What We Do

The DAV is committed to its motto: “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”

Provides for a lifetime of support

DAV’s free, professional assistance helps veterans and their families navigate the complex world of benefits to get the benefits they’ve earned—staying with them through every step of the process. And because disabling injuries can affect veterans at any stage in life, DAV is there with support whenever they need it.

Offers positive life-changing services

Every year, DAV assists more than a million veterans by helping them access the benefits they’ve earned. We help veterans to achieve personal victories, great and small, such as being able to provide for their families, overcome homelessness, finish their education, access vital funds, and even gather together with their fellow veterans to share good times.

Serves all veterans at every age, every stage

DAV believes that no matter what age or stage of life, every veteran is important. We seek to connect veterans of all generations. We support equitable benefits for all: underserved veteran populations, those with both invisible and visible wounds from service, and the most vulnerable and overlooked in need of special assistance.

Advocates for veterans everywhere

For more than 100 years, DAV has been a strong and influential advocate for veterans’ rights and benefits. We are committed to fighting for America’s more than 4.7 million disabled veterans, representing veterans on Capitol Hill, and getting legislation enacted that protects our nation’s heroes and their families. Our more than 1 million members give DAV a powerful voice to make sure veterans are heard.

The DAV can be depended on to help veterans in their transition to civilian life by providing tools and resources to help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, cope with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries, and finding programs and services that meet individual needs.

Offers support programs and services

  • Provides assistance in referring veterans to the resources they are seeking.

  • Links service-injured veterans to job training and job assistance programs -- deployment to employment.

  • Funds rehabilitation programs for veterans with severe disabilities.

  • Gives emergency grants to ill and injured veterans living in areas damaged by natural disasters.

  • Helps homeless veterans by providing food and shelter while connecting them to medical care, benefits, counseling, and job training.

  • Hosts recreational programs, which bring veterans together.

  • Hosts regional employment fairs.

  • Develops and assists local and regional transportation services for veterans to medical providers.

  • Provides Caregivers Support.

Caregivers Support

The DAV recently launched its latest innovation— “DAV Caregiver Support”.

This program offers no-cost concierge support and resources to the friends, family members, and other loved ones who provide care to those who served. It helps improve the quality of life for veterans and their caregivers, while extending the time veterans can live in their homes.

Powered by TCARE, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business founded by a DAV Patriot Boot Camp alumnus, the program allows veterans and their families to access tailored caregiver support and resources—including individual help from a trained specialist—at no cost.

Through DAV Caregivers Support, users can access online resources and a risk-screening to better understand their role as caregivers, digital tools to support their responsibilities, personalized care plans, and one-on-one support from a trained specialist with experience supporting veterans and their loved ones.

By being provided with a proven program, caregivers and the veterans they love benefit from improved relationships and reduced stress, depression, and other adverse health outcomes.

Participants also develop increased resilience and the ability to navigate complex caregiving responsibilities, including health care systems and financial planning.

  • DAV offers the program to all disabled veterans and their caregivers.

  • A caregiver is someone who provides regular, routine care for a veteran, such as driving to appointments, grocery shopping and meal preparation, feeding, bathing, paying bills, and conducting home maintenance. This caregiver may be a spouse, adult child, sibling, close friend, neighbor, or other trusted loved one.

  • No. Like all the other services DAV offers, DAV Caregivers Support is available at no cost to disabled veterans and their families.

  • To participate, caregivers follow three easy steps:

    1. Register: Visit davcaregiver.org to enroll in the program and complete the DAV Caregivers Support screening.

    2. Access Resources and Support: Access online content, local resources, and digital tools tailored to each caregiving situation, role, and responsibility.

    3. Receive Tailored Support: Depending on the screening results, receive one-on-one support from a trained caregiver specialist to help navigate caregiving responsibilities.

For more information and FAQs, visit the DAV website.