Orange County Wine Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The primary mission is to promote the knowledge of winemaking viticulture, wine appreciation, and to provide scholarships to colleges and universities for students pursuing viticulture, enology, restaurant management, and culinary arts programs.
- Income
- $589,352
- Spending
- $688,000
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 400
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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% 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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
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 (16)
- $231,832 spent. Commercial Wine Competition The OCWS conducts an annual competition that is judged by a panel of professional winemakers and winery principals. Many medals are presented for different categories. The event utilizes over 200 Volunteers and is conducted under the aegis of the Orange County Fair and is overseen by the Orange County Fair Wine Steering Committee.
- $149,230 spent. Orange County Fair The Wine Courtyard is staffed during the Orange County Fair each summer by over 250 OCWS volunteers. The Courtyard is a wine concession affording the general public to sample many award winning wines from the Commercial Wine Competition. The Courtyard also offers for sale souvenir wine glasses and booklets detailing the award winning wines. Proceeds from this event help defray the cost of conducting the commercial wine competition.
- $31,595 spent. Winery Program is several dinner events to introduce the members to various wineries in various parts of California
- $29,853 spent. Membership and Promotional
- $13,180 spent. Mini Tastings
- $11,019 spent. Fall Membership Event
- $10,899 spent. Holiday Dinner Dance
- $10,781 spent. Homewine Competition
- $10,368 spent. Champagne Brunches
- $7,659 spent. Spring Membership Event
- $4,150 spent. Seminars and classes
- $2,781 spent. Homewine Programs
- Extraordinaire
- Installation Dinner
- Dine with Wine
- Scholarships for viniculture and enology students at various universities.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.