Nonprofit · EIN 46-3292694
VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT
Tax-exempt · MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55408
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990-EZ | $195,551 | $214,858 | -$19,307 | $210,761 | – | $210,761 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990-EZ | $75,281 | $44,392 | $30,889 | $240,177 | $10,109 | $230,068 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $190,917
- Program service revenue
- $4,269
- Investment income
- $365
Expenses
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $0
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $17,159
- Professional fees and payments to contractors
- $169,127
- Occupancy
- $3,044
- Printing, publications and postage
- $1,219
- Other expenses
- $24,309
- Program services (functional)
- $162,685
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $240,177
- Total assets, end of year
- $210,761
- Total liabilities, end of year
- –
- Net assets, end of year
- $210,761
- Cash, savings and investments
- $210,761
- Gross receipts
- $195,551
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HANK SHEA | Chairman | 2 | $0 |
| DAVID HOLEWINSKI | Chairman | 2 | $0 |
| W ANDERS FOLK | Treasurer | 2 | $0 |
| BERLYNN FLEURY | Secretary | 2 | $0 |
| TRAVIS KOWITZ | PAST CHAIR | 1 | $0 |
| BRETT KELLEY | Director | 1 | $0 |
| JONATHAN CALHOUN | Director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL HURLEY | Director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN CHOI | Director | 1 | $0 |
| BRYAN CUNNINGHAM | Director | 1 | $0 |
| CARIE LEMACK | Director | 1 | $0 |
| WILLIAM TENNEY | Director | 1 | $0 |
| NONI KARKOSKA | Director | 1 | $0 |
| JEANNE BISHOP | Director | 1 | $0 |
| JOSEPH VOTEL | Director | 1 | $0 |
1 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEITH LEBLANC | Director | 1 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2023: 20 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVAN TSAI | CHAIR | 3 | $0 |
| HANK SHEA | VICE CHAIR | 6 | $0 |
| BRUCE RICHARDSON | Treasurer | 4 | $0 |
| LAWTON NUSS | Secretary | 4 | $0 |
| DAVID HOLEWINSKI | PAST CHAIR | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN KINGREY | Director | 1 | $0 |
| BERLYNN FLEURY | Director | 1 | $0 |
| MIKE HURLEY | Director | 1 | $0 |
| ANDERS FOLK | Director | 1 | $0 |
| NONI KARKOSKA | Director | 1 | $0 |
| JUDY TILSEN | Director | 1 | $0 |
| RAY WILSON | Director | 1 | $0 |
| SAM VERDEJA | Director | 1 | $0 |
| LINDSEY ERDMANN | Director | 1 | $0 |
| LYNDSEY OLSON | Director | 1 | $0 |
| CARI LEMACK | Director | 1 | $0 |
| BRYAN CUNNINGHAM | Director | 1 | $0 |
| CHITRA RAGAVAN | Director | 1 | $0 |
| TRAVIS KOWITZ | Director | 1 | $0 |
| KEITH LEBLANC | Director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 3201 HENNEPIN AVE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55408-3448
- Mailing address (990-N for 2015)
- 3033 Excelsior Boulevard suite 550, Minneapolis MN 55416
- Principal officer (990-N for 2015)
- Ryan Else, 3033 Excelsior Boulevard Suite 550, Minneapolis MN 55416
- Signed the 990-EZ
- HANK SHEA, Chairman
- Phone
- (612) 874-1625
- Return prepared by
- Petersen Professionals PC
Mission
The purpose of the Veterans Defense Project is to conduct & support educational training, research & informational activities to educate criminal justice stakeholders as well as raise public awareness of issues affecting veterans involved with the criminal justice system & to expand Veterans Treatment Courts (VTSs) & veterans sentencing statutes throughout the United States, working towards a model that will make VTCs more consistent across jurisdictions.
Program accomplishments
- Veterans Defense Project (VDP) advocates point to Minnesota law as a pioneering model for treatment over penalties. Since August 2021, when Gov. Tim Walz signed the Veterans Restorative Justice Act, or VRJA, allowing veterans to avoid jail time for certain crimes by instead taking intensive steps to treat the underlying trauma related to their service.We became frustrated with the way the courts were dealing or failing to deal with them, said Brock Hunter, a criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis & co-founder of the Veterans Defense Project. Hunter has worked on cases involving veterans for decades.In 2023, VDP co-founders Brock Hunter & Ryan Else worked with the Veterans Justice Commission, a national project chaired by former U.S. Defense Secretary & U.S. Senator Charles Hagel & includes former Defense Secretary & White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta to assess & make recommendations around policies that can improve outcomes for justice-involved veterans & their communities. That work led to the adoption of the Veterans Justice Act by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in August 2023. Nebraska became the first state to pass the Veterans Justice Act in early 2024.On November 11, 2024, the VDP held its third annual event honoring veterans in need of restorative justice, located at the University of St Thomas School of Law & live-streamed around the country. It featured remarks by retired General Joseph Votel & Major General Johanna Clyborne. The VDP remains quite active in many states, such as Pennsylvania & Ohio, educating & advising about the need for & benefits of enacting the Veterans Justice Act (VJA). The VJA has been endorsed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), AllRise, formerly the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, & the many other organizations & individuals.Expenses $162,685
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990-EZ on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 46-3292694
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2014
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Public and societal benefit (W30)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $210,761
- Income (IRS master file)
- $195,551
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | December 2024 | $195,551 | $214,858 | $210,761 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2023 | $75,281 | $44,392 | $240,177 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2015 Officer: Ryan Else | December 31, 2015 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 46-3292694).
Questions about VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT
- What is the EIN of VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT is 46-3292694.
- Is VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2014.
- Are donations to VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT?
- The 990-N for 2015 names Ryan Else.
- Who are the officers and directors of VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 16 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does VETERANS DEFENSE PROJECT have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $195,551, expenses of $214,858 and total assets of $210,761 at year end.
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