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Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

CharityWatch rating issued
March 2025

D
CharityWatch Rating
This rating has been downgraded from D due to the charity having 3.0 years worth of available assets in reserve.
 
49%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$55
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Large Asset Reserves

CharityWatch reduces the grade of any charity that has available assets equal to three to five years of operating expenses. Charities with "years of available assets" of more than five years receive an "F" grade regardless of other measurements. In CharityWatch's view, a reserve of less than three years is reasonable and does not affect a charity's grade. These reductions in grades are based solely on the charities' asset reserves as compared to budget. The CharityWatch definition of "years of available assets" includes funds currently available for the charity's use, including investments that the charity has set aside as a reserve but could choose to spend if it wanted to do so. Disabled American Veterans (DAV)'s letter grade rating has been downgraded because it has 3 or more years of available assets.

See Our Process to learn more about how CharityWatch considers a charity’s asset reserves and the High Asset List for a list of charities whose ratings have been reduced due to high assets.

Contact Information

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
860 Dolwick Drive
Erlanger, KY 41018

Other Names

DAV

Tax Status

501(c)4

Website

www.dav.org

Stated Mission

Empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2023

Program Percentage: 49%

The percentage of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)'s cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$147,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $55

How many dollars Disabled American Veterans (DAV) spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$122,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)'s rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
67% $33
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Disabled American Veterans Audited Financial Statements 31-0263158
Disabled American Veterans IRS Form 990 31-0263158
Entity: Disabled American Veterans
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 31-0263158
Entity: Disabled American Veterans
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 31-0263158

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
does not meet transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Edward R. Reese Executive Director Natl LHQ $543,865
2 Barry A. Jesinoski Past National Adjutant / CEO / SEC $534,075
3 Theresa L. Burgoon Chief Development Officer $468,098
1
Name: Edward R. Reese
Title: Executive Director Natl LHQ
Compensation: $543,865
2
Name: Barry A. Jesinoski
Title: Past National Adjutant / CEO / SEC
Compensation: $534,075
3
Name: Theresa L. Burgoon
Title: Chief Development Officer
Compensation: $468,098

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) includes the financial activities of the 501(c)(4) tax-exempt, social welfare organization (tax ID #31-0263158).

Our rating of DAV does not include the financial activities of the following organizations, which are separately operated entities that are related to DAV, according to the DAV audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 13, Related-Party Transactions):

– Disabled American Veterans National Service Foundation (the Foundation)
 Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust* (the Trust)
 Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA)
 Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation (DVLMF)

According to audit Note 13, some members of DAV's Board of Directors also serve on the respective Board of Directors for each the Foundation, the Trust, and DVLMF. In addition, DAV "provides services to" and is "in the position to influence operating policies of" each of the four entities listed above.

[*Note: CharityWatch issues a separate rating for the DAV Charitable Service Trust, a 501(c)(3) public charity.]

According to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) audited Statement of Activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, DAV received in-kind contributions of $144,793,904 during 2023. Of this amount, $39,339,895 and $105,454,009 was attributed to "Contributed services and facilities - primarily services" and "Contributed media and materials - primarily media," respectively. 

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) 2023 tax filing, DAV reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding discretionary spending accounts for officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, line 1a):

"During their one-year, non-successive term, DAV pays the National Commander an annual expense allowance prorated from the date of his/her election to the date of the election of his/her successor, in an amount approved by the Board of Directors, and reflected in the appropriate minutes. The amount is to cover lodging, meals, and other expenses incurred to serve in this capacity. It is comparable to amounts paid [to] those in similar positions in like organizations and is reported as taxable income on Form 1099. In 2023, Joseph Parsetich, DAV National Commander (January - July), received $151,210 and Nancy Espinosa, DAV National Commander (August - December), received $98,790 for such payments."

[Joseph Partesich, DAV National Commander (January - July), and Nancy Espinosa, DAV National Commander (August - December), received no compensation during 2023 other than what is outlined above (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II & IRS Form 990, Part VII)].  

Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, line 7):

"DAV has a leadership incentive program that offers an additional percentage of annual base salary to about 60 employees – primarily key executives, directors and managers. The award percentage is based on the individual participant's position and the organization's measured success meeting 8 goals – one related to achievement of standard ratios...and 7 based [on] DAV strategic plan goals. The program was designed with assistance from an outside, independent consultant and approved by the Board of Directors."


DAV reports "Bonus & incentive compensation" payments for nine individuals in 2023, including $57,361 paid to Megan B. Hall, General Counsel, with total reported compensation of $313,048. The reported "Bonus & incentive compensation" amounts for the other eight individuals ranges from $17,650 to $56,475, with associated reported total compensation in 2023 ranging from $219,174 to $543,865 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II). Note: the above "total reported compensation" excludes column (F) compensation reported as deferred on a prior year 990 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).

According to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) tax filing of December 31, 2023, IRS Form 990, Schedule L, Part IV, Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons:

The "Name of Interested Person" is reported as "John Marc Burgess LLC."

The "Relationship Between Interested Person and the Organization" is reported as "35% Controlled Entity."

The "Amount of Transaction" is reported as "$105,000."

The "Description of Transaction" is reported as "Executive Advisory Services."

The "Sharing of Organization's Revenues?" is reported as "No"