DAV Charitable Service Trust
DAV Charitable Service Trust is a 501(c)(3) grant-making trust that funds nonprofit programs serving ill, injured, and homeless U.S. veterans and their caregivers, awarding grants through four annual cycles and operating from DAV National Headquarters in Erlanger, Kentucky.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersErlanger, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DAV Charitable Service Trust does
DAV Charitable Service Trust is a private 501(c)(3) charitable trust incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1986 and operated from DAV National Headquarters in Erlanger, Kentucky. The Trust's mission is to help ill and injured veterans, along with their caregivers and families, live fulfilling lives by funding nonprofit programs that address physical rehabilitation, psychological trauma, mobility limitations (including amputations, spinal cord injuries, and vision/hearing loss), homelessness, career-readiness training, and caregiver support.
The Trust's core product is its Veteran Grants Program, a competitive grant-making operation that awards funding to IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) organizations across four annual application cycles (January, April, July, October) via an online portal (dav.smartsimple.com). Notable recent grants include a $500,000 award to the Invisible Wounds Foundation supporting the Military Brain Health Collaborative, and a $20,000 award to VetJobs for career specialist programs. A second core function is donation processing across multiple channels, including online, mail, phone, workplace giving, matching gifts, IRA distributions, charitable gift annuities, bequests, and donor-advised funds, plus shop-and-give partnerships with iGive, Kroger Community Rewards, and Giving Assistant.
The Trust has no direct employees; administration is provided by DAV personnel on a limited basis, and the Board of Directors serves voluntarily without compensation. Revenue is derived entirely from charitable contributions rather than commercial pricing. The Trust participates in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC Code 11322) through the MFVSOA federation, and holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star rating (2024), Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025), and ABC Seal of Excellence. The organization is led by President J. Marc Burgess, Vice President Barry A. Jesinoski, and Manager/Administrator Jennie Stricker, who was appointed in 2026.
DAV Charitable Service Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DAV Charitable Service Trust
- Legal name
- DAV Charitable Service Trust
- Website
- https://cst.dav.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- DAV Charitable Service Trust is a 501(c)(3) grant-making trust that funds nonprofit programs serving ill, injured, and homeless U.S. veterans and their caregivers, awarding grants through four annual cycles and operating from DAV National Headquarters in Erlanger, Kentucky.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DAV Charitable Service Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Grantmaking for Veterans
- NAICS
- Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
Keywords
Where DAV Charitable Service Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erlanger
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DAV Charitable Service Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: The Trust relies on charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and other organizations to fund its veteran grant programs. Revenue is generated through various donation methods including online donations, mail, phone, workplace giving, matching gifts, IRA distributions, bequests, and charitable gift annuities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
DAV Charitable Service Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DAV Charitable Service Trust operates a competitive Veteran Grants Program that awards funding to IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving ill, injured, and homeless veterans, with grants supporting physical and psychological rehabilitation, mobility items, therapeutic activities, food and shelter, family/caregiver services, and career-readiness training. The Trust also processes charitable contributions from individuals and corporations through multiple donation channels (online, mail, phone, workplace giving, IRAs, bequests, and charitable gift annuities) to fund those grants.
Product overview
DAV Charitable Service Trust operates as a grant-making foundation supporting veteran-focused charitable initiatives. The organization functions through two primary programs: a Veteran Grants Program that provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations serving ill, injured, and homeless veterans (including support for physical/psychological rehabilitation, mobility items, therapeutic activities, and career-readiness training); and a Donation Processing Services infrastructure that accepts contributions through multiple channels. The Trust does not develop technology products but rather serves as a philanthropic vehicle connecting donor contributions to veteran service organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Veteran Grants Program Competitive grant program that awards financial funding to qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations supporting ill, injured, and homeless U.S. veterans. Grants cover physical and psychological rehabilitation, mobility items for amputations and spinal cord injuries, therapeutic and recreational activities, food and shelter, family/caregiver support, and career-readiness training. Recipients apply through the SmartSimple online portal (dav.smartsimple.com) during four annual cycles.
- Donation Processing Services Charitable donation processing offering multiple giving channels to individuals and corporations, including one-time and recurring online donations (givedirect.org), mail, phone, workplace giving, matching gifts, Individual Retirement Account (IRA) distributions, charitable gift annuities, bequests, donor-advised funds, and Shop-and-Give programs. Donations are tax-deductible under Section 170(c) and fund the Trust's veteran grantmaking.
Companies that use DAV Charitable Service Trust
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DAV Charitable Service Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DAV Charitable Service Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- Invisible Wounds FoundationmajorGrant recipient receiving $500,000 from the Trust to support the Military Brain Health Collaborative, the first national public-private initiative for blast-related brain injury research affecting military service members and veterans.
