Legal FAQ

Yes. The Foundation is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity organized under Illinois law.

Established January 2025. The Foundation was organized in Illinois by Damian Garcia, who served on active duty with the U.S. Army at Fort Drum, New York, and now serves as a non-commissioned officer in the Illinois National Guard. He leads the Foundation as founder, CEO & President. Rogelio Villa, a Marine veteran, served as cofounder and former Vice President.

The Foundation began between two University of Illinois Chicago students working out of the campus student veterans affairs office. What started as peer support for fellow student veterans grew into a long-term vision: build a Foundation that stands with the people who serve wherever they live, one Chapter and one Campus at a time.

Chicago, Illinois. Programs currently serve the Chicago metro area and the surrounding suburbs.

The Chapter model is built for national expansion. As the community grows, new Chapters form in other cities, states, and regions, carrying the Foundation’s mission wherever service members, veterans, and military families need it. The long-term goal is nationwide reach: a Foundation presence in every place the military-connected community calls home. See Transparency for the current service area.

Esprit de Corps Campus™ is the Foundation’s permanent physical home. A purpose-built hub where programs, community, and services live under one roof. The first Campus is in development in the Chicago area.

Our goal and vision: nationwide reach. As Chapters take root in new cities, Campuses follow, until every city with a military-connected community has one. Every service member, veteran, and military family deserves a place to call home wherever they live: the same welcome, the same purpose, the same doors open.

Scale of the reach: more than 18 million U.S. veterans, 1.3 million active-duty service members, and tens of millions of spouses, children, and family members live across all fifty states. Each Campus expands who gets to belong.

Yes. The Foundation was previously known as Esprit Wellness Foundation. The name change to Esprit de Corps Foundation™ has been recognized by the IRS and the State of Illinois. The prior name may still appear on archived materials, older filings, or third-party references while records catch up. When you encounter it, you are looking at the same organization.

The Foundation operates through the following bodies:

• Board of Directors. Governance and fiduciary oversight.
• Executive Leadership. Day-to-day direction and program execution.
• Officers. Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and additional roles as defined in the Bylaws.
• Standing Committees. Including Finance, Program, Audit, Nominating, and the YP Committee.
• Staff + Volunteers. Program leads, coordinators, and volunteer teammates across the four pillars.
• Chapters. Officially recognized local units led by a Chapter Lead and four Chapter Officers.

Full role descriptions and term rules live in the Bylaws and the Roles & Responsibilities catalog. The Foundation’s org chart evolves as the team grows; the current staff and board roster is published on the Transparency page.

The Foundation is founder-led with a governing Board of Directors. Founding protections defined in Article 5 of the Bylaws address the founder’s role during the formative period. Executive Leadership manages day-to-day operations; the Board sets policy and approves major commitments.

Every Foundation program aligns to one or more of the four pillars:

1. Recreation & Adventure — Operation Adventure™.
2. Community & Service — Operation Serve™.
3. Growth & Opportunity — Operation Next Mission™.
4. Family & Belonging — Operation Anchor™.

Any adult (18+) can join Ranks as a community Participant. See Membership Terms.

Groups are informal, user-created affinity communities inside Ranks. Anyone can start a Group.
Chapters are formal local units of the Foundation with a defined five-officer structure, an approval process, and access to Foundation resources. Chapters carry the Foundation name and mission.

Ranks and Chapter participation are free. A paid membership tier is planned for late 2027 / 2028 pending payment infrastructure. Verified military connection will be required for the paid tier. Details will be published on Membership when the tier goes live.

Yes, to the extent allowed by law. Gifts of $250 or more receive a written acknowledgment. Consult your tax advisor.

No. See the Privacy Policy.

Members can delete their own account directly from account settings, or email privacy@espritdcf.org from the address on file if you’d like help. Before deletion, you can export a copy of your personal data.

After deletion, records the Foundation is legally required to retain will remain in accordance with our retention obligations. Your posts, comments, and contribution history may be preserved in the community record (attribution removed or generalized where feasible) so shared conversations aren’t broken for other members.

AI helpers (Magic Pencil, EDC AI) assist staff and community members. AI is never the sole decision-maker in benefits, grants, or discipline. See AI Policy.

Not without written permission. See Brand & Marks.

• General: hello@espritdcf.org
• Partnerships + sponsorships: partnerships@espritdcf.org
• Privacy + data requests: privacy@espritdcf.org
• Media + press: media@espritdcf.org
• Volunteer: volunteer@espritdcf.org

Aliases route to the current teammate holding each role. As the team grows, aliases persist even if the underlying assignee changes.

Email privacy@espritdcf.org. For imminent danger call 911. Suicide + crisis: 988 (call/text) or 838255 (text HOME).