Charleston Wine & Food Festival
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Charleston Wine + Food is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports Charleston and the Lowcountry's diverse culinary + hospitality community. The organization champions the region's unique foodways 365 days a year through world-renowned culinary experiences that bring people together to share stories, create connections, and inspire curiosity. The mission of Charleston Wine + Food is to celebrate the diverse food + beverage community of the greater Charleston area on a national stage and to create programs that build a sustainable, vibrant, and connected culinary + hospitality community.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $4.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 306
- Highest pay
- $150,973, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 434% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $4.1 million spent. The organization was founded in July 2005 by a group of community leaders with a vision of creating an event to promote + elevate Charleston's culinary brand. The goal was to put Charleston on the map as a culinary destination, with a reputation rivaling other well-known food + dining destinations, and to bring national and international attention to the city. To do so, the organization would create a wine + food festival that would attract affluent visitors to the city who would return to Charleston throughout the year to help drive the city's economic engine by staying in our hotels, dining in our restaurants, and otherwise spending money locally. (Continued on Schedule O)The Festival was strategically timed to create visitor demand in Charleston during a time of year normally not popular for tourism. Since the first festival debuted in 2006, it has grown into a five-day event featuring 90+ unique individual events taking place across the greater Charleston area. Festival programming showcases the stories, culture, and history of Charleston's cuisine, waterways, and its people through the production of a variety of events ranging in size and style. In the spirit of collaboration and continued learning for our local culinary + hospitality community, the festival courts top chefs, winemakers, authors, storytellers, artisans, and food enthusiasts from around the globe to visit Charleston and participate in the event. It has been acclaimed both nationally and internationally as one of the most prestigious wine + food festivals and one that chef + beverage professionals seek to gain an invitation to year-after-year. Since its inception, the festival has welcomed over 455,000 attendees and generated $210.7 million in economic impact. As Charleston Wine + Food continues to grow through 20 years of serving the Lowcountry region, the organization has expanded its reach beyond the festival. Charleston Wine + Food advances culinary education and workforce development, provides stipends to culinary and hospitality professionals to underwrite festival participation and reduce barriers to entry, and delivers year-round industry-focused programming, in addition to producing its multi-day national festival.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.