Executive Compensation at the NRA (2020)

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a non-profit 501 (c) (4) organization or what many people refer to as an membership advocacy organization that fights tirelessly for our second amendment rights and pays their executives very well while also paying for first class or charter travel, travel for companions, health or social club dues or initiation fees, gross up payments and tax indemnification, and provides housing allowances or housing for personal use.

The most recent IRS Form 990 (2020) reports the organization employed 640 individuals (compared to 770  in 2019) who were compensated $38 million, which equates to an average compensation of nearly $60,000. 107 employees (compared to 149 employees in 2019) received more than $100,000 in compensation while the 13 most highly compensated key executives received nearly $8 million in 2020:

• $1,665,267:  Wayne LaPierre, CEO and EVP
• $  797,402:  Craig B Spray, Treasurer (beginning 9/13/18)
• $  853,895:  Tyler Schropp, Managing Director, Advancement
• $  597,638:  Todd Grable, Executive Director, Membership
• $  603,237:  Doug Hamlin, Executive Director, Publications
• $  429,206:  John C Frazer, Secretary and General Counsel
• $  484,822:  Joseph C Debergalis, Jr, Executive Director, General Ops 
• $  537,706:  Jason Quimet, Executive Director, ILA
• $  384,182:  Thomas Tedrick, Managing Director, Finance
• $  323,455:  Andrew Arulanandam, Managing Director, Public Affairs
• $  311,197:  Randy Kozuch, Director, Political Affairs for ADV
• $  292,884:  James Staples, Executive Director, Security
• $  259,000:  Marion P Hammer, Board Director

Key differences between 2019 and 2020 is the absence of three executives:  Chris Cox, who received $1.6 million in compensation in 2019 was accused by NRA officials of an extortion scheme to oust Wayne LaPierre and resigned in June, 2019.  Oliver North, who received nearly $1 million in compensation in 2019 is also not listed as a compensated employee although Mr. North is still listed as a board member in 2020.  Joshua Powell, former chief of Staff and Executive Director of the NRA in 2019 who received nearly $1 million in compensation in 2019, was fired in early 2020.

12 of the 12 (100%) most highly compensated employees are male. The one female at the bottom of the list is a Board Director who works 5 hours a week and receives $259,000 annually or about $1,000 an hour.

Wayne LaPierre received the highest compensation at $1.7 million in 2020 (compared to $1.9 million in 2019).

The NRA paid for first class or charter travel and housing allowances or residences for personal use. To read more detail about these expenses, see Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental information on the Form 990 (2020) submitted to the IRS.

The NRA paid more than $100,000 in compensation to 100 independent contractors in 2020. The 5 most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $23,997,159:  Brewer Attorneys and Counselors, of Dallas, TX for legal services
• $15,858,529:  Infocision Management Corp, of Akron, OH for membership processing and control
• $11,577,847:  Membership Marketing Partners, of Fairfax, VA for fundraising, printing, and mailing
• $ 6,056,184:  Gould Paper Corp, of  New York, NY for paper for magazines
• $ 5,252,902:  Quad Graphics, of Sussex, WI for magazine production

It is important to note that the NRA has been involved in litigation and investigation, particularly with the State of New York and the IRS for a variety of issues including misuse of funds. For details on the details of alleged misuse of funds, see Schedule L, Part V (pages 83-88) of the Form 990 (2019).

To read the IRS Form 990 (2019), click here.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2020), click here.