We the Veterans Society for American Democracy is a nonprofit veterans’ organization that is affiliated with the We the Veterans Foundation. ¹

Activities

In October 2022, We the Veterans Society for American Democracy co-signed a letter to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) written by the Secure Families Initiative. The letter commended the Michigan Legislature for its efforts to make the voting process easier for military service members submitting absentee ballots by passing the Uniformed Service Member Absentee Ballot Act. However, the letter expressed concern over the requirement for DoD-verified electronic signatures, which may require personally identifiable information through common access card (CAC) digital signatures. The letter also expresses disappointment that the Act does not allow military spouses or eligible dependents to submit electronic ballots, creating a disparity within military family units. Other co-signers of the letter include organizations like BlueStar Families, the Military Officers Association of America, and the National Military Family Association. ²

In April 2022, We the Veterans Society for American Democracy cosigned a letter to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act (H.R. 3967), a bill calling for a comprehensive solution to caring for veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed in June 2022, the bill expands healthcare eligibility, providing veterans exposed to toxins with medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Other co-signers of the letter include organizations like the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, California Communities Against Toxics, Gold Star Wives of America, Military Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Wounded Warrior Project. ³

Financials

For tax years 2021 and 2022, We the Veterans Society for American Democracy filed an e-Postcard tax return claiming less than $50,000 in revenue. ⁴

In the 2022 election cycle, We the Veterans Society for American Democracy received $20,000 from the left-leaning Veterans for Responsible Leadership PAC. ⁵

Leadership

Ellen Gustafson is the co-founder and executive director of We the Veterans Foundation and co-founder of the Military Family Building Coalition. Gustafson formerly worked at the Summit Institute, the Council on Foreign Relations, the United Nations World Food Program, and ABC News. ¹

Ben Keiser is co-founder, executive chair, and co-chair of the board of We the Veterans Foundation and the Chief Risk Officer of Elutions. ¹

Jermaine Clark is the director of marketing at We the Veterans Foundation. ¹

Joe Plenzler is a co-founder of the Vet the Vote Coalition, a co-founder and partner at Cassandra-Helenus Partners, and a veteran of the Marine Corps. Plenzler formerly worked as director of communication at the Wounded Warrior Project, executive vice president at the U.S. Naval Institute, and strategic advisor at the International Security Assistance Force. Plenzler sits on the boards of the We the Veterans Foundation and the Veteran Business Project. ⁶

Glenn Schatz is a co-founder of We the Veterans Foundation, vice president of community partnerships at Care Access, and vice president of Veterans for Responsible Leadership. ⁷

1. “About Us.” We the Veterans Foundation. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.wetheveterans.us/about-us-1.
2. “Act Now: Speak Up for Military Spouses.” National Military Family Association. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.militaryfamily.org/act-now-speak-up-for-military-spouses/.
3. “4-14-2022 VSO PACT Letter – Senate.” National Veterans Legal Services Program. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://www.nvlsp.org/images/uploads/4-14-2022_VSO_PACT_Letter_-_Senate_(1).pdf.
4. “We the Veterans Society for American Democracy.” Internal Revenue Service. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/.
5. “Vendor/Recipient: We the Veterans Society for American Democracy.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/campaign-expenditures/vendor?cycle=2022&vendor=We+the+Veterans+Society+for+American+Democracy.
6. “Joe Plenzler.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeplenzler/.
7. “Glenn Schatz.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennschatz/.