Executive Compensation at the NRA (2023)

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 (2023) reports the organization employed 496 individuals (compared to 507 in 2022, 521 in 2021, 640 in 2020 and 770 in 2019) who were compensated nearly $41 million, which equates to an average compensation of nearly $83,000. 97 employees (compared to 119 in 2022, 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 $7.4 million in 2023:

• $1,285,524:  Wayne LaPierre, CEO and EVP
• $  860,253:  Tyler Schropp, Managing Director, Advancement
• $  567,303:  Doug Hamlin, Executive Director, Publications
• $  483,242:  Joseph C Debergalis, Jr, Executive Director, General Ops
• $  453,076:  Sonya B Rowling, Treasurer and CFO
• $  451,608:  Randy Kozuch, Executive Director, ILA (begin 3/2023)
• $  435,000:  Todd Grable, Executive Director, Membership
• $  398,042:  Thomas Tedrick, Managing Director, Finance
• $  361,395:  John C Frazer, Secretary and General Counsel
• $  333,249:  Andrew Arulanandam, Managing Director, Public Affairs
• $  315,618:  Derek Robinson, Managing Director, Membership
• $  313,575:  Michael Ersling, Director of Finance
• $  308,480:  Vanessa B Shahidi, Chief of Staff
• $  304,517:  Christopher Kopacki, Managing Director (until 10/2023)
• $  286,572:  Marshall Flemion, Managing Director, Integrated Marketing
• $  220,000:  Marion P Hammer, Board Director

Key differences between 2019 and 2023 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.

9 of the 10 most highly compensated employees are male.  13 of the 16 (81%) most highly compensated employees are male. The three females include Sonya Rowling, the Treasurer and CFO who received $453,076, Vanessa Sahidi, the Chief of Staff who received $308,480, and  Marion Hammer, a Board Director who worked 5 hours a week and received $220,000 or about $800 an hour.

The 5 most highly compensated employees in 2023 received $34 million in compensation from 2015-2023 (note:  highly compensated employees in any of the years 2015-2022 but not in 2023 are not included):

Wayne LaPierre:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $17 million

• 2023;  $1,285,524
• 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

Tyler Schropp:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $7 million

• 2023:  $860,253
• 2022:  $854,219
• 2021:  $688,270
• 2020:  $853,895
• 2019:  $870,013
• 2018:  $806,768
• 2017:  $690,091
• 2016:  $686,815
• 2015:  $580,302

Doug Hamlin:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $5 million

• 2023:  $567,303
• 2022:  $604,388
• 2021:  $505,161
• 2020:  $603,237
• 2019:  $696,414
• 2018:  $655,730
• 2017:  $665,023
• 2016:  $642,690
• 2015:  $633,948

Joseph Debergalis:  Total Compensation 2017-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $483,242
• 2022:  $483,083
• 2021:  $449,958
• 2020:  $484,822
• 2019:  $476,356
• 2018:  $461,028
• 2017:  $412,632

Sonya Rowling:  Total Compensation 2021-2023:  $1 million

• 2023:  $453,076
• 2022:  $432,565
• 2021:  $381,865

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 116 independent contractors in 2022. The 5 most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $27 million:  Brewer Attorneys and Counselors, of Dallas, TX for legal services
• $ 9 million:  Infocision Management Corp, of Akron, OH for telemarketing
• $11 million:  Communications Corp, of Elkwood, VA for printing and mailing services
• $ 9 million:  Membership Advisors Fundraising of Fairfax, VA for membership consulting
• $ 6 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) and the Form 990 (2023):

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.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2023), click here.