Executive Compensation at the NRA (2022)

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.

The most recent IRS Form 990 (2022) reports the organization employed 507 individuals (compared to 521 in 2021, 640 in 2020 and 770 in 2019) who were compensated nearly $48 million, which equates to an average compensation of nearly $95,000. 119 employees (compared to 92 in 2021, 107 employees in 2020 and 149 employees in 2019) received more than $100,000 in compensation while the 16 most highly compensated key executives received nearly $8 million in 2022:

• $1,179,699:  Wayne LaPierre, CEO and EVP
• $  854,219:  Tyler Schropp, Managing Director, Advancement
• $  604,388:  Doug Hamlin, Executive Director, Publications
• $  498,884:  Jason Quimet, Executive Director, ILA
• $  483,083:  Joseph C Debergalis, Jr, Executive Director, General Ops 
• $  467,500:  Craig B Spray, Treasurer (beginning 9/13/18)
• $  432,565:  Sonya B Rowling, Treasurer and CFO
• $  397,940:  Thomas Tedrick, Managing Director, Finance
• $  389,519:  Todd Grable, Executive Director, Membership
• $  375,466:  John C Frazer, Secretary and General Counsel
• $  353,002:  Wade Callender, Deputy Executive Director, ILA
• $  332,129:  Andrew Arulanandam, Managing Director, Public Affairs
• $  314,992:  Marshall Flemion, Managing Director, Integrated Marketing
• $  307,340:  Vanessa B Shahidi, Chief of Staff
• $  264,312:  Derek Robinson, Managing Director, Membership
• $  220,000:  Marion P Hammer, Board Director

Key differences between 2019 and 2022 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.  Subsequently, litigation ensued and was settled with the following statement reported on the 2021 Form 990:  “…as part of a litigation settlement, plus payments for his attorneys’ fees made directly to his attorneys and reported on Form 1099-NEC in the amount of $3,745,430.” Total compensation in 2021 was $6,183,381.

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.

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.

13 of the 16 (81%) most highly compensated employees are male. The three females include Sonya Rowling, the Treasurer and CFO who received $432,565, Vanessa Sahidi, the Chief of Staff who received $307,340, and  Marion Hammer, a Board Director who works 5 hours a week and receives $220,000 annually or about $800 an hour.  9 of the 10 most highly compensated employees are male.

Wayne LaPierre, the CEO received $1,179,699 in 2022 but has received more than $16 million in compensation from 2015-2022:

• 2022:  $1,179,699
• 2021:  $1,143,868
• 2020:  $1,665,267
• 2019:  $1,884,709
• 2018:  $2,224,427
• 2017:  $1,433,977
• 2016:  $1,422,339
• 2015:  $5,110,985

The NRA paid for first class or charter travel. Specifically, charter travel was used “when travel logistics or security concerns precluded other available option.”  For details on this expense, and reportable other expenses including life insurance plans and taxable personal expenses, see the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information.

The NRA paid more than $100,000 in compensation to 107 independent contractors in 2022. The 5 most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $23.5 million:  Brewer Attorneys and Counselors, of Dallas, TX for legal services
• $12.0 million:  Infocision Management Corp, of Akron, OH for telemarketing
• $10.8 million:  Communications Corp, of Elkwood, VA for printing and mailing services
• $ 7.7 million:  Membership Marketing Partners, of Fairfax, VA for membership consulting
• $ 6.4 million:  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) and Schedule O of the Form 990 (2021), and Schedule L, Part V (pages 86-89) of the Form 990 (2022).

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

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

To read the IRS Form 990 (2021), click here.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022), click here.