Disabled American Veterans

“Dav is a not-for-profit organization with members that have the right to participate in the organization's governance. They, or their delegates, elect four members of dav's board of directors.”

“Please see form 990, part vi, section a, line 6.”

“Following completion of form 990 by the dav's tax preparer, it is reviewed by dav's accounting department staff and executive director. Once resulting revisions are made, the form is mailed to the board of directors for their review and questions. It is subsequently filed with the irs.”

“All members of the board of directors receive a copy of the conflict of interest policy immediately upon assuming office, or at a minimum, annually. The same process applies to key employees and department directors. Recipients acknowledge they have read the policy, identify any areas of conflict and return the signed disclosure form to the dav executive director. Responses are reviewed and identified. Conflicts are referred to the board of directors for discussion and approval as appropriate.”

“Every four or five years dav hires an independent consulting firm to review compensation of dav national adjutant and ceo, executive directors, key employees, and other top management officials. This involves review of position responsibilities, accumulation of comparable data from other organizations and determination of appropriate compensation ranges for each. The ranges are reviewed and approved by independent members of the board of directors (board). Any subsequent changes in compensation, typically annual and within the established ranges, are also approved by the board. Non-employee members of dav's board receive an irs approved daily per diem when attending meetings or representing dav at various related events. This is primarily to cover meals and lodging.”

“Governing documents and the conflict of interest policy are available upon request. The dav annual report and most recent form 990 are available on dav's website (www.dav.org) and also upon request or public inspection at dav national headquarters. Form 1024 is available upon request.”

“SERVICE PROGRAM (CONT): In more than 100 offices throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, we employ a corps of 262 national service officers (NSOs) and 33 transition service officers (TSOs) who counsel and represent veterans, their families and survivors with claims for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense and other government agencies. NSOs function as attorneys-in-fact holding 1.1 million powers of attorney to assist veterans and their families in filing claims for VA disability compensation; rehabilitation and education programs; pensions; death benefits; and employment and training programs. They provide free services such as information seminars and counseling, and community outreach activities through the Mobile Service Office (MSO) Program and other opportunities to educate and inform veterans on the benefits theyve earned. NSOs also represent veterans and active-duty military personnel before Discharge Review Boards, Boards for Correction of Military Records, Physical Evaluation Boards, the Disability Transition Assistance Program, the Transition Assistance Program and other official panels. Since being chartered by Congress in 1932, they filed 11.3 million claims for benefits and secured over $100 billion in retroactive and annual benefits. For service members making the all-important transition to civilian life, DAV participates in Transition Assistance and Disabled Transition Assistance programs. Our TSOs provide benefits counseling and assistance to service members filing initial claims for VA benefits at nearly 100 military installations throughout the country. DAV continues its pro bono representation program for veterans seeking review in the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. DAV currently works with two law firms that are highly accomplished in dealing with veterans issues at the court. In fiscal year 2017, the BVA took action on more than 16,400 cases involving DAV clients. These were cases reviewed to identify those in which a veterans claim was improperly denied. Thanks to DAV and our relationship with private law firms, 1,496 of these cases previously denied by the BVA were appealed to the court, at no cost to the veterans. The MSO Program continues to seek new venues to bring DAV service to veterans and dependents in their own communities. The MSO extends our assistance to veterans who might not be able to visit a Service Office due to distance, transportation, health or other reasons. We are in our third year of deploying MSOs to colleges and universities and conducting service seminars for student veterans on campuses throughout the nation. In calendar year 2017, our efforts with these programs resulted in more than 60 events being conducted throughout 41 states and Puerto Rico. We interviewed a total of 449 student veterans and dependents, helping them file 236 claims for benefits. Expenses $39,127,026 including grants of $58,108. Revenue $0. State Services and Disaster Relief: During 2017, the DAV Disaster Relief Program distributed 2,215 supply kits and provided 3,988 payments totaling in excess of $1.3 million to service-injured or ill veterans, service members and their families in need of relief. Since the programs inception in 1968, $11.5 million has been disbursed to victims. When disaster strikes, DAV service officers and members deploy into devastated areas, enabling DAV to provide much-needed monetary assistance; conduct benefits counseling; and offer referral services for veterans, service members and their families in need. Our Disaster Relief Program provides grants in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies in various areas around the nation to help veterans and their families secure temporary lodging, food and other necessities. Most recently, DAV supported veterans and their families impacted by the flooding throughout Louisiana, wildfires in California, Hurricane Harvey in Texas, AND HURRICANE IRMA IN PUERTO RICO AN”

“VOLUNTARY SERVICES PROGRAM (CONT): The DAV Transportation Network is the largest program of its kind for veterans in the nation. This unique initiative helps get veterans to and from VA medical appointments by providing vehicles and a team of volunteer drivers. Its managed by 162 hospital service coordinators located at 197 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics, and is operated by committed DAV volunteer drivers. Since the programs inception in 1987, DAV departments and chapters have donated 3,178 vehicles and Ford Motor Co. has donated 215 vehicles at a total combined cost of more than $76.3 million. The amount of hours DAV volunteers dedicate, the miles they drive and the number of rides they provide to veterans reflect promises weve ensured were kept. To put this into perspective, DAV volunteer drivers have driven 717,288,217 miles since the program began. In 2017, volunteers traveled 18,452,374 miles, providing nearly 615,000 rides to veterans and donating 1,493,050 hours of their time. The value of these contributed services is reported as revenue on DAV's financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but is not recorded as revenue on this Form 990 in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines. Other DAV voluntary service program initiatives include the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, National Disabled Veterans Tee Tournament, Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program, Local Veterans Assistance Program and VA Voluntary Service Program. Expenses $2,765,959 including grants of $1,351,786. Revenue $0.”

“EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (CONT): DAV realizes the challenges that many veterans face in pursuing rewarding careers. Established in 2014, the DAV National Employment Program has firmly positioned itself as a leader among veterans service organizations in providing assistance to veterans and their spouses seeking new or better jobs. One primary component of this mission was forming strategic partnerships with Recruit Military, a full-service military-to-civilian recruiting firm that is veteran operated, and Veteran Recruiting, who hosts virtual career fairs that are accessible to all veterans. In less than four years, our National Employment Program has already made a significant impact to reduce the number of unemployed and underemployed veterans. In fact, from June 2014 through December 2017, DAV sponsored 318 traditional and virtual career fairs that nearly 119,000 active service members, Guard and Reserve personnel, veterans and spouses attended, resulting in more than 57,000 job offers. In 2018, DAV will again increase our efforts by sponsoring more than 150 traditional and virtual career fairs, including 20 events on military bases such as Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Hood, Texas; and Camp Pendleton, Calif. DAVs National Employment Department also works directly with companies seeking the many talents and skills veterans possess. Our program provides a multitude of resources that veterans can access within our employment resources webpage (jobs.dav.org), including a job search board that boasts more than 250,000 current employment opportunities around the world and direct links to company website job boards. We are happy to report that our employment resources website has grown by 617 users monthly. Through efforts started in 2017, we will be expanding our assistance by adding The Veteran Advantage: DAV Guide to Hiring & Retaining Veterans with Disabilities. With our guide, we aim to provide companies, hiring managers or other human resources professionals a solution-oriented, practical and strategic approach to hiring and retaining veterans with disabilities. IN 2017, DAV LAUNCHED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH "HIRING AMERICA," THE foremost voice in televised programs dedicated solely to helping veterans secure meaningful employment. Each episode features companies with outstanding veteran hiring initiatives; shares insights from CEOs, career counselors and human resources specialists; and provides valuable information to help ease the transition for veterans entering the civilian workforce. Expenses $1,449,858 including grants of $0. Revenue $0.”

“COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM: The National Communications Department oversees internal and external communications programs, including media relations, publications, digital content and a variety of public outreach initiatives, to tell DAVs story and support its key initiatives. A bimonthly magazine keeps our members informed about important issues and our governments policies affecting the federal benefits and services veterans have earned. This publication also showcases the many successful service programs of our state-level DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL DAV CHAPTERS-AND THUS ENCOURAGES EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES IN COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE. DAVs communications staff produces news releases, speeches, op-eds, brochures, print messages, public service announcements, videos and other materials that provide information about DAV and the full range of free services that empower veterans to live high-quality lives with respect and dignity. Additionally, we have significantly grown our social media community using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Through this unique outreach program, DAV has been able to reach millions of Americans with our message of service and volunteerism in support of injured and ill veterans. With such a vast array of programs, DAV is able to provide in-depth research and resources to best explain issues with facts, relevant examples and meaningful context. As a result, our educational public service and outreach programs continue to promote awareness of veterans issues and honor veterans service to our nation. Expenses $8,820,976 including grants of $15,000. Revenue $0. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM: DAV has nearly 4,600 members dedicated to recruiting veterans so that we can maintain our strong voice and credibility with lawmakers now and well into the future. With 52 state-level departments and 1,283 active chapters nationwide, we closed the 20162017 membership year with more than 1 million veterans in DAV, ensuring a strong, unified and living embodiment of DAVs mission of service to veterans, their families and survivors. The lifeblood of DAV is its membership. When veterans join DAV, they enlist in a fight to ensure our nation keeps its promises to those whove served. The unwavering devotion that members dedicate to our mission has made DAV the premier veterans service organization, and our commitment has spanned nearly a century. DAV is the leading voice for the nations injured and ill veterans, regardless of service era. This commitment is expressed in our mission statement and makes DAV unique among other organizations. DAV was founded in the immediate aftermath of World War I, as no group then existed to provide and advocate for veterans forever changed by military service. Our legacy has evolved to meet the changing needs of members, families and caregivers amid the historical journey of our nation. Our military and American society continues to change, and DAV embraces those changes to ensure veterans of all service eras and genders are able to have their chance at the American dream. Today, social networking and other changes to the ways Americans communicate allow DAV members to play a larger role than ever as spokespeople advocating for the unique needs of the veteran community. We continue to respond to the needs of the current generation of veterans and also are steadfast in our resolution to ensure equitable support for ANOTHER VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY-VETERAN CAREGIVERS. Expenses $6,915,659 including grants of $50. Revenue $6,951,769. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM: DAV has promoted stronger, more effective public policies for veterans injured or made ill during wartime service, as well as their families and survivors. DAV works to achieve our public policy objectives, primarily through the efforts of our National Legislative Department, to strengthen, expand and reform federal laws, policies, programs and benefits for service-disabled veterans. The guiding principles of our advocacy efforts come directly from the resolutions ado”

“Other changes: pension liability and other postretirement benefit obligation adjustment $(2,483,906)”