Executive Compensation at the NRA (2024)

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 (2024) reports the organization employed 487 individuals (compared to 496 in 2023, 507 in 2022, 521 in 2021, 640 in 2020 and 770 in 2019) who were compensated $37 million, which equates to an average compensation of nearly $76,000. 102 employees (compared to 97 in 2023, 119 in 2022, 92 in 2021, 107 employees in 2020 and 149 employees in 2019) received more than $100,000 in compensation while the 18 most highly compensated key executives received $8 million in 2024:

• $1,151,233:  Wayne LaPierre, Former CEO and EVP (until 1/31/2024)
• $  945,929:  Tyler Schropp, Former Managing Director, Advancement (until 8/1/2024)
• $  623,525:  Doug Hamlin, EVP
• $  555,116:  Randy Kozuch, Former Executive Director, ILA (begin 3/2023; end 12/2/2024)
• $  435,281:  Sonya B Rowling, Treasurer and CFO
• $  429,964:  Andrew Arulanandam, Former Managing Director, Public Affairs (until 5/19/2024)
• $  392,143:  Joseph C Debergalis, Jr, Former Executive Director, General Ops (until 12/6/23)
• $  380,918:  Jennifer Briemann, Deputy Executive Director, ILA
• $  375,288:  Robert Mensinger,  Chief Compliance Officer (started 5/20/2024)
• $  363,554:  John C Frazer, Secretary
• $  330,374:  Thomas Tedrick, Managing Director, Finance
• $  316,003:  Michael Erstling, Director of Finance
• $  311,698:  Marshall Flemion, Managing Director, Integrated Marketing
• $  308,755:  Derek Robinson, Managing Director, Membership
• $  296,132:  Neil Courtney Olson, Director, Western Sales
• $  291,262:  John Commerford, Executieve Director, ILA (started 12/3/2024)
• $  271,018:  Mike Sanford, Deputy Executive Director, Publications
• $  241,576:  Josh Savani, Executive Director, GO (started 12/2/2024)

Key differences between 2019 and 2024 is the absence of many 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 was still listed as a board member through 2023.

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.

8 of the 10 most highly compensated employees are male.  16 of the 18 (89%) most highly compensated employees are male while 2 of the 18 (11%) are female.

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 91 independent contractors in 2024. The 5 most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $22 million:  Brewer Attorneys and Counselors, of Dallas, TX for legal services
• $ 6 million:  Infocision Management Corp, of Akron, OH for telemarketing
• $ 6 million:  Communications Corp, of Elkwood, VA for printing and mailing services
• $ 9 million:  Membership Advisors Fundraising of Fairfax, VA for membership consulting
• $ 5 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.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2024), click here.