Second Amendment Foundation

What Second Amendment Foundation does

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is a nonprofit in Bellevue, Washington, founded in 1974 by Alan Gottlieb. Its stated purpose is to promote a better understanding of the constitutional right to privately own and possess firearms. It works through lawsuits, public education, conferences, and publications.

Litigation is SAF's best-known work. It brought the case that became McDonald v. Chicago, the 2010 decision in which the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments, not only to the federal government. Current projects listed on its website include legal challenges to red flag (extreme risk protection order) laws, a State Law Preemption Project, and an investigative journalism project. SAF also hosts the annual Gun Rights Policy Conference and publishes magazines, including Women & Guns.

SAF is a 501(c)(3), so gifts are tax-deductible. In tax year 2023 it reported about $9.1 million in revenue. Charity Navigator gives it a three-star rating out of four. A separate advocacy group, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, is SAF's sister organization.

Key facts

• Brought the lawsuit that became McDonald v. Chicago (2010), in which the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments (Wikipedia)
• Founded in 1974 by Alan Gottlieb; based in Bellevue, Washington (Wikipedia; saf.org)
• Current projects include legal challenges to red flag laws, a State Law Preemption Project, and the annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (saf.org)
• About $9.1 million in revenue and $7.8 million in expenses in tax year 2023 (ProPublica)

Before you give

• SAF says it is a qualified 501(c)(3) and accepts donor-advised fund grants, gifts of stocks and bonds, planned gifts, PayPal and Venmo, and monthly gifts through its Constitution Defender Program (saf.org/individual).
• Checks: Second Amendment Foundation, Attn: Development, 12500 NE 10th Pl., Bellevue, WA 98005.
• The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) is a separate sister organization. Check which entity you are giving to.