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Passes our checks

Wine Country Marines

EIN 38-3737505 · Portland, OR

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WINE COUNTRY MARINES (WCM) IS A PATRIOTIC, VETERAN-LED NONPROFIT ROOTED IN MARINE CORPS HERITAGE THAT SUPPORTS SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM ALL BRANCHES OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES. THROUGH RECOGNITION EVENTS, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, MORALE AND READINESS SUPPORT, AND COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WCM PRESERVES THE ETHOS AND ESPRIT DE CORPS OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS WHILE CARRYING OUT CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE BROADER MILITARY COMMUNITY AND THE CIVILIANS WHO SUPPORT THEM.

Income
$29,699
Spending
$52,152
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
26.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
17

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 76% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $27,200 spent. VETERAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION MADE GRANTS OF $5,000 EACH TO TWO VETERANS IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION PAID TUITION FOR THE SON OF A VETERAN IN THE AMOUN TOF $17,200.
  2. $10,000 spent. THROUGH "SHOP WITH A HERO," THE WINE COUNTRY MARINES PROVIDED $10,000 IN GIFT CARDS TO ACTIVE DUTY US MARINES. THESE MARINES ARE THEN PAIRED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT COUNTERPARTS TO ACCOMPANY CHILDREN FROM THE COMMUNITY ON A SPECIAL SHOPPING TRIP FOR CHRISTMAS. THE PROGRAM PLACES PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES, INCLUDING TRAFFICKING, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, OR SEXUAL ABUSE, OR THOSE WHO HAVE TRAGICALLY LOST THEIR PARENTS TO VIOLENT CRIME. BY BRINGING TOGETHER SERVICE MEMBERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO BRING JOY TO THESE CHILDREN DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, "SHOP WITH A HERO NOT ONLY SPREADS CHEER BUT ALSO FOSTERS POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES. THIS INITIATIVE NOT ONLY ALIGNS WITH THE WINE COUNTRY MARINES' OVERARCHING MISSION BUT ALSO SERVES AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN BOLSTERING THE MORALE AND WELL-BEING OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS. ULTIMATELY, "SHOP WITH A HERO" EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND COMPASSION, DEMONSTRATING THE COMMITMENT OF THE WINE COUNTRY MARINES TO MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE THEY SERVE, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD."SHOP WITH A HERO" IS A HEARTWARMING PROGRAM ORGANIZED BY THE WINE COUNTRY MARINES, A 501C3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE COMPONENT, AND VETERANS COMMUNITIES. WITH A MISSION TO PERPETUATE THE ESPRIT DE CORPS AND FURTHER THE GOALS OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND THE MILITARY AS A WHOLE, THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND ENHANCE MILITARY SERVICE BRANDING WHILE PROVIDING TANGIBLE SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, 50 MARINES, SAILORS AND COAST GUARD AND 50 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SHOPPED WITH 100 CHILDREN WHO BENEFITTED FROM THE PROGRAM.
  3. $3,075 spent. VETERAN COMMUNITY SUPPORT - WARRIORS BBQ - EVERY YEAR, WE HOST FUTURE MARINE CORPS OFFICERS WHO ARE ATTENDING COLLEGE TO A BBQ. DURING THE EVENT, WE HAVE FORMER OFFICER AND ENLISTED MARINES AVAILABLE TO SPEAK WITH THE CANDIDATES ABOUT THEIR MILITARY EXPERIENCES. THEY ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES AS THERE IS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND THE UNKNOWN AS THEY READY THEMSELVES FOR THE RIGORS OF THE MARINE CORPS.WE ALSO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS ATTEND SHOWING THE CANDIDATES THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY AND HOW THEIR SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL TO A MARINE'S SUCCESSFUL CAREER.IT'S A TIME OF MILITARY BROTHERHOOD, MARINE CORPS BONDING, AND A TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF MARINES.
  4. $41 spent. 23RD MARINES

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 November 4, 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.