Napa Valley Grapegrowers Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CULTIVATE VITICULTURAL EXCELLENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FOR THE NAPA VALLEY, TO BE A LOCAL AND GLOBAL LEADER FOR A SCIENCE-BASED APPROACH TO GRAPE GROWING AND AGRICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP, TO ENSURE THE VIABILITY AND RESILIENCY OF GRAPE GROWING IN THE NAPA VALLEY, TO RAISE AWARENESS AND INSPIRE ACTION.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 16.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $199,039, executive director
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 78% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 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 (3)
- $1.1 million spent. MEMBER BENEFITS: MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO ATTEND SEVERAL SEMINARS AND EVENTS EACH YEAR AT DISCOUNTED RATES. THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL WAGE AND BENEFITS SURVEY, UTILIZE THE NAPA WINEGRAPE MARKET, RECEIVE THE ANNUAL GROWING CONDITIONS REPORT, RECEIVE A DISCOUNT OF WEATHER FORECASTING AND OTHER SERVICES, AND RECEIVE THE WEEKLY GROWER BULLETIN.
- $266,359 spent. PROGRAMS AND SEMINARS: THE FOUNDATION HOLDS SEVERAL SEMINARS FEATURING TOPICS OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS, INCLUDING AHEAD OF THE CURVE, ORGANIC WINEGROWING CONFERENCE, THE SUSTAINABLE VINEYARD PRACTICES SERIES. EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS ARE PRODUCED ANNUALLY ON TOPICS RANGING FROM CLIMATE SCIENCE, TECHNICAL VITICULTURE, AND LAND STEWARDSHIP. THEY ARE AVAILABLE AS A FREE RESOURCE TO MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ALIKE.
- $192,223 spent. COMMUNITY: AFTERNOON IN THE VINEYARDS EVENT IS A COMMUNITY EVENT HELD AT VARIOUS VINEYARD LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY. THIS ANNUAL PROGRAM IS FOR NAPA COUNTY RESIDENTS TO DISCOVER UNIQUE VINEYARDS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND LEARN ABOUT THE GRAPE-GROWING PROCESS, SUSTAINABLE VINEYARD PRACTICES, AND THE RESILIENCY OF THE NAPA VALLEY WINE COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTS THE FIRE RESOURCES FAIR WHICH OFFERS RESOURCES FOR GROWERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE WILDFIRES. VARIOUS EXHIBITORS ATTEND, AND THE NAPA COUNTY FIRE ADMINISTRATOR AND FIRE CAPTAIN SPEAK ON DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND FUEL LOAD REDUCTION PROJECTS ALONG WITH ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
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 2018.
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.