Alburg, VT 05440
  
  Hartford Rod & Gun Club Inc
  PO 316, Hartford, VT 05047
  
  Chester Rod & Gun Club Inc
  PO Box 104, Chester, VT 05143
  
  Weston Rod & Gun Club Incorporated
  PO Box 3, Londonderry, VT 05148
  
  Swanton-highgate Rod and Gun Club Inc
  116 Middle Rd, Swanton, VT 05488
  
  White River Rod & Gun Club Inc
  Local, Bethel, VT 05032
  
  Wiscasset Rod & Gun Club
  PO Box 18, Wiscasset, ME 04578
  
  Falmouth Rod and Gun Club
  89 Auburn St Pmb 1240, Portland, ME 04103
  
  Cutlas Rod & Gun Club Inc
  PO Box 193, East Machias, ME 04630
  
  Penobscot Bay Rod & Gun Club
  419 Fort Knox Rd, Prospect, ME 04981
  
  Pine Tree Rod & Gun Club
  20 York St, Portland, ME 04101
  
  Windham Gorham Rod & Gun Club
  76 Burnham Rd, Gorham, ME 04038
  
  Northern York County Rod & Gun Club
  PO Box 186, West Newfield, ME 04095
  
  Pine Tree Rod & Gun Club Charitable Foundation
  PO Box 1197, Gray, ME 04039
  
  Princeton Rod and Gun Club C/o Mr Dale Speed
  PO Box 454, Princeton, ME 04668

Unsorted National (Some may be anti-gun fronts):

• 
  Firearm Safety
  PO Box 499, Winona, MN 55987
  
  Kentucky Firearms Foundation Inc
  116 Rocky Ln, Owingsville, KY 40360
  
  American Firearms and Shooting Foundation
  13310 Foxhall Dr, Wheaton, MD 20906
  
  Public Firearms Center
  2017 Swan Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
  
  American Firearms Education Institute
  28542 La Cumbre, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
  
  Safety & Firearms Education Inc
  504 Grand Blvd, Westbury, NY 11590
  
  Portland Firearms Training Team
  4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd Ste 103, Portland, OR 97214
  
  Tennessee Firearms Association Inc
  501 Union St Ste 701, Nashville, TN 37219
  
  Firearms Safety Awareness Program
  2019 Musser, Laredo, TX 78043
  
  National Institute On Firearms & Society
  875a Island Dr 339, Alameda, CA 94502
  
  Northcoast Firearms Safety Foundation
  PO Box, Crescent City, CA 95531
  
  Firearms Legal Defense Foundation
  PO Box 1950, Costa Mesa, CA 92628
  
  National Firearms Association
  PO Box 520, Kennesaw, GA 30156
  
  Hawaii Firearms Controls Coalition
  PO Box 1245, Kaneohe, HI 96744
  
  Marlin Firearms Collectors Association Ltd
  PO Box 491, Clay Center, KS 67432
  
  Southern Arizona Firearms Educators Inc
  6611 N Paseo De Gabriel, Tucson, AZ 85741
  
  Southeast Louisiana Firearms Safety Inc
  PO Box 5159, Slidell, LA 70469
  
  Michigans Firearm Hertiage and Historical Fund
  PO Box 30235, Lansing, MI 48909
  
  David Coleman Firearms Freedom Foundation
  30 Doe Run Ln, Stratham, NH 03885
  
  New Hampshire Firearms Coalition Incorporated
  PO Box 7182, Milford, NH 03055
  
  Firearms Foundation of New York Incorporated
  PO Box 122, Valley Stream, NY 11582
  
  Central Coast Firearms Education Foundation
  PO Box 6811, Los Osos, CA 93412
  
  Central Ohio Firearms Educational Center
  245 Kaye Dr, Pickerington, OH 43147
  
  The Foundation for Youth Firearms Safety Inc
  Box 712, Aberdeen, SD 57402
  
  Association of Firearm & Tool Mark Examiners
  200 Feliks Gwozdz Pl, Fort Worth, TX 76104
  
  Virginia Firearms Education and Marksmanship Inc
  9305 Indiantown Rd, King George, VA 22485
  
  National Firearms Safety Council Inc
  2683 Horton Hill Rd, Herndon, VA 20171
  
  Firearms Engravers Guild of America Inc
  6120 David Dr, Wi Rapids, WI 54494
  
  San Diego Academy for Firearms Education
  2082 Willow Glen Dr, El Cajon, CA 92019
  
  Firearms Safety Education Foundation Inc
  11 Mile Hill Rd, Newtown, CT 06470
  
  American Firearms Council Inc / Afc
  101 D St SE, Washington, DC 20003
  
  Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Assoc of Retirees
  405 Bonaventure Rd, St Simons Isle, GA 31522
  
  National Firearms Education Foundation Inc
  PO Box 1949, Post Falls, ID 83877
  
  Arizona Firearm Safety Coalition Ltd
  PO Box 1809, Phoenix, AZ 85001
  
  Isanti County Firearms and Outdoor Training for Youths Inc
  5501 County Rd 5nw, Isanti, MN 55040
  
  Minnesota Assoc of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Inc
  101 4th St SE, Rochester, MN 55904
  
  Minnesota Firearms Instructors Assn Chapter 1
  2403 E County Rd F, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
  
