Vets for Freedom (VFF) is an advocacy organization founded by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. VFF supports policymakers who prioritize long-term national security and support American soldiers fighting abroad. VFF also aims to use its first-hand knowledge of American strategy and tactics in Iraq to educate the public about the importance of American success in these conflicts. ¹ The organization is financially small, having filed the Form 990-N e-postcard, claiming less than $50,000 in revenue, for tax years 2013 through 2023. ²

According to IRS records, the organization’s principal officer as of the end of 2023 was Fox News commentator and conservative political activist Pete Hegseth. ² In late 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced he intended to nominate Hegseth for United States Secretary of Defense. ³

Financials

For tax years 2013 through 2023, Vets for Freedom (VFF) filed the Form 990-N e-postcard, claiming less than $50,000 in revenue. ² In tax year 2008, VFF claimed over $8.7 million in revenue, the largest amount in the organization’s history. ⁴

In 2008, VFF spent $80,000 in lobbying efforts related to foreign and defense policy, according to OpenSecrets. ⁵

VFF spent nearly $6.3 million in 2008 on media buys. ⁶

Funding

Vets for Freedom (VFF) is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While VFF does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from Freedom’s Watch ($659,513 in 2008) and New Majority California ($55,000 in 2008). ⁷

People

Founders

Vets for Freedom (VFF) was founded by David Bellavia, Knox Nunnally, Mark Seavey, Joe Dan Worley, and Wade Zirkle. ⁸

David Bellavia is a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in Iraq in the Battle of Fallujah. Bellavia is the author of the book House to House, a first-hand account of his experiences in Fallujah. ⁹

Knox Nunnally is a former U.S. Marine infantry Captain, and a recipient of the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart. ⁸ Nunnally is a plaintiff’s attorney, co-founder, and partner of Allen & Nunnally LLP. ¹⁰

Mark Seavey is a former U.S. Army National Guard Sergeant and a recipient of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the NATO medal. Seavey is the national judge advocate of the American Legion and a member of the Indiana State Bar Association. ¹¹

Joe Dan Worley is a former U.S. Navy Corpsman, and is a recipient of the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart. ⁸

Wade Zirkle is a former U.S. Marine Lieutenant and is a recipient of the Purple Heart. ⁸ Zirkle is currently the president of BluePoint ATM solutions and a managing partner at Zirkle Family Farms. ¹²

Leadership

Pete Hegseth is the former executive director of Vets for Freedom (VFF) ¹³ and the organization’s principal officer as of the end of 2023 according to IRS records. ² Until his nomination for U.S. Secretary of Defense by President-elect Donald Trump in late 2024, Hegseth was cohost of “FOX and Friends Weekend” on the Fox News Channel. Hegseth is a former U.S. Army National Guard officer, a former senior fellow of the Center of the American Experiment, and a former policy director at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. ¹⁴

Veterans Board of Advisors

Vets for Freedom (VFF) founders Knox Nunnally, Mark Seavey, and Wade Zirkle were all members of the board of advisors. Other members included retired U.S. Marine Major General James E. Livingston, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and former U.S. Representative Steve Russell (R-OK), retired U.S. Navy SEAL Petty Officer First Class Marcus Luttrell, retired U.S. Marine Corporal Marco Martinez, U.S. Marine Major Owen West, and retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Marshall Williams. ¹⁵

Policy Board of Advisors

As of 2008, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and then-U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) were both honorary members of the Vets For Freedom (VFF) board of advisors.  Journalist Max Boot, Brookings Institution fellow Michael O’Hanlon, journalist Ralph Peters, and Center for a New American Security fellow John Nagl constituted the group’s policy board of advisors. ¹⁵

1. “About Us.” Vets for Freedom. Archived from the original May 9, 2008. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20080509100807/http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/about/.
2. Data compiled from the Internal Revenue Service Tax Exempt Organization Search tool for IRS EIN 20-3949872.
3. Anderson, Zac. “Trump Taps Conservative Media Pundit Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary.” USA Today, November 13, 2024. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/11/12/fox-host-and-combat-vet-pete-hegseth-gets-nod-for-defense-secretary/76236081007/.
4. Vets for Freedom, Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2008, Part I, Line 12.
5. “Annual Lobbying by Vets for Freedom.” OpenSecrets. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2008&id=D000029658.
6. Vets for Freedom, Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2008, Part IX, Line 24a.
7. “Receipts reported to IRS by Contributing Organizations.” OpenSecrets. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/political-nonprofits/receipts?id=203949872.
8. “Founders.” Vets for Freedom. Archived from the original May 9, 2008. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20080509131649/http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/about/founders.aspx.
9. “Bio.” David Bellavia. Accessed December 8, 2024. https://www.davidbellavia.com/bio.
10. “K. Knox ‘Lighthorse’ Nunnally.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 8, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/k-knox-lighthorse-nunnally-3358345/.
11. “Mark Seavey.” American Legion. Accessed December 8, 2024. https://www.legion.org/about/leadership/constitutional-officers/national-judge-advocate.
12. “Wade Zirkle.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 8, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadezirkle/.
13. Vets for Freedom, Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2008, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
14. “Pete Hegseth.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 8, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/petehegseth/
15. “Advisors.” Vets for Freedom. Archived from the original May 11, 2008. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20080511233127/http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/about/advisors2.aspx.