Gunner Quinn
MidwayUSA Foundation has provided cash grants for the fourth year in a row to help ranges across the country expand and encourage more youth shooting sports activities. This year, $2.3 million has been awarded to 99 recipients. The figures represent a substantial increase in both recipients and dollars paid when compared to last year’s cycle.
“America’s youth not only need funding to cover their shooting sports expenses, but they need qualified coaches to teach them to shoot safely, and they need a safe place to shoot,” said MidwayUSA Foundation Executive Director G. Scott Reynolds. “MidwayUSA Foundation is proud to offer grant programs to cover all three needs. Youth shooting sports help build character during our children’s formative years and is key to growing and perpetuating shooting sports, which provides nearly 80 percent of Pittman Robertson conservation dollars. We are delighted our Range Development Grant Program will have a meaningful impact on this important segment of shooting sports participants.”
Since this grant program’s inception in 2021, some funded improvements have included creating bigger and better parking areas to allow a range to host larger youth events, handicap accessibility for ease of athletes and spectators, the addition of sporting clays courses to offer youth shooters another way to compete, and more. MidwayUSA Foundation’s Range Development grant program ensures that the future of youth shooting sports continues to progress.
The Foundation has awarded $4.45 million for range improvements, with plans to give additional dollars in the coming years. These funds have been dispersed throughout the entire United States.
Applications for special purpose grants, like Range Development and Coach Training, will be accepted annually and applicants must hold an endowment with MidwayUSA Foundation to apply. Each of these are competitive grant programs. Youth shooting teams and organizations interested in improving their respective range should work closely with that range to complete the grant application.
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