NGC...Military members or veterans I have a question about the DAV

[bobrebos]

I'm thinking of joining the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) as I receive a disability from the VA and am retired from active duty Air Force.  HOWEVER, I have read some not so good reviews of a lot of veterans organizations, with the DAV being one, as to how much of the donated money actually reaches veterans in assistance programs etc.

Anybody out there have personal experience with the DAV, positive or negative as a member etc?  I dont want to give my membershi dues to some CEO who is always padding his expense account, etc.....  Thank you for any insight.

[severely]

DAV lawyers helped with my disability claim in 79 and helped my nephew with his disability claim in 2011. Appreciated the help/assistance in a process I had little understanding of at the time. Don't know about money issues in the organization, haven't kept up. My .02 worth.

[Sheepdog]

The DAV does a pretty good job of keeping their costs down. See their performance rating on the link below:

https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=7589

[Pop]

Here I go again, mister negative, but it's true. The DAV, in addition to the ASPCA and others have an organization that raises money for them, probably for free. The down side is less than 50 cents per dollar gets to the organization. The ASPCA is around 25 cents per dollar. They rip your heart out, then rip you and the organizations off. I was a doner for both, until my wife showed me the info from the Internet.
Now, we donate physical items. My wife crochets squares for blankets. We send socks and any other stuff that a local organization asks for.
I hate those commercials, if they told people the actual deal, no one would give. Someone is getting very rich on our good intentions.
Sorry to be mister negative again. The decision is now yours.
Pop

[menzies]

I saw an article that listed the DAV among the top in this type charitable organization.

[Pop]

Just to make it clear, the organizations themselves are wonderful. If they were even 75 for the org. And 25 for them, which is still high, I would rejoin.
Pop

[jlburgess]

If you download the CFC info it will tell you the percentage that goes to the charity.  Our running favorite is monkey butlers.  We all want one for about 10 minutes or so 😁.

[Two Checks]

The solution is to contribute directly to the DAV. Dont go through the middleman.

[John A]

I'm a life member in the DAV. Not sure how that happened, I think a friend who was a DAV of high ranking did that for me. I don't hear from them and get a magazine every so often but I don't go to meetings since that friend deceased. I don't really know much about them.The PVA ( paralyzed Veterans) has power of attorney for my disability claim and they are very good, it's my first call for anything VA. For socialization I am a semi active member in the American legion which is also a good organization for the do- gooder urges I sometimes get. They have a motorcycle branch, The Patriot Riders that I ride with on funeral escorts and benefits, that is fun.

[ChuckH]

The solution is to contribute directly to the DAV. Dont go through the middleman. 

I'm a Navy veteran (Korea) but have never been involved with the DAV.  However, giving directly, as suggested above, may be the best way to avoid your concerns about the wrong people getting/using the money.  That's how my wife and I deal with the donation requests that come to our door, (Boy/Girl Scouts, local school projects, etc.). 

I'd suggest you go to a meeting of your local chapter.  Talk to the heads of that chapter, find out how they get and use the money they have.  Ask if a direct donation is even possible and would be better for them.

[HDGoose]

In my experience, the local chapters of the DAV, American Legion and VFW will use monies donated directly for the local program you desire to support. Each chapter will have their programs that they do, and usually do it with volunteers. I always donate locally and not over the phone.