For decades, the NRA and the NRA Foundation were about as closely linked as a rifle and its sling. Now they’re headed for what appears to be a very public divorce.
According to reporting from NewsMax and comments from NRA Board Member Anthony Colandro during a recent interview on Gun Owners Radio, the NRA Foundation is moving to separate itself from the National Rifle Association and rebrand as the “1791 Foundation,” setting the stage for a major battle over money, control, and the future of one of the gun-rights movement’s most recognizable institutions.
The split comes amid an ongoing federal lawsuit filed by the NRA earlier this year.
According to the NRA’s complaint, the Foundation has allegedly breached agreements, improperly distanced itself from the parent organization, and diverted assets that the NRA argues were intended to support NRA programs.
The lawsuit reportedly involves nearly $160 million in charitable assets.
Why Is This Happening?
That depends on who you ask.
Foundation leaders told The Wall Street Journal they want a fresh start and a broader charitable mission. Foundation President Tom King described the move as a chance to “refresh” and “restart” the organization.
The NRA sees things differently.
NRA CEO Doug Hamlin said the organization filed suit to protect a foundation that was originally established to support NRA-related programs.
Meanwhile, Foundation officials have fired back, calling the NRA’s legal action a “sham lawsuit” and accusing the organization of trying to gain access to charitable assets.
The Reformers Say the NRA Has Changed
One of the more interesting parts of this story comes from inside the NRA itself.
During the Gun Owners Radio interview (see video above), Colandro described an NRA dramatically different from the organization many members remember during the final years of the Wayne LaPierre era.
According to Colandro, reform-minded directors now control roughly 75 percent of the board and have largely ended the factional infighting that once dominated board meetings.
“The reformers won,” Colandro said. “Reformers are running the joint.”
He also praised Hamlin’s leadership, arguing the NRA is now more transparent, accessible, and financially stable than it was just a few years ago. According to Colandro, the organization finished 2025 in the black after years of financial turmoil.
Follow the Money
The biggest issue remains the Foundation’s assets.
Colandro argued many donors contributed money through Friends of NRA dinners and other fundraising efforts with the expectation that the funds would ultimately support NRA programs such as youth shooting sports, training, Eddie Eagle, and law enforcement initiatives.
His view was blunt.
“If I was a judge,” he said, “it looks black and white.”
Colandro also suggested there may be more behind the split than a simple disagreement over governance. He speculated that some Foundation leaders believed the NRA’s legal and financial troubles would ultimately force the organization to collapse, creating an opportunity for the Foundation to emerge as the dominant entity. According to Colandro, the NRA’s recent financial recovery and board reforms have made that scenario far less likely.
Foundation leaders, of course, strongly disagree. That’s why lawyers are getting paid.
What Happens Next?
The courts will ultimately decide who controls the Foundation’s future and whether the proposed “1791 Foundation” can fully separate from the NRA.
For gun owners, the outcome matters.
The NRA remains the largest and most recognizable Second Amendment organization in the country. The Foundation has historically funded many of the educational, training, and charitable programs that helped support that mission.
Whether this ends with a reconciliation, a permanent split, or years of litigation remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the NRA’s post-LaPierre rebuilding effort just got a lot more complicated.
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