Disabled American Veterans
Strategic Plan

DAV...because the battle never ends.



Since its founding more than 80 years ago, the Disabled American Veterans has been dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families. Fidelity to that mission has required DAV to respond creatively and flexibly to changing and sometimes unpredictable problems faced by its constituency. Whether disabled veterans have needed a voice on Capitol Hill, a nationwide service program, a transportation network or unique rehabilitation opportunities, DAV has focused its attention and resources to meet those needs.

The current environment presents a unique set of challenges to which DAV must respond. The explosion of the "information superhighway" and developments in computer science will affect virtually every area of DAV's operations, from claims advocacy to fundraising. So too, the changing needs of an aging veteran population require adaptation by both DAV and the federal government, a government increasingly prone to cost-cutting and led largely by persons with no military experience and little passion for veterans' issues.

Recognizing that the 21st century would present both enormous challenges and breathtaking opportunities to DAV, National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson in 1998 commissioned a team of select DAV managers to begin work on a Strategic Plan to ensure the continued viability and vitality of DAV well into the future. Since then, input has been gathered from DAV leaders throughout the entire organization. Their insights have been incorporated into this Strategic Plan which, like DAV, is intended to be flexible and responsive to the ever-changing needs of disabled veterans and their families. This Strategic Plan is a blueprint for DAV to remain the greatest veterans' service organization in the world. America's disabled veterans deserve nothing less.