By USA Shooting
COLO SPRGS, CO (Apr 29, 2026) – The Bunker Club awarded $150,000 in grants to 30 junior athletes in 2026 through its annual Bunker Club Endowment Grant, marking the largest distribution in the program’s history. Each athlete received $5,000 to help cover critical shooting-related expenses of their choice, such as training expenses, match entry fees, travel, firearm support, competition gear, and ammunition.
Founded in 1998, the Bunker Club was created to fund new bunker machines for the Olympic Trap ranges at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Members raised $220,000 to complete the project, establishing what has grown into a long-standing commitment to supporting USA Shooting athletes and programs.
In addition to the junior endowment, the Bunker Club continues to support key initiatives for the organization. Recent efforts include raising $60,000 in 2024 for the “March to Paris” campaign supporting the U.S. Olympic Shooting Teams, contributing $25,000 in 2025 to repair storm damage at the USA Shooting shotgun ranges in Colorado Springs, and current contributions standing at $40,000 since 2025 for the “Road to Los Angeles” campaign as the team prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games. Altogether, Bunker Club special projects have generated more than $345,000 in additional support for USA Shooting.
The Bunker Club Athletic Endowment Fund, established in 2000, was created to support promising junior athletes as they pursue USA Shooting Junior Team opportunities and future international competition. By 2015, the endowment reached a sustainable level that allowed the Club to begin awarding annual grants.
Since then, 264 junior athletes have received more than $885,000 in funding, helping remove financial barriers for developing competitors. The endowment now exceeds $4.1 million and continues to grow, ensuring long-term support for future generations of American shooting athletes.
Applications for the Bunker Club Endowment Grant are open to junior athletes who have not previously received financial support from USA Shooting, with the application window opening in the first quarter of each calendar year.
If you are interested in supporting junior athletes by contributing to the Bunker Club Athlete Endowment Grant, please contact membership@usashooting.org.
About USA Shooting
USA Shooting, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the Olympic & Paralympic Shooting Sports in April 1995. The organization develops and implements programs to promote growth in the sport and serves as a sanctioning body for local and national competitions. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, USA Shooting has a full-time staff dedicated to our sport.