Home arrow Industry Online arrow ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION Tuesday, January 06 2009  
HomeIndustry OnlineNew ProductsRetailer ResourcesBusiness DirectoryTool KitAdvertiseContact Us
BREAKING NEWS
Brownells Launches Online Affiliate Program
Read more...
 
Search the Web
Ask.com

 
Send Us
Your Two Cents

 
Trijicon
 
 
 
 
Main Menu
Home
Industry Online
New Products
Retailer Resources
Business Directory
Tool Kit
Advertise
Contact Us
 
 
 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION PDF Print E-mail

Firearms Drive Funding for Elk Foundation Mission

MISSOULA, Mont.—With an unwavering mission to “ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat,” the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation depends on ample funding. And ample funding, officials reveal, depends on ample firearms.
 
The conservation organization expects to spend over $4 million this year on guns for fundraiser auctions, raffles and games that vary by state.
 
“Nationwide, there are 500-plus Elk Foundation banquets scheduled for 2008. Volunteers stock these events with a combination of guns from our national headquarters and local donations or purchases. Either way, the chance to win or buy a quality gun is a proven attraction for banquet attendees—and a major revenue source for our mission,” said Steve Decker, director of field programs for the Elk Foundation.
 
Elk Foundation banquet-merchandise buyers are headed to SHOT Show, the firearm industry’s annual trade show slated Feb. 2-5 in Las Vegas, with a $2 million checkbook for firearms purchases alone.
 
Decker estimates volunteers will spend another $2 to $2.5 million on guns purchased locally and through a national distributor.
 
“Guns are the cornerstone for us. You can come away from an Elk Foundation banquet with wonderful art, jewelry, furniture, hunting gear and more, but we build our program around top quality firearms,” said Decker.
 
Proof is in the pudding.
 
In 2007, a year when event fundraising was stagnant for many nonprofits in the conservation arena, the Elk Foundation wrapped up a gun-emphasized banquet season $1.1 million above budgeted net revenue projections. In turn, the organization enjoyed a monster year on the ground. The Elk Foundation in 2007 helped to enhance more acres of elk habitat and complete more land protection projects than anytime in its history, propelling its lifetime total impact to 5.2 million acres—a conservation effort worth over $473 million.
 
For 2008, Elk Foundation headquarters is featuring the Browning A-Bolt in .338, Mossberg 4X4 bolt action .300, Remington Model 700 SPS 7mm Remington mag, Marlin 1895 XLR .45/70 lever action, Browning T-Bolt Sporter in .22, Benelli Nova 3½-inch 12 gauge, Ruger Model 77 “Hawkeye” Standard in .30-06, Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special in .22-250, Winchester Wildcat Sporter in .22, and Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag.
 
All gun recipients must pass standard federal background checks.
 
Some firearms are distributed through the organization’s headquarters in Missoula, Mont., making the Elk Foundation one of the biggest firearms licensees in the state. However, the job has become too big to be handled exclusively in-house.
 
Today, most banquet guns are warehoused and shipped by Davidson’s, one of the nation’s largest commercial firearm distributors.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Missoula, Mont., the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. The Elk Foundation and its partners have permanently protected or enhanced over 5.2 million acres, a land area larger than Connecticut, Delaware and District of Columbia combined. Nearly 500,000 acres previously closed to public access are now open for hunting, fishing and other recreation. The Elk Foundation has more than 150,000 members, a staff of 150 and 10,000 active volunteers. To help protect wild elk country or learn more about the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, visit www.elkfoundation.org or call 800-CALL-ELK.
 
< Prev   Next >
FEATURED PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

ImageFiocchi's Extrema .32 Auto XTPTM is a Top Performer for Self Defense
Newest Additon to Fiocchi's Top-Notch ExtremaTM Line Utilizes High-PErformance XTPTM Bullet

Read more...
 
 
 
Smith & Wesson
 


 
Bookmark SSR Online
Bookmark Website
Bookmark Page
Make homepage
 
 
Career Center

Find Employees
Post Jobs Online
Review Resumes
Find Jobs

Retail Jobs
Manufacturing Jobs
Sales & Marketing Jobs
Search Jobs

 
 
Search This Site

Type your search term below, then press the Enter key:

© 2009 Shooting Sports Retailer Website