Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, Inc.

Through the DAV Charitable Service Trust, charitable organizations receive the financial support needed to build capacity, expand on services provided, and ultimately, increase the impact made on countless veterans and/or military families as they navigate the challenges of life after combat.

While the nature of funded programs vary significantly from year to year, many of the supported initiatives provide the services needed to stabilize homeless at-risk veterans struggling to establish suitable employment and/or housing, in addition to challenges associated with declining physical or psychological health.

Grants have been awarded to support a range of services, including but not limited to service dogs, adaptive segways, and vision- or hearing- related devices for those with physical limitations; transitional shelter and food for homeless and at-risk veterans; a functioning vehicle or bus tokens for veterans without transportation; life skills and career training for those seeking employment; and alternative means of therapy through creative writing, music lessons, dancing, and recreational events for veterans interested in rehabilitating while also learning a new skill.

Recognizing that veterans of all backgrounds can benefit from services catered to their unique experiences with the military, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust partners with an increasingly large number of charitable organizations to ensure that veterans of both the aging and newly returned eras; rural and urban regions; and other distinctions have access to programming for enrichment. In doing so, the Trust has maintained a single, primary program since its initiation: the DAV Charitable Service Trust Grant Program.

Each year, thousands of ill and injured veterans, their families, and/or caregivers benefit from the funds distributed through the initiative. During its most recently completed fiscal year, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust provided over $9.8 million in grants for direct support to our nation's sick and wounded heroes. Notably, in 2022, a remarkable 97 cents of every dollar contributed to the Trust was used to support these efforts.

Though the Trust is able to support a growing number of charitable programs and services each year, a number of funding requests are received that are not awarded favorably. The Trust takes care to ensure every project that receives support is operating in a financially stable, well-established, and evidence-based way. Each application is reviewed for completion and analyzed for eligibility, appropriateness, organizational stability, program design, and program implementation, among other areas. Further, successful requests are prompted within the contractual agreement to meet periodic accountability measures to ensure that the positive stance of the organization and program are maintained and use of the Trust's funds align with the restricted purpose identified by the Trust's Board of Directors.

Undoubtedly, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust has managed generous gifts with ongoing dedication and controlled spending. As evidence of its sound fiscal management, approximately 97 cents out of every dollar went directly to support programs and services for veterans and their families in 2022. The Trust also boasted over $53 million in Net Assets which demonstrates its strong financial position. Further, the Trust has received three perfect scores from Charity Navigator, earned the coveted 4-star rating for "sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency" more than 16 times since first being evaluated in 2002, and the following beacons from the new Encompass Rating System: Accountability & Finance; Leadership & Adaptability; and Culture & Community. This speaks volumes about the Trust's careful and efficient stewardship of donated funds.

The DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust has administered a nation-wide grant program to ensure that other not-for-profit entities have the resources to provide a number of services and programs for ill and injured veterans and their families. As a well-known grantmaker to an increasing volume of recipients each year, the Trust has been able to support programs that meet a wide variety of needs among the military community.

Notably, a full 97% of our 2022 total expenses went directly to service programs for our ill and injured veterans and only 3% was expended for fundraising and administrative costs. Such responsible management is crucial in fulfilling our mission of empowering veterans to lead high quality lives with respect and dignity.

The Trust will continue to proactively search for new and innovative ways to serve veterans, their family members, and caregivers.