The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund also distributes to libraries, public defender services, and other persons free books and law review articles for educational purposes, provides research grants, and conducts a student writing contest and law student scholarship writing contest. Such activities are a public benefit. The recipients of research grants have resulted in the publication of scholarly writings, which end up in the public domain. Recent activities in this area include the following:

• At January 5, 2007, meeting $10,000 for National Firearms Law Seminar to be taken from the Catherine Post Woodring Educational Scholarship Trust.
• At January 5, 2007, meeting $2,500 for Junior and Senior Student Writing Contest from the Catherine Post Woodring Educational Scholarship Trust.
• At January 5, 2007, meeting $5,000 for Second Amendment weblog (also known as blog) (David Hardy) to be taken from the Catherine Post Woodring Educational Scholarship Trust.
• At January 5, 2007, meeting $7,500 for Research & Writing Grant Law Review Project (David Hardy).
• At January 5, 2007, meeting $45,000 to Independence Institute Research Grant (David B. Kopel).
• At April 13, 2007, meeting $40,000 Independence Institute Research Grant (David B. Kopel) from Catherine Post Woodring Educational Scholarship Trust
• At April 13, 2007, meeting $60,000 education grant for a book to The Independent Institute of Oakland, California. This book is The Founders' Second Amendment by Stephen P. Halbrook. The book will be published by the Stanford University Press.
• At April 13, 2007, meeting $6,000 to Don Kates of Washington State for research project on Parker v. District of Columbia. $7,500 grant to James H. Warner of Maryland for research and preparation of amicus curiae brief in Parker v. District of Columbia.
• At September 14, 2007, meeting an educational grant of $10,000 was provided for right to hunt project to Stephen P. Halbrook.
• At September 14, 2007, meeting an educational grant of $15,500 was provided to David T. Hardy analysis of book on right to bear arms and response thereto in William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, for an analysis of case law on standing and an article on standing in the Thomas Jefferson Law Review, and research of U.S. Supreme Court papers.
• At September 14, 2007, meeting a research grant of $65,000 (from the Catherine Post Woodring Trust) to Independence Institute (David Kopel). Also, a $10,000 education grant for a book by Kopel, Galland & Eisen.
• An educational grant of $15,000 was provided at the April 25, 2003, meeting. It has resulted in the publication of a book: Clayton E. Cramer, Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie (2007).
• At January 4, 2008, meeting $10,000 for National Firearms Law Seminar.
• At January 4, 2008, meeting $117,000 Independence Institute Research Grant (David B. Kopel).
• At January 4, 2008, meeting $10,000 research and writing grant to David Hardy.
• At January 4, 2008, meeting $16,000 grant for self-defense amicus brief in District of Columbia v. Heller and law review articles writing project for James Warner.

NRA Civil Rights Defense Youth Essay Contest 

Papers were submitted for the 2009 contest by students enrolled in an elementary, junior high or high school. Nearly 1,500 essays were submitted for the contest setting a new record for entries. The papers were graded by Attorney Skipp Galythly.  The winners were selected by a committee made up of attorneys Skipp Galythly, Matt Bower, Lindsay Charles, and Legal Assistance Ashleigh McFadden.