Disabled Veterans National Foundation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA United States charitable organization focused on assisting disabled, homeless, women, and otherwise underserved veterans.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) is an American registered charity established in 2007 to support veterans who returned from military service with disabilities, illness, trauma, or other barriers to stable civilian life. The organization was founded in the fall of 2007 by six women veterans and State Women Veterans Coordinators who sought to expand existing work in the veterans' community. It is headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, and operates within the United States. DVNF's stated constituency includes veterans experiencing homelessness, women veterans, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic or acquired brain injuries, and other visible or invisible disabilities. Its work has included distributing material assistance through veterans' service centers, providing grants or other aid, supporting organizations that serve veterans, and advocating for public policy intended to improve veterans' access to housing and homelessness programs. Rather than functioning as a consumer-facing product brand, DVNF is primarily a nonprofit service and fundraising organization whose public identity is tied to veteran support and charitable relief. The foundation has reported providing approximately $1 million in assistance to nearly 23,000 veterans across six states. Reported distributions included practical goods sent to service centers in California, Houston, Knoxville, and Kansas City. The examples described in public reporting included bottled water, clothing, food, paper products, and work gloves. The organization has also sought to raise awareness of the needs of veterans whose disabilities are not immediately visible and of groups that may face particular difficulties navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs and other support systems. DVNF's public reputation has been significantly affected by scrutiny of its fundraising and financial practices. CharityWatch reported in 2010 that less than one percent of funds collected went to veterans' groups and subsequently assigned the foundation an F rating for transparency and performance. A 2012 CNN investigation examined the organization's tax returns and fundraising expenses, reporting that DVNF spent more than one dollar on fundraising for each dollar raised and questioning the usefulness of some goods distributed to veterans' organizations. DVNF disputed the implications of the criticism and stated that it had commissioned an analysis by Professor Richard Harold Steinberg in 2010, which it said found no concern regarding misrepresentation to donors. The scrutiny led to a 2012 inquiry by Senator Max Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Richard Burr of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. In 2014, the New York Attorney General announced a settlement involving DVNF and professional fundraising consultants. The settlement required major fundraising-related changes, including replacing most consultants, recruiting additional board members, and preventing misleading representations in future solicitations. The case also involved substantial payments and debt forgiveness by fundraising firms. DVNF therefore occupies a complex position in the nonprofit sector: it has provided material assistance and advocacy for disabled veterans, while also becoming a prominent example in debates about outsourced charitable fundraising, donor transparency, and the proportion of contributions reaching intended beneficiaries. Publicly documented information in the supplied references does not establish a current executive leadership roster, current financial condition, or a definitive account of the organization's present program scale.
History
DVNF emerged in the fall of 2007 when six women veterans and State Women Veterans Coordinators established a national foundation intended to broaden support for veterans with disabilities and other unmet needs. The founders' focus reflected a wider recognition that veterans' needs could extend beyond acute medical treatment to housing, employment, mental health, family stability, and access to benefits. The organization identified homeless veterans, women veterans, and people living with post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries, or less visible disabilities as important constituencies. From its base in Lanham, Maryland, DVNF developed a model that combined fundraising with material distribution, partnerships with veterans' service centers, and policy advocacy. Public descriptions of its work include assistance totaling about $1 million for nearly 23,000 veterans in six states. It sent supplies to centers in California, Houston, Knoxville, and Kansas City. The reported items ranged from water and food to clothing, paper products, and work gloves, illustrating a relief-oriented approach rather than a single specialized service. The foundation also supported congressional advocacy related to housing and homeless assistance for veterans. The organization became the subject of nonprofit accountability criticism early in the 2010s. CharityWatch reported in 2010 that less than one percent of collected funds reached veterans' groups and gave the organization an F rating for transparency and performance. DVNF stated that, in March 2010, its board commissioned Professor Richard Harold Steinberg to assess whether its approach was effective after an initial investigation. According to DVNF's account, the analysis did not identify misrepresentation of potential donors. A 2012 CNN investigation intensified public scrutiny. The report examined tax returns and alleged that fundraising costs exceeded the amount raised, while also highlighting distributions that included items critics considered poorly matched to veterans' needs. The coverage prompted an inquiry by Senator Max Baucus, then chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Richard Burr of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Their letter asked questions about DVNF's tax-exempt status, fundraising arrangements, and use of charitable funds. Leadership and governance also changed during this period. In April 2010, Precilla Wilkewitz, a Vietnam War veteran, was identified as the organization's president, succeeding co-founder Delilah Washburn, who died that month. In December 2012, DVNF announced Steve Weyher and Mike McNaughton as additions to its board; both were described as Army veterans. The most consequential formal action described in the supplied material came in New York in 2014. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement involving DVNF and fundraising consultants Quadriga Art LLC and Convergence Direct Marketing. Quadriga agreed to pay $9.7 million in damages and provide nearly $13.8 million in debt forgiveness to DVNF, while Convergence agreed to pay $300,000. DVNF agreed to replace most of its fundraising consultants, recruit new board members, and prohibit misleading representations in future solicitations. The agreement was presented by the attorney general as an unusually large financial-relief result in a deceptive charitable-fundraising matter. Later accountability reporting continued to question DVNF's transparency. The supplied material states that, by 2019, the organization had not responded to written Better Business Bureau requests for information beyond standard financial statements and government filings. It also reports criticism from the American Institute of Philanthropy concerning fundraising costs and contractual arrangements with Brickmill Marketing Services. These criticisms form an important part of DVNF's public history, although the supplied references do not provide a current organizational profile, verified present-day leadership list, or a complete account of its programs after that period.
