Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust is a public charity based in Erlanger, Kentucky. Formed in 1986, it awards grants to nonprofit organizations for programs serving veterans and their families, including ill, injured, homeless, or at-risk veterans and their caregivers.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust at a glance
In short: Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust gave $17.8M across 105 grants in 2025 (avg $170K), mostly in Kentucky. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $17,834,482
- +63.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 105
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $169,852
- +57.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $91,075,366
- +17.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (28 of 105, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (71% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust
- How to Apply
-
Organizations apply through the Trust’s application site. Applicants must be operational and recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt, and must have access to a current-year board list with term dates, program and annual operating budgets, an IRS determination letter, Form W-9, audited financial statements and CPA opinion under GAAP or GAS, and a filed Form 990. Application cycles open and close on the first and last business days of January, April, July, and October. Applicants may be considered only once in a 12-month period; returning applicants must also have met the accountability measures in any prior grant agreement. Grant recipients must sign an agreement specifying the award’s purpose and provide written expenditure reports. Funds may not be re-granted without the Trust’s express permission.
- Review Cycle
- The website states that the October 2026 cycle closes October 30 at 4:30 p.m.
- Deadline
- The website states that the October 2026 cycle closes October 30 at 4:30 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 860 Dolwick Drive, Erlanger, KY 41018
Phone: (859) 441-7300
Website: https://cst.dav.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Disabled American Veterans ($12.1M). Together the top 10 received $14.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
477 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 331 grants of 477 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust describes its grant program as serving organizations throughout the nation. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky (71%), Ohio (8%), Virginia (3%), Florida (2%), and Colorado (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 105 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 28 of 105 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $222K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $30K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6.6M (2021) to $21.4M (2023). In 2025 it made 105 grants totaling $17.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Disabled American Veterans Erlanger, KY | Advocacy / Awareness: $150,000; Counseling & Claims / Filing Assistance: $85,000; Rehabilitation / Therapeutic: $107,000; Rehabilitation / Therapeutic (Camp Corral): $600,000; Rehabilitation / Therapeutic (Boulder Crest Retreat Foundation): $200,000; Transportation: $200,000; Unrestricted: $8,882,313; Employment (Employment Initiative): $1,825,105; Employment: $5,000; Homeless / Indigent / Crisis Intervention: $2,500 | $12,056,918 |
| Save A Warrior INC Columbus, OH | Health | $1,000,000 |
| DAV National Service Foundation Erlanger, KY | Transportation | $484,544 |
| Gary Sinise Foundation Nashville, TN | Rehabilitation / Therapeutic | $250,000 |
| Our Military Kids Oakton, VA | Rehabilitation / Therapeutic | $216,000 |
| Robert Irvine Foundation Inc Tampa, FL | Rehabilitation / Therapeutic | $200,000 |
| USA Cares Inc Louisville, KY | Homeless / Indigent / Crisis Intervention | $200,000 |
| Adaptive Adventures Westminster, CO | Rehabilitation / Therapeutic | $150,000 |
| Armed Services Arts Partnership Alexandria, VA | Rehabilitation / Therapeutic | $150,000 |
| Wesley Community Services Organization Cincinnati, OH | Health | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $91,075,366 | $33,698,099 | $18,390,068 | $17,834,482 | 105 | $12,040,568 |
| 2024 | $77,256,489 | $20,800,450 | $11,410,355 | $10,884,939 | 101 | $3,201,740 |
| 2023 | $61,885,409 | $20,220,279 | $21,964,289 | $21,444,103 | 103 | $1,164,384 |
| 2022 | $56,720,432 | $20,254,210 | $10,354,150 | $9,820,821 | 82 | $3,172,722 |
| 2021 | $56,693,498 | $21,266,014 | $7,123,396 | $6,605,084 | 86 | $6,816,833 |
| 2020 | $44,402,343 | $11,195,394 | $7,619,533 | $7,414,282 | 80 | $1,084,943 |
| 2019 | $39,250,220 | $11,550,429 | $9,269,377 | $8,713,680 | 75 | $1,010,103 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s mission is “empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.” Its stated areas of support include physical and psychological rehabilitation; mobility for veterans with amputations and spinal cord injuries; assistance for aging veterans; shelter and aid for homeless veterans; and programs addressing the needs of veterans wounded in recent wars and conflicts, their families, and caregivers.
The Trust’s website describes grants for food, shelter, and other necessities; mobility items for people with vision or hearing loss or amputations; therapeutic or recreational activities; and education or training for veterans pursuing career-readiness and skills. It also says it does not generally fund goodwill advertising, initiatives affiliated with political or religious concepts or campaigns, endowments, pilot or newly established projects, or capital items, including property acquisition, maintenance, or rehabilitation.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of grantees. Save A Warrior describes its work as developing intensive retreat experiences to address suicide among veterans, active military, and first responders. Our Military Kids says it offers extracurricular activity grants to children whose parent is deployed with the National Guard or Reserve or recovering from post-9/11 combat injuries. USA Cares describes providing financial assistance and post-service skills training to post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trust reported 105 grants totaling $17,834,482. Individual grants ranged from $7,300 to $12,056,918, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants, the Trust reported $12,056,918 to Disabled American Veterans, $1,000,000 to Save A Warrior, $484,544 to DAV National Service Foundation, $250,000 to Gary Sinise Foundation, and $216,000 to Our Military Kids. Other large grants included $200,000 each to Robert Irvine Foundation and USA Cares, and $150,000 each to Adaptive Adventures, Armed Services Arts Partnership, and Wesley Community Services Organization.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists J Marc Burgess as president, Barry A Jesinoski as vice president, and Dennis R Nixon as secretary/treasurer. Directors listed include Danny Oliver, Denice T Williams, and Kim K Hubers. Coleman F Nee is listed as a director from August through December 2025, and Daniel Contreras from January through August 2025.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust is led by J. Marc Burgess, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J. Marc Burgess
President
Vice President & Director → Director & President, 2024
Director & President → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danny Oliver
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denice T. Williams
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Contreras
Director
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim K. Hubers
Director
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Coleman F Nee
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dennis R. Nixon
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barry A. Jesinoski
Vice President
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Richard E. Marbes (2019–2024) — President
- Former: Nancy G. Espinosa (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: David l Tannenbaum (2019–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Joseph P. Parsetich (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Andrew H. Marshall (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Stephen E. Whitehead (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jo Ann M. Martinez (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust
How much does Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust give each year?
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust gave $17.8M across 105 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $10.9M across 101 grants.
What is Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust's typical grant size?
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $169,852, across 105 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust that year got $27K on average.
Where does Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust give grants?
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust gives mostly in Kentucky: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (4 grants), Chicago, IL (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Erlanger, KY (2 grants).
Does Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 105) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Homeless / Indigent / Crisis Intervention" (35 grants), "Rehabilitation / Therapeutic" (28 grants) and "Health" (25 grants).
Who are Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust's largest grantees?
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Disabled American Veterans ($12,056,918), Save A Warrior INC ($1,000,000) and DAV National Service Foundation ($484,544), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust?
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust reported $91.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $33.7M.
What does Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust fund?
The Trust’s mission is “empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust?
Organizations apply through the Trust’s application site. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust's EIN?
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1521276. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 27, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/disabled-american-veterans-dav-charitable-service-trust-morg_6a1e32c320cf4115813fc8a96dc1bf60
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521521276_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/disabled-american-veterans-dav-charitable-service-trust-morg_6a1e32c320cf4115813fc8a96dc1bf60},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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