Disabled Veterans National Foundation
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) is a public charity based in Lanham, Maryland. Established in 2007, it says it supports disabled and at-risk veterans, including through direct services and grants to organizations serving veterans.
Disabled Veterans National Foundation at a glance
In short: Disabled Veterans National Foundation gave $381K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), top state Illinois. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $381,000
- -19.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- -31.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,050
- +16.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $4,323,739
- +10.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (17% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Disabled Veterans National Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 4601 Forbes Blvd 130, Lanham, MD 20706
Phone: (202) 737-0522
Website: https://dvnf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Disabled Veterans National Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was 22MOHAWKS Corp ($22K). Together the top 10 received $215K.
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 206 grants of 206 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
DVNF’s policy describes organizational grants to organizations around the country. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Illinois and California, at 17% each, followed by Florida and Colorado at 9% each and Massachusetts at 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Disabled Veterans National Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 20 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2018–2025). 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 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $381K (2025) to $2.2M (2018). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $381K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 22MOHAWKS Corp Sharon, MA | — | $22,000 |
| A Safe Haven Foundation Chicago, IL | — | $22,000 |
| Donka Inc Wheaton, IL | — | $22,000 |
| For All Seasons Easton, MD | — | $22,000 |
| Fulcrum Farm Foundation Manhattan, IL | — | $22,000 |
| Gods Love We Deliver New York, NY | — | $22,000 |
| Veterans Navigation Network Billings, MT | — | $22,000 |
| Veteran Rites Tacoma, WA | — | $21,000 |
| Arizona Pet Project Phoenix, AZ | — | $20,000 |
| Baker Senior Center Naples Naples, FL | — | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing reported 29 grants, and the 2023 filing reported 47.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,323,739 | $28,870,269 | $28,637,902 | $381,000 | 20 | $295,401 |
| 2024 | $3,930,666 | $28,562,210 | $24,204,936 | $474,600 | 29 | $469,276 |
| 2023 | $4,480,423 | $25,744,812 | $30,108,970 | $849,000 | 47 | $201,096 |
| 2022 | $4,977,769 | $28,004,827 | $31,881,112 | $594,750 | 66 | $-203,738 |
| 2021 | $4,002,703 | $34,751,168 | $34,104,453 | $635,000 | 44 | $493,852 |
| 2018 | $3,293,836 | $27,708,515 | $27,511,790 | $2,162,828 | 60 | $-95,140 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
DVNF’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is “to change the lives of men and women who came home wounded or sick after defending our safety and our freedom.”
DVNF’s Capacity Building Grants policy describes funding for organizations providing direct physical or mental health services to veterans. It identifies mental and physical recovery, housing and homelessness, and employment as areas addressed by grantees, with examples including service dogs, equine therapy, yoga, art therapy, recreational therapy, housing, and employment capacity building. The policy says assistance is for program-service expenses, not general overhead or organizational costs unless the Board grants an exception.
The 2025 recipients include organizations with a range of missions, as stated by the grantees themselves. For example, For All Seasons says it provides therapy, advocacy, education, and psychiatric care; Donka says it works to change the lives of people with disabilities through technology; and A Safe Haven Foundation says it helps people transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Veteran Rites describes its mission as helping veterans find identity, purpose, and belonging after military service, while Village for Vets says it fills service gaps for homeless and at-risk veterans.
Grantmaking
DVNF reported 20 grants totaling $381,000 in filing year 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $13,000 to $22,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $22,000 each to 22Mohawks Corp., A Safe Haven Foundation, Donka Inc., For All Seasons, Fulcrum Farm Foundation, God’s Love We Deliver, and Veterans Navigation Network. Veteran Rites received $21,000. Arizona Pet Project, Baker Senior Center Naples, New Visions Homeless Services, and the National Sports Center for the Disabled each received $20,000.
DVNF’s grant policy says the Program Department identifies and recommends programs and projects to the Board, which authorizes grants. Its 2020 policy describes a letter of intent followed by a full application for organizations whose letters of intent are approved. The older policy says applications are submitted through an online application site. Separately, DVNF’s Grants to Provide Stability program provides assistance to individual veterans facing temporary financial setbacks, with eligible housing and utility expenses paid to vendors; that participant assistance is distinct from grants to outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph VanFonda as CEO, Delese Harvey as Deputy Director, Leander Brereton as Director of Operations, and Mildred Mesembe as Director of Finance. It lists Scott Carson as President, Greg Smith as Vice President, Tashawnya DiLeo as Treasurer, Adam Street as Secretary, and General Kenneth Merchant and Guillermo Tejada as members.
Disabled Veterans National Foundation is led by Joseph Vanfonda, CEO on every filing since 2018; 4 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph Vanfonda
CEO
On filings since 2018
40 hrs/week
$125K (2018) → $179K (2025)
Scott Carson
President
Vice President → President, 2021
On filings since 2018
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leander Brereton
Director of Operations
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$110K (2022) → $152K (2025)
Mildred Mesembe
Director of Finance
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$105K (2022) → $139K (2025)
Delese Harvey
Deputy Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$125K (2022) → $157K (2025)
Adam Street
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2018
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barry Walter
Member
Vice President → Member, 2021
On filings since 2018
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Smith
Vice President
Board Member → Member, 2021
Member → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2018
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
General Kenneth Merchant
Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Guillermo Tejada
Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tashawnya Dileo
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Tashawnya McCullough (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Tejada Guillermo (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Bill McQuaig (2018–2021) — Member
- Former: Lionel Harris (2018–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Wayne B. Bachand (2018–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Marla Brunell (2018) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $179K, to Joseph Vanfonda (CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Disabled Veterans National Foundation
How much does Disabled Veterans National Foundation give each year?
Disabled Veterans National Foundation gave $381K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $475K across 29 grants.
What is Disabled Veterans National Foundation's typical grant size?
Disabled Veterans National Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $19,050, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Disabled Veterans National Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does Disabled Veterans National Foundation give grants?
Disabled Veterans National Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (17%) and Florida (9%).
Who are Disabled Veterans National Foundation's largest grantees?
Disabled Veterans National Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include 22MOHAWKS Corp ($22,000), A Safe Haven Foundation ($22,000) and Donka Inc ($22,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Disabled Veterans National Foundation?
Disabled Veterans National Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $28.9M.
What does Disabled Veterans National Foundation fund?
DVNF’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is “to change the lives of men and women who came home wounded or sick after defending our safety and our freedom.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Disabled Veterans National Foundation?
Disabled Veterans National Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check dvnf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Disabled Veterans National Foundation's EIN?
Disabled Veterans National Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1446183. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS January 31, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
Live grants for the work Disabled Veterans National Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Disabled Veterans National Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/disabled-veterans-national-foundation-morg_b94a1044e5814a319351365f9e6d1a42
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261446183_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Disabled Veterans National Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/disabled-veterans-national-foundation-morg_b94a1044e5814a319351365f9e6d1a42},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Veterans National Foundation'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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