A Donor Left a $39,000 Bequest to a Local DAV Chapter. DAV National Claimed the Money Instead.
Jul 13, 2026
Many donors assume that if they leave money to a local nonprofit chapter, that local chapter will receive and use the gift to serve the community the donor intended to support. A new investigation by The War Horse, published in partnership with The Sacramento Bee, suggests that assumption may not always be correct. While the dispute centers on a more than $39,000 bequest left to a local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapter, it raises broader questions every donor should consider: Who ultimately controls my donation? And how and where will it ultimately be spent? CharityWatch encourages readers to read the full investigation, “A Veterans Organization Has Millions in the Bank. Why Did It Seize a Small Chapter’s Donation?“
According to The War Horse, the dispute began after a donor left a bequest of approximately $39,000 to DAV Chapter 6 in Sacramento, California. DAV National asserted that the bequest belonged to the national organization rather than the local chapter. The disagreement has since escalated into litigation, with the local chapter seeking to retain the donation while challenging DAV National’s actions in court. The investigation also reports that volunteers from local DAV chapters in several states say they receive relatively little financial support from the national organization despite providing many of the services veterans rely upon in their own communities, including assistance with VA disability claims, transportation to medical appointments, and peer support.
The “Illusion of Separation” Obscures Financial Resources
As CharityWatch CEO, Laurie Styron, told The War Horse, “They sort of give this illusion of separation. But really, this organization is sharing all of these people. It’s sharing financial transactions.”
CharityWatch’s analysis found that the four affiliated organizations reported nearly $760 million in combined adjusted net assets and could continue operating at 2024 spending levels for approximately 4.4 years without raising another dollar in contributions or other revenue.
Note 13 of DAV’s 2024 audit illustrates just how closely intertwined these separate entities are given that DAV “provides services to” and is “in the position to influence the operating policies of” its related organizations. In addition, DAV provides personnel, facilities, equipment, and/or other support services to each of these related organizations.
The nonprofits’ 2024 tax filings, along with staff profiles on DAV’s website, show a substantial overlap in leadership among DAV, DAV NSF, and DAV CST, especially around current and former national officers and past national commanders. For example, Barry A. Jesinoski is reported as DAV’s National Adjutant, and as the Vice President of both DAV NSF and DAV CST. Dennis R. Nixon, a Past National Commander for DAV, is reported as DAV CST’s Secretary / Treasurer.
DAV Spent $65 Million In 2024 On Fundraising-Related Activities
CharityWatch’s analysis also found that over the past decade DAV has spent almost as much on fundraising and other overhead each year as it has on its programs for veterans. While a nonprofit’s financial efficiency should never be the sole factor in a donor’s decision about which organizations are most worthy of their support, financial efficiency remains an important consideration for those who want to understand how much of their contribution is likely to remain available for charitable programs after overhead expenses have been paid.
Meaning, DAV’s decision to continue fundraising while sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars in reserves, equivalent to many years’ worth its operating expenses, is not its only critical issue. Another concern is how DAV uses its cash once it eventually spends it. CharityWatch’s analysis of Disabled American Veterans’ 2024 financial activities resulted in an overall “D” rating for the nonprofit on our “A+” to “F” rating scale. We found that DAV spent $48 to raise each $100 in cash donations that year, and spent 49% of its total cash expenses on overhead, leaving only 51% for programs.
This poor financial performance is nothing new. DAV has earned a “D” rating on CharityWatch’s “A+” to “F” rating scale every year we have rated the organization since 2011.
Fiscal Year
CharityWatch Rating
Program Percentage
Cost to Raise $100
2011
D
48%
$52
2012
D
51%
$51
2014
D
50%
$56
2016
D
51%
$55
2018
D
50%
$53
2021
D
48%
$47
2023
D
49%
$55
2024
D
51%
$48
DAV Paid $1.8 Million In Compensation to Only 3 Employees
In 2024 DAV paid its National Adjutant and CEO, Barry A. Jesinoski, more than $675,000 in salary and other compensation. And he wasn’t the only staff member whose compensation amounted to multiple six-figures (See IRS Form 990, Part VII, & Schedule J):
Name
Title
Compensation
1
Barry A. Jesinoski
National Adjutant / CEO
$675,009
2
Edward R. Reese
Executive Director Natl LHQ
$594,952
3
Theresa L. Burgoon
Chief Development Officer
$561,584
According to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) 2024 tax filing, Compensation, Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II):
DAV reports providing “bonus & incentive compensation” during 2024 to eight individuals. Megan B. Hall, General Counsel, received $65,104 in bonus and incentive compensation with total reported compensation of $362,349. The remaining seven individuals received $22,891 to $53,892 with total compensation ranging from $353,694 to $675,009.
DAV Attacks Critics In Lieu of Disputing Facts
Rather than addressing or disputing CharityWatch’s underlying financial analysis of DAV’s finances on its merits, DAV instead resorted to ad hominem attacks in its interview with The War Horse. It referred to CharityWatch as a “fringe evaluator,” also saying that “CharityWatch likes to go after organizations like DAV because we have a good reputation and they can spark outrage.”
DAV has spent almost as much on fundraising and other overhead over the past decade as it has spent helping veterans. DAV spent a combined $1.8 million in a single year to compensate only 3 employees. DAV spent $65 million on fundraising-related activities in 2024 despite sitting on 3.2 years’ worth of reserves. Perhaps DAV should consider that donors and veterans are right to be outraged.
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