Wine Education Council Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CONDUCT VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE EDUCATION OF CONSUMERS, STUDENTS AND BUSINESSES ON THE MULTIFACETED IMPACT THAT WINE HAS HAD ON OUR CULTURE AND ECONOMY. WE WILL FOSTER COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS BORDERS AND CULTURES.
- Income
- $356,101
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 43.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $38,400, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 43.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 370% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 87% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
- $940,975 spent. THE WINE EDUCATION COUNCIL IS A NON-PROFIT, EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES THE DEVELOPMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF WINE PROFESSIONALS THROUGH FORMAL STUDY, POST-GRADUATE TRAINING, AND ADVANCED, ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES. OUR DIVERSE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE SUPPORT OF WINE PROGRAMS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, THE SPONSORSHIP OF SPECIALIZED SEMINARS, GRANTS TO ASSIST PUBLICATION OF ACADEMIC WORKS, AND THE PROMOTION OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT HELP STUDENTS AND WINE PROFESSIONALS LEARN ABOUT AND ENGAGE IN VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE WINE COMMUNITY.RECOGNIZING THAT THE CONSUMPTION OF WINE IS VULNERABLE TO ABUSE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE MODERATE AND RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL USE AND GUARD AGAINST SOCIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INAPPROPRIATE CONSUMPTION.AS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS ORGANIZATION, WE ARE SENSITIVE TO THE HUMAN AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF WINE ON OUR COMMUNITY AND REMAIN DEDICATED TO PROMOTING WITHIN THE GLOBAL WINE COMMUNITY THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF THE EARTH'S RESOURCES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MECHANISMS THAT PROMOTE ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
- $194,901 spent. IN 2024 WINE EDUCATION COUNCIL HOSTED AN EDUCATIONAL EVENT, WINE FLAWS VS FLAWLESS WINE WITH GUEST SPEAKER JAMIE GOODE. THE EVENT WAS IN HELD IN BOTH BEVERLY HILLS AND SAN FRANCISCO IN OCTOBER. THERE WERE 60 GUEST IN SAN FRANCISCO AND 40 GUEST IN BEVERLY HILLS. THE EVENT WAS FREE AND OPEN TO QUALIFIED TRADE/WINE PERSONAL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.