Veterans and military communities fighting for progressive values

Founded in 2016, Common Defense is the nation’s largest grassroots organization of US military veterans and the only one that invests in the leadership of its members through training and deployment in campaigns that connect directly to their history of service, including voting rights, climate justice, and anti-militarism. Common Defense’s family of organizations includes the Common Defense Education Fund (501c3) for training and organizing, Common Defense Civic Engagement (501c4) for issue based and electoral advocacy, and Common Defense Action Fund (PAC) for lobbying and electoral support.

Common Defense Education Fund (CDEF)

  • Veterans Organizing Institute — our flagship non-partisan training program for veterans

  • Ongoing member education and training

  • Voter education and registration

  • Organized efforts to combat voter suppression 

  • Non-partisan get out the vote efforts in targeted states and districts

Common Defense Civic Engagement (CDCE)

  • Lobbying and advocacy around particular legislative issues and bills

  • Member education  around particular legislative issues and bills

  • Endorsements of progressive candidates 

  • Candidate specific voter contact

Common Defense Action Fund (CDAF)

  • Targeted, non-coordinated electoral support

  • Paid advertisements

Our 2023 Annual Report