Political Victory Fund

The Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is the political action committee (PAC) of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). Founded in 1976, the Fund endorses political candidates on behalf of the NRA and contributes money to those candidate's campaigns. It maintains a rating system which awards grades to political candidates based on their support or opposition of gun control measures.

The NRA-PVF was established in 1976 as an NRA subsidiary and registered as a political action committee (PAC).

The NRA-PVF operates a rating system for political candidates that assesses their support for gun-rights. It also helps its members locate an NRA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) for their area and to register to vote.

Until the 1960s, the NRA had often downplayed gun control issues, even backing some minor legislation. With passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, an increasing number of NRA members, became more involved in gun politics and gun rights. Along with the creation of its lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), with activist Harlon Carter as director, in 1976 the NRA established its non-partisan political action committee (PAC), the Political Victory Fund, in time for the 1976 elections.

The NRA-PVF endorsed Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential campaign, the first NRA presidential endorsement.

By 1998, the NRA-PVF ranked as "one of the biggest spenders in congressional elections".

In the 2004 elections, 95% of the NRA-PVF endorsed federal candidates and 86% of the endorsed state candidates were elected.

By 2008, during the elections, the PVF spent millions "on direct campaign donations, independent campaign expenditures and on mobilizing the most aggressive grassroots operation in NRA history." In 2012, NRA-PVF income was $14.4 million and expenses were $16.1 million. By 2014, the NRA-PVF income rose to $21.9 million with expenses of $20.7 million.