  International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors I
  25 Country Club Rd 707, Gilford, NH 03249
  
  Southern Adirondack Firearms Education and Training Inc
  PO Box 2389, Glens Falls, NY 12801
  
  Western Ohio Personal Safety- Firearm Training Group
  1990 Herky Pl, Fairborn, OH 45324
  
  
  National Firearms Unit Welfare & Recreation Association
  320 E Chestnut Ave, Altoona, PA 16601
  
  Firearms Instruction Research and Education Fire Institute
  2130 Fox Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
  
  Firearms Owners Against Crime Educational Fund Inc
  706 Dutch Hill Rd, Mcdonald, PA 15057
  
  Sane Alternatives To the Firearms Epidemic / Safe Education Fund
  730 17th St Ste 740, Denver, CO 80202
  
  Connecticut Historic Firearms Shooting Association Inc
  738 Tobacco St, Lebanon, CT 06249
  
  Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Special Agents Benefit As
  650 Massachusetts Ave NW Ste 8300, Washington, DC 20226
  
  Georgia Association Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Inc
  PO Box 29, Locust Grove, GA 30248
  
  Lessons In Firearms Education Ii / L I F E Ii
  PO Box 25271, Hon, HI 96825
  

 

[Gaffer]

I saw several Maine Gun Clubs are not listed as 503(c)(3). What is the advantage of being so other than that any one or organization donating to that club can write off the donation. Doesn't being such a 503(c)(3) organization require filing taxes and other yearly reports and paperwork?

 

[Len-2A Training]

Any 503 org must file papers with the state and feds annually.

In general, gun clubs/orgs only qualify for a "fraternal" org designation. I think (not positive) that those are 503(c)(6) or (7) and donations aren't tax deductible (unless a business "donates" as an advertising/marketing deduction against eh business) as a charity.

Foundations are created strictly for training purposes and so that they can be a 503(c)(3) org and accept charitable contributions. But they are prohibited from any political activity by IRS Regs.

Warning: I am not a tax expert, but have been an officer and BOD member of various orgs where this info has been pertinent and discussed at length.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

You missed a 501(c)(3)

USPSA
PO Box 811
Sedro Woolley WA 98284

Also GOAL (www.goal.org) is a 501(c)(3)

You can read the IRS 990 forms for all 501(c)(3)'s at www.guidestar.org, but they tend to lag a year or so behind.

 

[doobie]

You missed a 501(c)(3)

USPSA
PO Box 811
Sedro Woolley WA 98284

Also GOAL (www.goal.org) is a 501(c)(3)

You can read the IRS 990 forms for all 501(c)(3)'s at www.guidestar.org, but they tend to lag a year or so behind.

Goal was there, as Gun Owners Action League Inc, I'll add USPSA...

 

[the_doctor]

Most gun clubs can not be a 501c(3). A c(3) designation bestows significant advantages. However, IRC requires the organization to be designed for charitable or educational purposes ie hospital, church, or organized school.

The NRA has an organized educational program. Does your gun club? I doubt it. Most gun clubs are not for profit as they are mutually owned by the members and are classifiable as 501c(7).

bill

 

[the_doctor]

Any 503 org must file papers with the state and feds annually.

In general, gun clubs/orgs only qualify for a "fraternal" org designation. I think (not positive) that those are 503(c)(6) or (7) and donations aren't tax deductible (unless a business "donates" as an advertising/marketing deduction against eh business) as a charity.

Foundations are created strictly for training purposes and so that they can be a 503(c)(3) org and accept charitable contributions. But they are prohibited from any political activity by IRS Regs.

Warning: I am not a tax expert, but have been an officer and BOD member of various orgs where this info has been pertinent and discussed at length.

(6) is highly doubtful. (6) would be an umbrella organization designed to promote business. Such as a union of locally owned convenience stores organizing to research market conditions.

 

[Len-2A Training]

the_doctor,

Thanks for the info. I was active in a couple of Chambers of Commerce. That's probably where I remember the (c)(6) from.

 

[RKG]

I am quite surprised that any Massachusetts gun club could or would seek to be determined by the Service to be a 501(c)(3). As noted, this is reserved for "charitable" and "educational" institutions. Most of the clubs I am aware of are private non-profits, which are determined to be 501(c)(7)s.

In addition to all other detriments of 501(c)(3) status, as public "charities" they are subject to oversight and regulation by the Massachusetts Attorney General.

 

[doobie]

I am quite surprised that any Massachusetts gun club could or would seek to be determined by the Service to be a 501(c)(3). As noted, this is reserved for "charitable" and "educational" institutions. Most of the clubs I am aware of are private non-profits, which are determined to be 501(c)(7)s.

In addition to all other detriments of 501(c)(3) status, as public "charities" they are subject to oversight and regulation by the Massachusetts Attorney General.

Maybe the united way was allowing selection of other types of non-profits, but everything was saying 501(c)(3).

 

[RKG]

I don't doubt that you've reflected your source, but:

Most gun clubs are facilities-based activities whose facilities are open only to dues paying members, who are selected on the basis of unenforceable criteria by the existing members, and whose membership is, compared to the population at large, quite small. Such an organization does not qualify as a public charity. Harvard Community Health Plan v. Assessors of Cambridge, 384 Mass. 536, 543 (1981).