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National Grape Research Alliance Inc

EIN 84-1709974 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DRIVE RESEARCH TO MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE AMERICAN GRAPE INDUSTRIES.

Income
$343,146
Spending
$356,946
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
22 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$183,313, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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. $161,675 spent. THE NATIONAL GRAPE RESEARCH ALLIANCE (NGRA) ADVANCES RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE AMERICAN GRAPE INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING WINE GRAPES, TABLE GRAPES, JUICE GRAPES AND RAISINS. NGRA-SUPPORTED RESEARCH PROJECTS INVOLVE MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL, MULTI-STATE COLLABORATION, AND TARGET ISSUES THAT NO SINGLE GRAPE SECTOR COULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ON ITS OWN. OUR EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED IN FOUR THEME AREAS: 1) NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT, 2) INTEGRATED PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, 3) GENETICS AND GRAPEVINE IMPROVEMENT, AND 4) EXTENSION AND OUTREACH.AT THE NGRA-USDA-ARS GRAPE INDUSTRY WORKSHOP IN NOVEMBER 2023, FOUR "VINEYARD OF THE FUTURE" PROJECTS WERE CONCEIVED TO ADDRESS NGRA RESEARCH THEME AREAS. THESE PROJECTS FOCUSED ON 1) MEALYBUG DETECTION, 2) GENETICS TO SUPPORT MECHANIZATION (TWO PROJECTS-ONE TAILORED TO TABLE GRAPES AND RAISINS; THE OTHER, BROAD VITICULTURE) AND 3) CLIMATE CHANGE MAPPING AND MITIGATION. THROUGHOUT 2024, PROJECT TEAMS WORKED TO DEVELOP FUNDING PROPOSALS AND/OR BEGIN PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTION TO LAUNCH THIS RESEARCH.
  2. $79,291 spent. THESE MISSION-RELATED NGRA PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE ONGOING:- NGRA FELLOWSHIP: THE INAUGURAL NGRA FELLOW, ABBY HAMMERMEISTER (UC DAVIS), CONCLUDED HER THREE-YEAR TERM IN 2024. HER WORK FOCUSES ON GRAPEVINE WATER STRESS INDICATORS.- SPOTTED LANTERNFLY: IN SUPPORT OF AN NGRA-INITIATED SLF PROJECT, NGRA VISITED PENNSYLVANIA IN OCTOBER 2024 TO SEE THIS DESTRUCTIVE PEST IN PERSON AND DEVELOP RESEARCH OBJECTIVES TO COMBAT IT.- VITISGEN3: THIS NGRA-INITIATED, SCRI-FUNDED GENETICS RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING DISEASE RESISTANCE IN GRAPEVINES. NGRA HAS A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD.- HI-RES VINEYARD NUTRITION: THIS NGRA-INITIATED, SCRI-FUNDED RESEARCH SEEKS TO IMPROVE ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS OF VINE NUTRITION. NGRA HAS A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD.
  3. $20,016 spent. OTHER WAYS NGRA SERVES TO ADVANCE GRAPE AND WINE RESEARCH INCLUDE:- NGRA SUPPORTED THE USDA-ARS SMOKE SUMMIT IN NOVEMBER 2024. A ROADMAP, INFORMED BY INDUSTRY INPUT GAINED AT THE EVENT, WILL GUIDE USDA'S RESEARCH ON SMOKE EXPOSURE IN GRAPES AND WINE.- NGRA PRESIDENT DONNELL BROWN IS AN APPOINTEE TO THE USDA'S NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, ECONOMICS AND EDUCATION (NAREEE) ADVISORY BOARD, INCLUDING ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND SPECIALTY CROP COMMITTEE.- NGRA IS A MEMBER OF THE WEST COAST SMOKE EXPOSURE TASK FORCE, ORGANIZED BY CALIFORNIA, OREGON AND WASHINGTON WINEGROWER GROUPS, AND DONNELL BROWN SERVES AN ADVISOR TO AN SCRI-FUNDED SCRI PROJECT SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUE.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.