The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary is an organization of men, women, and children with a de-sire to assist disabled veterans and their families across the United States and Puerto Rico. The organ-ization was founded in 1922 and has grown to over 100,000 members. These members volunteer at Veteran Administration Medical Centers, Nursing Homes, Schools, Churches, Communities, and also promote Patriotism and reach out to legislators for concerns related to veterans and their families. The DAV Auxiliary is founded on the mission of “Making a difference in the lives of disabled veterans and their families.”
Your membership in the DAV Auxiliary strengthens the commitment we have to aiding veterans and their families, while allowing the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and them-selves. Whether attending one meeting a year or becoming more active, your membership will affect the lives of many.
Extended family members of an honorably discharged veteran (includes all veterans – whether disabled or not disabled) or extended family of DAV Auxiliary members may join the organization.
Life members of the DAV Auxiliary may be eligible for a scholarship of up to $1,500, with determination of amount based on a submitted application and supporting documentation.  The Service Support Program is a one-time assistance program to auxiliary members and is available to those in dire financial need who submit an application and supporting documentation for eligibility consideration.  DAVA for Kids assists with transportation expenses for military children to attend Camp Corral, a camp dedicated to children of military members for their own reflection and growth.  The Caregiver Initiative Program, launched in 2018, focuses on veteran caregivers at VA Adaptive Sporting events by providing respite excursions and events.
A life membership can be started for $20 down, and the amount owed is based on the applicant’s age. A life membership can be paid in any amount of time, giving a more flexible payment option. A child under the age of 17 can secure a junior membership complimentary or can begin a life membership at any time for $250, with $20 down and an unlimited amount of time for repayment.
There are two ways to find a unit near you. The first is by visiting http://www.davauxiliary.org/membership/FindUnit.aspx, and selecting a search by zip code or state.  The second is by calling the national headquarters office (877.426.2838, option #8), where staff can provide additional contact information for representatives in your state.
There are many ways that you can apply! Sign up online, or visit the website and download as many applications as you need. Members in your community will also have membership applications available for you to fill out and mail in, or you may call national headquarters and a staff member can assist you with an application and payment over the phone. National headquarters staff can also send you membership applications if you do not have internet access.
Yes! If no unit is specified on your application, you will be placed in the national at-large or if you pre-fer you can be assigned to the state at-large. You will still be supporting the organization with your membership; however, you would not have a voice or vote at a state or national convention.
Yes! Membership cards are sent to senior members within two to four weeks of membership processing.
No, there are no insurance benefits available at the present time.
Yes. You have access to highly-trained DAV National Service Officers who can answer your questions concerning VA benefits. Also, you can find a list of member discounts on our web site.
Yes. However, only one issue is sent per household.
No. Members are welcome to join the unit of their choice.
Yes, provided the multiple memberships are not in the same state.
If you attend unit meetings, ask for the name of the VAVS Representative at the facility where you wish to volunteer or call your local VAMC and speak to the Voluntary Services Department. You will be provided with information on the application process, given a tour of the facility, informed of vari-ous volunteer positions, and assisted with setting up an appointment with Voluntary Services.
The DAV Auxiliary offers “How to Form” kits that offer valuable information on how to organize a new unit. The new unit will need to have approval from the DAV parent chapter and ten new senior mem-bers with complete applications and dues. National and state at-large members can also count to-ward the ten new member requirement. Upon receipt of the “How to Form” kit, work with your State Department for one-on-one support!
The membership year runs from July 1 through June 30.
Yes. Log in to www.davmembers.org.  Enter your membership number and date of birth as your password.  After the initial log-in, you will be asked to establish your own password.  If you encounter problems logging in, please contact the national headquarters office 877.426.2838, option 8..
Should you lose your card or it is damaged, please contact national headquarters and a staff member will happily assist you. Please remember, card processing can take two to four weeks.
Bylaws and other DAVA fraternal sale items (other than the Auxiliary Manual) are ordered through the Halo Branded Solutions, 1980 Industrial Drive, Sterling, IL 61081, phone 800-468-4332, e-mail: orders@halo.com. The constitution and bylaws are also available to view with printing capability on the website under the Membership/Publications tab.
An interim committee performs an annual review of the constitution and bylaws and considers all resolution submissions. Recommendations of this committee are presented to the national convention committee and changes are adopted on the convention floor by the registered delegates. Also, changes are made to the listings of national officers, chairmen, and national executive committee members.
Each unit is required to conduct an annual election for each individual office. All officers must be in-stalled in accordance with the DAV Auxiliary bylaws.
Various methods can be used for annual election notification:  postcards, newsletters, emails, letters, or phone calls.  If your unit sends out one newsletter per year, you can list the date of the annual election and this would be considered proper notification even if it is months in advance.  The important point is that all senior members must be notified.  Elections to fill a vacancy may be held at a regular business meeting without advance member notification.
Outgoing officers should be prepared to turn over all records and possessions to their successor at the time of installation.  On the state level, however, it may be difficult for the outgoing treasurer to turn over the checkbook since the newly elected treasurer would not be added as an authorized check signer.  Regardless, the outgoing and incoming officers should come to an agreement to assure a timely transition of property.
Yes. However, if you want to have a voice and/or vote on the convention floor, you must be a member of a chartered unit in good standing with your dues paid and be elected as a delegate.
Units are required to hold a minimum of four meetings per year; however, units tend to find that more frequent meetings provide better productivity.

