Passes our checks

California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance

EIN 81-0585701 · Sacramento, CA

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

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING PRACTICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20
It owes 79% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
94% 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

Independent board
25 of 25
13 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5
Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10
Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15
Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)

$239,955 spent. SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT FUNDS RECEIVED (1) TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN CALIFORNIA WINEGRAPE GROWERS ON THE KEY SUSTAINABILITY PRACITICES THAT HELP THEM RESPOND TO THESE ENVIRONMENTAL AND MARKETPLACE CHALLENGES VIA NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS AND CASE STUDIES, (2) TO SUPPORT WINEGROWER ADOPTION OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO PROMOTE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES, AND (3) TO ENHANCE U.S. WINEGROWERS' COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND PROMOTION.
$680,854 spent. THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES (DWR) FUNDS WERE RECEIVED AS AN INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO PARTNERS WORKING TO INCREASE WATER CONVSERVATION BY SUPPORTING DRY WINEGRAPE FARMING. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO AGREES TO ASSIST DWR BY PROVIDING DRY FARMING OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO COASTAL WINEGRAPE GROWERS.
$273,978 spent. THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CALIFORNIA WINE INDUSTRY BY PROMOTING THE ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND ENSURING CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT.
$261,676 spent. THE SUSTAINABLE WINE GROWING PROGRAM INCLUDES ESTABLISHING VOLUNTARY HIGH STANDARDS OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES TO BE FOLLOWED AND COMMUNICATED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINE COMMUNITY.
THE SUSTAINABLE WINE GROWING PROGRAM INCLUDES ESTABLISHING VOLUNTARY HIGH STANDARDS OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES TO BE FOLLOWED AND COMMUNICATED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 June 2025.
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 September 2003.
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.