Disabled American Veterans meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Complaints
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 5
The organization addressed the complaint issues brought to its attention: 5
The organization did not address the complaint issues brought to its attention: 0
Three of the complaints involved individuals seeking to have their name and contact information removed from a mailing list, one of the complaints involved an individual who did not received merchandise ordered, and one of the complaints involved concern about an interaction with two DAV Chapter Service Officers.
Tax Status
Please note that the Tax Status tab of this report, which lists Disabled American Veterans as a 501(c)(19) is not correct. DAV is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes. Membership dues are not tax-deductible.
Since most other organizations exempt under section 501(c)(4) are generally not able to receive tax-deductible donations, BBB WGA's report format is currently limited and unable to list DAV as a 501(c)(4) organization that does allow for tax-deductible contributions.
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Year, State Incorporated
1932, DC
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Affiliates
Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust
Disabled American Veterans National Service Foundation
Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc.
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Stated Purpose
"to empower veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity."
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provides free professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service and provided by government agencies. In 2020, DAV reports that it helped obtain more than $23 billion in new and retroactive earned benefits. The organization also aims to ensure that veterans have resources and opportunities to enter the job market. The organization extends DAV's mission of hope into the communities where veterans and their families live through a network of state-level departments and local chapters. DAV also provides a structure of volunteer programs and reports that, in 2020, volunteers in DAV's transportation network and local veteran?s assistance program donated 677,000 hours of time. Some ($23,689,186 or 13%) of DAV's programs are conducted in conjunction with informational materials that include fundraising appeals.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, Disabled American Veterans's program expenses were:
Public service announcement program |
$70,923,171 |
Service program |
$40,758,081 |
Voluntary service program |
$24,802,446 |
Public awareness outreach |
$23,921,138 |
Communications program |
$9,430,025 |
State services and disaster relief |
$7,075,017 |
Membership program |
$5,302,757 |
Legislative service program |
$1,987,882 |
Employment program |
$1,121,220 |
Total Program Expenses: |
$185,321,737 |
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Chief Executive
J. Marc Burgess, National Adjutant/ Chief Executive Officer
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Compensation*
$603,396
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Chair of the Board
Stephen Whitehead
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Combat-disabled veteran
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Board Size
7
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Paid Staff Size
538
*2020 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Door-to-door appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Telephone appeals, Radio, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Television
DAV incurred joint costs of $47,383,333 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs, $23,689,186 was allocated to program expenses and $23,694,147 was allocated to fundraising expenses.
Fundraising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $225,743,626, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt as a veteran's organization under section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Disabled American Veterans's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Source of Funds |
Contributions |
$121,190,048 |
Contributed media and materials |
$70,815,998 |
Investment return, net |
$53,961,940 |
Contributed services |
$24,747,973 |
National per capita dues |
$8,989,607 |
Miscellaneous revenue |
$398,355 |
List royalties |
$368,682 |
Total Income |
$280,472,603 |
- Programs: 82%
- Fundraising: 14%
- Administrative: 4%
Total Income |
$280,472,603 |
Program expenses |
$185,321,737 |
Fundraising expenses |
$33,185,778 |
Administrative expenses |
$9,337,552 |
Other expenses |
$0 |
Total expenses: |
$227,845,067 |
Income in Excess of Expenses |
$52,627,536 |
Beginning Net Assets |
$364,875,204 |
Other Changes In Net Assets |
$-2,252,193 |
Ending Net Assets |
$415,250,547 |
Total Liabilities |
$134,696,001 |
Total Assets |
$549,946,548 |
Note 1: According to DAV's 2020 audited financial statements, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $95,563,971 in the form of contributed media ($70,060,928), drivers transporting veterans to the VA ($18,411,809), trained volunteers providing claim filing assistance ($3,664,275), office space ($2,671,889), and COVID masks ($755,070).
Note 2: In the financial section above, "other changes in net assets" refers to change in fair market value of interest rate swap (-$204,755) and pension liability and other postretirement benefit obligation adjustment (-$2,047,438).