National Youth Shooting Sports Program Needs Assessment Proposal

The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA), in collaboration with the Mule Deer Foundation, is offering the 2025–2026 National Youth Shooting Sports Program Needs Assessment grant. This opportunity supports youth shooting sports programs across the United States by loaning equipment essential for training and expanding participation in shooting disciplines. A foundational requirement for consideration is enrollment in the Youth Shooting Sports Program Directory, which serves as a central tool for outreach and connection among youth, parents, and program coordinators. This Directory allows program leaders to publicize their offerings and helps families identify local opportunities, fostering broader participation in shooting sports. YSSA's grant initiative focuses on providing necessary equipment for programs offering rifle, shotgun, pistol, airgun, and archery instruction to youth. The grant is designed not as a monetary award but as an in-kind loan of firearms, archery tools, safety gear, and shooting accessories. Equipment options include various models of rifles such as Savage Mark I-G and Henry Mini Bolt, shotguns like the Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam and Maverick Model 88, pistols, BB gun units, archery sets, and essential safety gear like hearing and eye protection. Applicants must specify the types and quantities of equipment needed, along with proposed usage duration and intended impact on program participation. The program is intended to support the continued growth and safety of youth shooting sports through the loan of high-quality equipment. Programs selected for participation will be responsible for maintaining the borrowed equipment and ensuring its safekeeping. Lost or stolen items must be reported immediately, and firearms will only be shipped to a certified Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer on behalf of the organization. Non-FFL items like archery equipment and BB guns will be shipped directly to the program's address. Programs must return all borrowed equipment at the end of the agreed loan period, and they are encouraged to share loaned resources with affiliated organizations when feasible. To apply, programs must submit detailed information including a narrative overview of their operations, participant statistics, and specific equipment requests. They must also provide a signed FFL from the gun dealer accepting shipment on their behalf. YSSA emphasizes the importance of responsible equipment stewardship and accountability, as the loaned equipment will cycle through multiple youth programs over time. The grant does not cover ammunition, although special pricing may be available through Vista Outdoors for interested programs. In addition to providing requested equipment, YSSA is interested in developing long-term relationships with programs that can share success stories, demonstrate effective outreach, and recognize YSSA’s contributions through social media and other platforms. This visibility helps the organization secure future support from donors and industry partners. Programs identified as priority recipients are expected to publicly acknowledge YSSA’s support, further strengthening the shooting sports community. Applications are open on a rolling basis, with no formal submission deadline noted, though selected programs must adhere to specified loan durations and shipping requirements. The contact for this grant is Kevin Kozel, Executive Director of the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, who can be reached via email at [email protected]. Given the recurring nature of this opportunity, programs that miss the current cycle may anticipate future rounds, pending equipment availability and continued funding through YSSA and its partners.

Ensure directory listing and provide a detailed, verifiable program summary with clearly justified equipment requests.