We are proud to announce that the State Guard & Defense Force Council — also known as StateDefenseForce.com — has officially been recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
This milestone marks an incredible step forward for our organization and our mission to support, preserve, and strengthen State Defense Forces across the nation. Beginning retroactively to September 18, 2025, anyone who has donated to us through PayPal can now include their donation amount as a charitable contribution on their upcoming tax return. Going forward, all future donations made to the State Guard & Defense Force Council will qualify as charitable contributions that can help supporters reduce their taxable income while supporting our mission.
If you wish to make a donation now, we would truly appreciate it:
Click Here To Donate To StateDefenseForce.com
With this new status, we will begin applying for Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) grants, Educational Grants, and a variety of City, State, and Federal grants. These funding opportunities will help us expand our programs, develop new departments, and ensure the continued growth of the State Defense Force community nationwide.
Regarding our Patreon memberships, after consulting and investigating, we have confirmed that contributions made through Patreon cannot be considered tax-deductible. However, we are actively working on transitioning to new nonprofit-friendly platforms such as GiveButter.com or Donorbox.org, which will allow us to continue offering all the same Patreon perks — including Original Articles, Commanders Briefing Podcast & Transcripts, and Scuttlebutt Podcast episodes — while allowing supporters to claim their contributions as charitable donations. We expect this transition to be completed around the New Year.
This Tax Exempt achievement will significantly increase our ability to fund the programs within the State Guard & Defense Force Council (StateDefenseForce.com), allowing us to continue our mission of supporting and expanding State Defense Forces.
One of our key programs, The Center for State Defense Force History, is already making great strides. We’ve received applications from dedicated volunteers eager to help us locate and preserve historic materials related to State Defense Forces. We also have our staff scheduling trips to State Military museums to catalog and digitize all State Defense Force historical documentation— including articles from World War I and World War II, entire books documenting their wartime service, after-action and evaluation reports from high-profile missions, and historic photographs and films of these remarkable soldiers who stepped forward to serve their state and country during some of the most perilous times in history.
Funds we receive will go toward paying staff who will travel to state military libraries to catalog and digitize these materials before they are lost to time. We also plan to purchase sophisticated digitization equipment to scan entire books efficiently — some spanning hundreds or even thousands of pages — and other equipment to help convert old film reels into modern digital formats to ensure their preservation for future generations.
With the successful launch of The Center for State Defense Force History (https://sdfhistory.org), we are now developing a number of additional websites under the State Guard & Defense Force Council umbrella, each focusing on a specialized mission:
StateDefenseForce.com – The main site for the latest State Defense Force news, events, and coverage of statewide emergencies, as well as the latest legislative developments in each state. We have already published over 20 original articles and will continue to expand our reporting on State Defense Force missions, training, and legislative updates.
State Defense Force Online Store (https://SDFOnlineStore.com) – Our dedicated e-commerce platform which provides apparel and accessories for State Defense Force members. We are expanding our design team to focus exclusively on new products that let members proudly display their service through shirts, jackets, and other merchandise that highlights their dedication to defending their state and nation.
State Guard Administration (https://StateGuardAdministration.com) – A department providing legislators, agencies, and organizations with in-depth resources explaining State Defense Forces’ legal authority, organizational structure, and recommended policy models. This department will also assist state lawmakers with legislation and help them understand the cost savings and operational benefits these State Defense Forces provide. The State Guard Administration is also developing a series of recommended policy to help states guide development of their forces. These include establishing a clear chain of command, organizational structure, and updated uniform policy regulations, etc. which will help Governors and Lawmakers better modernize their State Defense Force.
The Center for State Defense Force History (https://sdfhistory.org) – Dedicated to preserving and digitizing the historical legacy of State Defense Forces, ensuring that their contributions from 1917 through 2017 and beyond are remembered, studied, and shared with future generations.
Quartermaster Corps – This department will be responsible for coordinating with State Defense Forces and State Defense Force Associations / Foundation nationwide that lack the budget to provide their troops with uniforms, equipment such as first aid kits and hydration packs, travel reimbursements, meals during weekend drills or annual training, or pay for members serving in unpaid State Active Duty roles. While we continue working toward securing more funding to achieve these goals, we are proud to announce our first Quartermaster initiative — offering any State Defense Force, Association, or Foundation no-cost website services. We have partnered with ThinkByte Studio (https://thinkbytestudio.com), whose staff includes Silicon Valley technicians and engineers who have worked at Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Cisco (The Apple of The Internet), to transfer or redesign current State Defense Force and Association websites onto ThinkByte Studio’s servers, providing free website hosting, cover domain fees, handle maintenance & security updates, and provide page updates at no cost. We recognize that this is a small benefit, and while we want to do much more for every State Defense Force — including providing uniforms for troops who cannot afford them — this is what we can offer with our current level of funding. Once we secure additional grants, we plan to expand these services to ensure every State Defense Force soldier has the uniforms, equipment, and supplies they need; it’s the least we can do for the men and women who dedicate their time to defending our states and our nation.
Visit ThinkByte Studio To Apply For This Benefit
Recruiting Department – This department will be responsible for developing a website dedicated to individuals who wish to serve in the military but are unable to do so through the U.S. Armed Forces. The site will provide a comprehensive overview of what State Defense Forces are, what they do, which states offer pay for State Active Duty, weekend drills, annual training, and travel expenses, as well as the benefits available to members such as educational assistance and how to apply for those benefits. In addition, the department will collaborate with State Defense Forces and their Associations or Foundations to fund advertising campaigns that promote their organizations through online platforms, social media, and even highway signage. In essence, we will provide the financial resources, and they will determine where and how they wish to advertise so their State Defense Force can grow stronger in visibility, recruitment, and membership.
Last but not least:
Legislative Department – This department currently operates through our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/collection/894423?view=expanded), which showcases our ongoing legislative advocacy efforts for State Defense Forces nationwide. Once we receive our first round of grants, we plan to make all of our Patreon posts public — as they are currently available only to Sergeant Major Tier members ($20 and above) — and develop a comprehensive website to highlight our progress. We will also expand our team by bringing on additional staff members dedicated to contacting legislators, advocating for the creation of new State Defense Forces, and proposing benefits such as educational tuition assistance, veteran status, and other key initiatives to strengthen and support existing forces across the country.
With your continued support, we can expand our reach, strengthen our programs, and ensure that every State Defense Force soldier is properly recognized and equipped to serve their state and country.
You can help us on our journey by becoming a Patreon member, making a tax-exempt donation, or volunteering to assist as part of our staff. Becoming a member of our staff provides exclusive benefits and financial reimbursement for the work you do. Now that the State Guard & Defense Force Council (StateDefenseForce.com) is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, we can also offer college students the opportunity to earn internship or academic credit for assisting in our mission. Colleges and universities can formally recognize volunteer service with us as eligible for academic or experiential learning credit, as the IRS allows tax-exempt charities to receive volunteer labor. Students may perform work, earn college credit, and receive supervision, evaluation, and learning experiences — all without creating a taxable or wage-based relationship. This unique opportunity allows students to gain hands-on experience in nonprofit operations, public policy, military history preservation, and legislative advocacy, all while contributing meaningfully to the advancement of State Defense Forces nationwide.
Click Here To Donate To StateDefenseForce.com
This is just the beginning of where we plan to go and accomplish.