Brand & Marks Use

• Esprit de Corps Foundation
• Esprit de Corps Campus

The word “The” is not part of either claimed phrase. Render the marks as “Esprit de Corps Foundation™” and “Esprit de Corps Campus™” on first use in external documents.

The three-letter acronym “EDC” is used informally as internal shorthand for the Foundation. On its own it is nota claimed trademark and does not carry the “™” symbol.

Where “EDC” may appear as part of a claimed mark: the letters can appear inside a distinct visual logo (protected as a design mark) or as part of a longer distinctive phrase (for example, “EDC Emerging Leaders™”). In those cases, the trademark protects the full composition, not the bare letters. Any other “EDC-” prefixed name proposed for public use requires written approval from the Executive Director.

The Foundation uses a small, unified visual system. Each of the following logo variants is a distinct design mark. Full descriptions here so partners, printers, and legal counsel understand exactly what is being claimed.

• Foundation Wordmark.The literal phrase “Esprit de Corps Foundation” set in the Foundation’s custom display typography, single-line lockup, in Foundation Navy (#0F1A2E) on white. Used as the primary institutional signature.
• Foundation Seal / Crest.A round crest device with layered heraldic elements drawn from the Foundation’s Chicago and military-community identity. Rendered in Foundation Navy on white, with the wordmark reserved for the outer ring.
• Foundation Logomark. The seal reduced to an icon-only lockup, used as a favicon, PWA icon, app tile, and social avatar. Same navy on white.
• Full-Color Foundation Logo.The wordmark + logomark side-by-side lockup in the Foundation’s primary palette (Foundation Navy + Off-white + Scarlet accent). Used for print, event signage, and merchandise.
• Reversed-Color Foundation Logo. The full-color lockup inverted for use on dark or photographic backgrounds. Wordmark and logomark render in white / off-white on Foundation Navy.
• Monochrome Black Foundation Logo. Single-color black variant of the wordmark + logomark, used where reproduction constraints require it (single-color print, embroidery, embossing).
• Monochrome White Foundation Logo. Single-color white variant, used for photo overlays, watermarks, and event banners on dark backgrounds.

Program surfaces (Ranks, Chapters, Muster, Operations, Emerging Leaders, YP Committee, the Campus) use the Foundation-level logo above rather than distinct program logos in this initial trademark push. If a program-specific mark is developed later, it will be added here before it’s used publicly.

The following program and initiative names are pursued as separate service marks. Each is used on marketing surfaces with the “™” symbol on first use in an external document.

Pillar programs (Operations).

• Operation Adventure™ — Recreation & Adventure pillar.
• Operation Serve™ — Community & Service pillar.
• Operation Next Mission™ — Growth & Opportunity pillar.
• Operation Anchor™ — Family & Belonging pillar.

Emerging Leaders.

• EDC Emerging Leaders™ — the Foundation’s emerging-leader program (first cohort 2027).

The Campus mark is listed with the Foundation word marks above rather than here, because “Esprit de Corps Campus” is a Foundation-level identity, not a discrete program.

Other program, event, community, and membership names (Ranks, Chapters, the Muster, YP Committee, paid EDC Membership) are Foundation-controlled and used under the umbrella Esprit de Corps Foundation™ wordmark. Whether any of those will be pursued as separate word marks is a later filing decision; using any of them without written permission is prohibited.

The Foundation does not claim rights in and does not display:

• Any U.S. military service branch seal, name, or emblem (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserve).
• Any federal agency mark (Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and their sub-organizations).
• Any Illinois or municipal government seal beyond what is required for compliance reporting.
• Any partner organization’s mark. Those remain the property of the respective organization and are used only with written permission and per that organization’s own brand rules.

Approved partners, sponsors, and providers may use Foundation marks only under an executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Foundation. External personal use requires written approval from the Marketing & Communications lead. No modification, no combination with other marks, no use implying endorsement.

Reference the Foundation as “Esprit de Corps Foundation™” on first use in any external document, followed by “EDC” (without a symbol) thereafter. The “™” symbol attaches to the full name and to the logo designs, notto the bare acronym. Never write “EDC™” as a standalone claim.

“™” is used because the Foundation is pursuing but has not yet received federal trademark registration. No mark should be described as a “registered trademark” and the “®” symbol should not be used unless the USPTO has confirmed registration in writing.

Approved logo files are distributed via the Foundation’s Brand Kit for approved uses only. Distribution to third parties is prohibited without written permission. Assets may be revoked at any time.

Contact partnerships@espritdcf.org with your intended use, placement, timeline, and audience. Include mock-ups if available. The Foundation may condition approval on an MOU, attribution rules, or expiration terms.