The National Shooting Sports Foundation is making a total of $100,000 in grants available to public and private colleges for start-ups of new target-shooting clubs and teams.

The grants are provided through NSSF's Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative, which has assisted more than 75 schools with building competitive and recreational shooting programs through more than $1 million in support. The program is credited with helping to spur growth in collegiate target shooting across the country. NSSF is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry.

"It is gratifying to see how many colleges have taken advantage of these NSSF grants to provide students an opportunity to compete in target shooting and receive an introduction to recreational shooting and firearm safety at the club level," said NSSF Manager of Shooting Promotions Zach Snow.

Up to $10,000 will be awarded to each qualifying school. Grant guidelines and applications are available at www.nssf.org/college.

Snow added that he's seen successful target shooting programs developed from modest beginnings-sometimes involving just several enthusiastic students, a dedicated coach and the NSSF grant. "Students and coaches provide the passion, NSSF provides the seed funding," said Snow.

For those not sure how or where to begin with establishing a program, NSSF has developed a helpful brochure, "Establishing a College Shooting Sports Program." The brochure contains guidance on starting competitive teams and recreational shooting clubs, and includes samples of membership forms and club bylaws.

Schools receiving grants range from large universities to community colleges. In the last grant session, 20 colleges received program start-up funding, including the University of Colorado at Boulder, North Idaho College, Slippery Rock University, Concordia College, Middlebury College and Wichita State University, to name several.

"From the beginning, our dream was to provide a source of firearm education and an atmosphere of competitive sport shooting, and the CSSI Grant has helped make our dream a reality," said Brett Harasimowic, co-founder of the Middlebury College Trap and Skeet Club.

Anyone interested in starting a college shotgun, rifle or pistol team or club can find resources and grant opportunities at www.nssf.org/college.