- VetJobsminorGrant recipient receiving $20,000 to fund career specialist programs for military-connected job seekers, including resume optimization, social media profile guidance, and job search support at no cost to job seekers or employers.
- Military Family and Veterans Service Organizations of America (MFVSOA)coreThe Trust belongs to the MFVSOA federation, a coalition of America's finest national organizations working to ensure veterans and their families are not forgotten in their service and sacrifice. The federation enables participation in Combined Federal Campaign and corporate workplace giving campaigns.
- Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)coreThe Trust participates in the CFC, the largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign conducted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. CFC Code Number: 11322.
- iGiveminorOnline shopping partner that enables consumers to donate to the Trust when making purchases from participating retailers.
- Kroger Community RewardsminorGrocery rewards program partner allowing Kroger customers to designate donations to the Trust through their shopping.
- Giving AssistantminorCashback and coupons platform partner enabling users to earn donations for the Trust when shopping online.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DAV Charitable Service Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation: Foundation arm of VFW, one of the largest congressionally chartered veteran service organizations. Comparable as a peer veteran-focused 501(c)(3) with charitable trust structure, donor-advised funding mechanisms, and broad grantmaking activity.
- Disabled American Veterans (DAV): The parent organization and broader veteran-services charity that provides the administrative backbone for the Trust. Operates a much wider portfolio of direct veteran services (claims assistance, transportation, legislative advocacy) and serves as the primary brand association for the Trust.
Direct peers
- Hope For The Warriors: Veteran-support nonprofit offering programs in clinical care, family services, and community support for post-9/11 wounded warriors. Comparable focus on rehabilitation, caregiver support, and career-readiness with similar grantmaking activity.
- Wounded Warrior Project: Large veteran-focused nonprofit providing direct programs and grants addressing physical and mental health, career transition, and long-term support for injured post-9/11 veterans. Comparable in mission and donor base, though operating at significantly greater scale.
- Semper Fi Fund: Veteran-focused nonprofit providing immediate financial assistance and long-term support for critically wounded, ill, and injured post-9/11 service members. Highly comparable grantmaking model targeted at injured veterans and caregivers.
- Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): Veteran advocacy and support nonprofit with programs covering mental health, employment, and benefits assistance. Comparable mission focus on post-9/11 ill and injured veterans and similar donor demographic.
- Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Veteran-focused charitable foundation providing mortgage-free homes, mortgage payoffs, and support for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Comparable grantmaking and direct-support model targeting injured veterans and their families.
- Fisher House Foundation: Veteran-focused charity that builds and operates comfort homes for families of hospitalized veterans and military service members. Comparable as a grantmaking and program-funding nonprofit with similar 501(c)(3) structure and broad veteran donor base.
- Bob Woodruff Foundation: Grantmaking foundation supporting post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families with programs in mental health, employment, and rehabilitation. Closely comparable as a dedicated grantmaking trust targeting injured veterans and families.
Emerging players
- Team Rubicon: Veteran-led disaster response organization engaging veterans in humanitarian service. Adjacent peer sharing the post-9/11 veteran demographic, though with a different service-delivery model rather than grantmaking.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DAV Charitable Service Trust social profiles
Digital presenceDAV Charitable Service Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DAV Charitable Service Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
DAV Charitable Service Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DAV Charitable Service Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DAV Charitable Service Trust
What does DAV Charitable Service Trust do?
DAV Charitable Service Trust operates a competitive Veteran Grants Program that awards funding to IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving ill, injured, and homeless veterans, with grants supporting physical and psychological rehabilitation, mobility items, therapeutic activities, food and shelter, family/caregiver services, and career-readiness training. The Trust also processes charitable contributions from individuals and corporations through multiple donation channels (online, mail, phone, workplace giving, IRAs, bequests, and charitable gift annuities) to fund those grants.
Is DAV Charitable Service Trust a public or private company?
DAV Charitable Service Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was DAV Charitable Service Trust founded?
DAV Charitable Service Trust was founded in 1986.
Where is DAV Charitable Service Trust based?
DAV Charitable Service Trust is headquartered in Erlanger, United States, in the North America region.
How does DAV Charitable Service Trust make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Contributions.
Who are DAV Charitable Service Trust's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation and Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Direct peers are Hope For The Warriors, Wounded Warrior Project, Semper Fi Fund, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Fisher House Foundation and Bob Woodruff Foundation. Team Rubicon is listed as an emerging player.
Does DAV Charitable Service Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for DAV Charitable Service Trust.
What industry is DAV Charitable Service Trust in?
DAV Charitable Service Trust's product category is Charitable Grantmaking for Veterans. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAF, Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors. Its NAICS code is 813219 and its SIC code is 8300.