About Us

 The founders of the State Defense Force Foundation all currently serve in the Tennessee State Guard (separate from the National Guard). The TNSG, like other state defense forces, is a great asset to their states and communities. Defense forces are a fantastic  way for the state's people to service in a military organization that is specifically dedicated to their state. Most defense forces are all volunteer forces who serve without pay (unless activated) for the love of their communities. Our foundation’s founders love this aspect of state defense forces and felt they needed to do something to increase the capabilities and readiness of these brave and inspiring men and women.

So, after several discussions, our founders began to explore the possibility of creating a non-profit organization that could help provide supplies, training, and equipment. State defense forces, as state entities, do receive funding from their states, however; these funds may not be sufficient enough to provide for a high level of preparedness.  It is not uncommon for those in state defense force members to self supply themselves as funding provided from the state is very limited. But out of sheer love for their communities and desire to fulfill their duty, these volunteers continue to serve their states and willfully take on financial burdens to prepare for future emergencies. 

Our goal is to relieve these burdens. Our foundation is dedicated to providing the funds needed for these selfless volunteers. We want the men and women of our defense forces to have access to funding that will be used for training, equipment, and gear needed to be ready for anything. 

If a disaster were to happen today, those responding should have been prepared yesterday. Help us get them prepared.

State defense forces, or sometimes referred to as state guards, are military forces that exist at the state level in the United States. They are separate from the active-duty military and the National Guard, which can be federalized. State defense forces are organized and controlled by individual state governments and operate under state authority.

The primary purpose of state defense forces is to assist and augment the National Guard during emergencies, disasters, or other situations where additional military support is needed within the state. They can be activated by the governor to provide a range of support, including disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and security operations.

State defense forces are typically composed of volunteer personnel who may have military experience or specialized skills. While they are not part of the federal military establishment, they play a crucial role in supporting state and local authorities in times of need. It's important to note that the structure and functions of state defense forces can vary from state to state, as they are established and regulated by state laws.

State defense forces/state guards are authorized by federal law under  Title 32, Section 109, of the United States Code and by their respective state laws.

Tax Deductible Info

 "You may deduct a charitable contribution made to, or for the use of, any of the following organizations that otherwise are qualified under section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code: 

1. A state or United States possession (or political subdivision thereof), or the United States or the District of Columbia, if made exclusively for public purposes;
2. A community chest, corporation, trust, fund, or foundation, organized or created in the United States or its possessions, or under the laws of the United States, any state, the District of Columbia or any possession of the United States, and organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, or literary purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals;
3. A church, synagogue, or other religious organization;
4. A war veterans' organization or its post, auxiliary, trust, or foundation organized in the United States or its possessions;
5. A nonprofit volunteer fire company;
6. A civil defense organization created under federal, state, or local law (this includes unreimbursed expenses of civil defense volunteers that are directly connected with and solely attributable to their volunteer services);
7. A domestic fraternal society, operating under the lodge system, but only if the contribution is to be used exclusively for charitable purposes;
8. A nonprofit cemetery company if the funds are irrevocably dedicated to the perpetual care of the cemetery as a whole and not a particular lot or mausoleum crypt."

Source: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/charitable-contribution-deductions