Common Defense Civic Engagement (CDCE) is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that claims to be comprised of U.S. military veterans that works to train its members to become leaders in political campaigns related to climate change, anti-militarism, and voting rights.

It is the lobbying and electoral advocacy arm of the Common Defense Education Fund. While the Education Fund specializes in training and organizing, the Civic Engagement branch focuses on policy issues and electoral advocacy.

Background

Common Defense Civic Engagement is the 501(c)(4) lobbying and electoral advocacy arm of the Common Defense Education Fund. While the Education Fund specializes in training and organizing, the Civic Engagement branch focuses on policy issues and electoral advocacy. The Common Defense umbrella of organizations also includes Common Defense Action Fund, a political action committee (PAC). ¹

CDCE and its sister groups are nonprofit organizations that claim to train its membership of U.S. military veterans to become leaders in left-wing political campaigns related to climate change, anti-militarism, and voting rights. ²

Activities

Common Defense Civic Engagement engages in lobbying and advocacy regarding specific legislation in congress, in education efforts for its members regarding congressional bills, endorses liberal political candidates, and mobilizes voters in favor of certain candidates. ³

Finances

In 2021, Common Defense Civic Engagement had a total revenue of $2,910,495, total expenses of $2,710,853, and net assets of $599,694. ⁴

Funding

In 2021, Common Defense Civic Engagement received $1,060,000 from Sixteen Thirty Fund, a passthrough grantmaking organization managed by major left-of-center consultancy Arabella Advisors. ⁵

CDCE has also received funding from Tides Foundation, Open Society Policy Center, Onward Together, Need to Impeach, North Fund, and Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO). ⁶

Leadership

As of 2023, Jose Vasquez was the executive director of Common Defense. ⁷ A veteran, Vasquez has also been involved in anti-war activist organizations for two decades, having been director of the Iraq Veterans Against the War and a steering committee member of United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ). ⁸ Vasquez is based in New York City. ⁹

As of 2023, Common Defense Civic Engagement’s board of directors was comprised of co-founder and executive director of Ground Game Texas Julie Oliver, screenwriter Billy Ray, human rights lawyer Qasim Rashid, policy director of the Poor People’s Campaign Shailly Gupta Barnes, former executive director of USAction and founder of Pennsylvania Citizen Action Jeff Blum, Amazon Web Services employee Brian Garcia, and supporter of Texas Democratic politician Beto O’Rourke and co-founder of “Veterans for Beto” Jeff Quiggle. ¹⁰

1. “About Us.” Common Defense Civic Engagement. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://commondefense.us/about-us
2. “About Us.” Common Defense Civic Engagement. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://commondefense.us/about-us
3. “About Us.” Common Defense Civic Engagement. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://commondefense.us/about-us
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Common Defense Civic Engagement. 2021. Lines 12, 18, 22.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2021. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
6. “Full-Text Search.” ProPublica. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?q=common+defense+civic+engagement.
7. “Jose Vasquez.” Common Defense. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://commondefense.us/jose-bio.
8.  “United for Peace and Justice Steering Committee.” United for Peace and Justice, February 2005. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20100108135913/http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=1874.
9. ^[1] “Jose Vasquez.” Common Defense. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://commondefense.us/jose-bio.
10. “About Us.” Common Defense Civic Engagement. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://commondefense.us/about-us.