Units are required to pay an annual $25 national mandate which, in most cases, is deducted from the unit’s membership distribution.  Should there not be ample membership distribution, an indebtedness statement will be sent quarterly advising the unit as to the remaining amount owed for their national mandate.

The audit committee shall consist of three senior members excluding the Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander (when signing warrants, vouchers, check requests), Adjutant, and Treasurer.
The Treasurer establishes and maintains a bank account in the name of the Unit, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.  The three required authorized Unit signatures shall be the Commander, Senior Vice Commander, and Treasurer.
Any of the three authorized account signers have the authority to check/review the account status.
Two signatures are required on all unit checks. Authorized unit signers are: Commander, Treasurer, and Senior Vice Commander (in the absence of the Commander or Treasurer).
Funds can only be paid out on properly signed warrants/vouchers/check requests as voted upon by the Unit or in accordance with Unit Standing Rules. The Adjutant shall initiate and sign all warrants/vouchers/check requests and have them cosigned by the Commander.  In the absence of the Adjutant, the Junior Vice Commander shall sign all warrants/vouchers/check requests.  The Treasurer may then issue a check.
Membership dues should be sent to Auxiliary national headquarters immediately to allow for timely processing and membership card mailing.
Yes! Beginning in 2007, the IRS required all non-profit units and state departments with gross receipts less than $50,000 to file the 990-N e-Postcard. Units and state departments with gross receipts of more than $50,000 are required to file IRS Form 990 (or variation of, depending on gross receipts).
After three consecutive years of not filing a 990-N e-Postcard, the IRS will revoke the tax exempt status of a unit or state department.  Upon said revocation the affected units/state departments will be required to fill out IRS Form 1024, IRS Form 8718, submit a copy of the unit/state department charter, a copy of the national constitution and bylaws, and a fee (generally $600) to IRS for reinstatement.  Copies of each must also be sent to national headquarters. Until reinstatement has been achieved the unit/state department membership distribution will be held by the national organization.
Four senior members shall constitute a quorum. One member present must be the Unit Commander or a Unit Vice Commander.
It is recommended that units establish standing rules to cover unique situations specific to that partic-ular unit. Standing rules may be changed at any regular business meeting by vote of the unit mem-bers present.
No. As a member of this organization, the Commander has the right to cast their vote on any issue.
If, for some reason, the Commander cannot attend a meeting, this would not be grounds to cancel a meeting as the bylaws allow for the Senior Vice Commander (or Junior Vice Commander) to fill that role and conduct the meeting.  In the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances that would prevent members from attending a meeting, these would be instances where a meeting is cancelled by the Commander with proper member notification.
Yes. The Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Adjutant, and Membership Chairman can log in under their membership number and password. The system will recognize you as an officer and certain permissions will allow you to generate reports under the “Request for Information” tab. Contact national headquarters in the event of questions.
This identifies the type of membership they hold. F = Full-paid life member; P = Part-paid life member; J = Junior member.
Q = the unit has achieved the established quota set for that membership year; I = this is an Independent unit that has no parent chapter.
These letters were established many years ago to identify unit status. B = the unit has achieved (Beat) Quota for the current membership year; R = the unit has Reached last year’s total membership, but has not met quota.
The national organization sends quarterly (January, April, July and October) mailings to each unit to the attention of the Unit Adjutant.  The Headquarters News publications are sent monthly.  It is the Adjutant’s responsibility to see that all communications are brought to the unit meetings and made available to members.  These mailings are not the personal mail of the Adjutant and he/she is acting as the agent to receive and deliver communications.  The Headquarters News monthly newsletter is posted on the web site under the “News & Events” tab.  Back issues are also available for viewing.  Members can also sign up for the E-newsletter and which is delivered directly to their inbox.  The DAV Auxiliary is also on many social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, and these are updated on a regular basis.
Make junior members feel welcome by including them in unit activities.  Educate them on what the DAV Auxiliary does and how they are a vital part of the future of the organization.  Information on juniors can be found on the DAV Auxiliary website.  Junior memberships are complimentary.
No, a junior charter is not required.
Send a request to National Headquarters with a list of the juniors to be on the charter.  The list will be compared to the current membership list to make sure no juniors are excluded. There is no fee for a junior charter.
The chapter suspension does not include suspension of the Auxiliary unit and does not affect unit func-tions or voting strength at state or national conventions. If your unit approves a fund raiser, though, the parent chapter will not be able to grant approval (under suspension) and the unit must contact the DAV state department for said approval.
The reason for the hold status will be explained in a letter to the unit Adjutant and/or Commander.  While on hold, units can meet and carry out the normal business of the unit as well as vote at state and national conventions (provided the unit itself is not indebted to the organization).  The effect it will have on the unit is that fund distribution and mailings are withheld.
.  The DAV Auxiliary offers a scholarship for life members.  More information is available on the website, or by calling national headquarters.  The deadline for the application is typically mid-March.

No.

Contact national headquarters by phone (859.441.7300, option #8) or email (dava@dav.org) and they will be happy to forward you an electronic or printed version of the application.
The unit should always follow the chain of command. If an issue cannot be resolved on the unit level, the state department should be contacted for assistance. Should a state department not be able to assist in resolving an issue, it should then be brought to the attention of national headquarters.
Please contact national headquarters or send an email to dava@dav.org with the quantity of items needed and where they should be sent.  These items are free of charge and are sent from national headquarters.  Please limit requests to 250.
Yes! The logo may be used on stationery, business cards, name badges, etc. Items bearing the organization’s logo may be sold to other members at cost, but never for profit. In other words, the logo may not be used on items as a fundraiser.