- 2019
Continued transparency criticism
[1]The supplied account states that Better Business Bureau requests for additional accountability information had not received a response beyond standard financial and government filings.
- 2014
New York fundraising settlement
[1]DVNF and professional fundraising consultants reached a settlement requiring financial payments by the consultants and governance and solicitation reforms by DVNF.
- 2012
CNN investigation and congressional questions
[1]CNN reported on DVNF's fundraising expenses and distributions, after which Senators Max Baucus and Richard Burr sought information about the organization's fundraising and tax-exempt activities.
- 2010
Leadership transition and accountability review
[1]Precilla Wilkewitz became president after co-founder Delilah Washburn died. DVNF also said its board commissioned an analysis by Professor Richard Harold Steinberg concerning the organization's approach.
- 2007
Foundation established
[1]Six women veterans and State Women Veterans Coordinators founded DVNF in the fall of 2007 to expand services for veterans in need.
Products and positioning
A national nonprofit positioned around practical assistance, advocacy, and public awareness for disabled and underserved United States veterans, with particular attention to homelessness, women veterans, and invisible disabilities.
Nonprofit services · 2007
Veteran assistance programs
DVNF's core offering is charitable assistance for disabled and otherwise underserved veterans. Public descriptions emphasize practical relief and support for people dealing with homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries, invisible disabilities, and the distinctive needs of women veterans. The supplied sources do not identify a standardized branded program portfolio or current eligibility rules.
Material relief
In-kind goods distribution
The foundation has distributed goods through veterans' service centers, including water, food, clothing, paper products, and work gloves. Reported recipients included centers in California, Houston, Knoxville, and Kansas City. Public criticism later focused on whether some donated items were appropriate for veteran-serving organizations.
Policy advocacy
Veterans housing advocacy
DVNF has worked to support congressional action intended to improve homeless veterans' access to housing and homelessness assistance programs. The supplied material does not identify a specific bill number or document the current status of this advocacy work.
Controversies
2014
New York Attorney General settlement
A New York settlement involving DVNF and its fundraising consultants addressed allegations of deceptive charitable fundraising. The agreement included consultant payments, debt forgiveness, consultant replacement, board recruitment, and restrictions on misleading solicitations.
2012
CNN scrutiny of fundraising and donated goods
CNN reported that fundraising expenses exceeded funds raised and questioned the suitability of certain goods distributed through veterans' groups. DVNF disputed the implication that donors had been misled and cited an internal-commissioned academic review.
2010
CharityWatch fundraising-allocation criticism
CharityWatch reported that less than one percent of funds collected went to veterans' groups and later gave DVNF an F rating for transparency and performance.
Brand decisions
2014
Fundraising-governance reforms under settlementStrategyBackground
The New York Attorney General settlement followed allegations concerning deceptive charitable fundraising practices involving DVNF and professional fundraising consultants.
Action taken
DVNF agreed to replace most fundraising consultants, add new board members, and adopt measures intended to prevent misrepresentations in future solicitations.
Aftermath
The settlement also involved substantial damages and debt forgiveness provided by fundraising firms, while the organization continued to face public questions about transparency.
Payments and debt forgiveness involving fundraising consultants. $9.7 million in damages from Quadriga Art LLC; $300,000 from Convergence Direct Marketing; nearly $13.8 million in debt forgiveness from Quadriga (2014 settlement)
2010
Commissioned review of fundraising and service approachStrategyBackground
After early criticism, DVNF said its board commissioned Professor Richard Harold Steinberg to examine whether the organization's approach was working and whether donor communications involved misrepresentation.
Action taken
The organization stated that it undertook the review in March 2010 and that the resulting analysis found no cause for concern regarding misrepresentation to potential donors.
Aftermath
The issue remained part of wider public scrutiny, and subsequent media and governmental attention continued to focus on fundraising costs and accountability.
Sources2 sources
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