Russian River Valley Winegrowers

What it reported doing in 2024

Membership Engagement Activities April 24, 2024-Russian River Valley Technical Symposium @ Martin Ray Winery & VineyardsJesslyn Jackson, Executive Director, worked alongside new board member, Leslie Renaud, to create a one-day technical symposium for winemakers, growers, and principals to have one-on-one conversations about the previous vintage. The focus of this years technical symposium was Pinot Noir and was divided into three distinct sessions where wine brands were encouraged to bring barrel samples that had unique issues in the cellar. The cost was no charge to members and included coffee, breakfast, midday lunch break and a happy hour following the third session. Over 21 wine brands participated with 48 attendees in total. Costs were offset by sponsorship of Veritiv, Tonnellerie Tremeaux and Scott Laboratories. June 27, 2024-Russian River Valley Winegrowers Trivia Night @ DRNK WineryIn the interest of finding activities suited for both winegrowers and vintners, Russian River Valley Winegrowers hosted a friendly, but competitive, trivia night at one of our member properties, DRNK Winery in Sebastopol, with one of the categories focused on fun facts about Russian River Valley. Attendance topped around 27 people which was lower than anticipated, likely due to the close timing of the 4th of July holiday. July 14-16 2024-Continued support of independently managed Pinot ForumIn 2024, Russian River Valley Winegrowers continued to support the independently managed Pinot Forum, a trade-marketing program that brings 60 sommeliers from across the United States for a two-and-a-half-day immersive educational program about Pinot Noir in Russian River Valley. The event is managed by a rotating Board of Directors of participating winery brands. Executive Director, Jesslyn Jackson, has managed the ongoing relationship to bring a media representative, The Somm Journal, to the event since 2023. Additionally, RRVW has worked with the California Wine Institute to bring International representatives. This year, we had tenured wine journalist Jamie Goode attend, as well three representatives from Seoul, KR. RRVW helped to host Jamie Goode for an additional four night stay following the event to provide a deeper dive into the grape varieties outside of Pinot Noir. As a result of the sommelier attendance from Korea, RRVW was invited to host a one-day Pinot Forum program in December 2024 in Seoul. Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier, hosted a master class featuring eight brands, followed by a walk-around tasting and lunch at the JW Marriott following a consumer event with the House of Shinsegae. July 19, 2024-Presenting Sponsorship of VIP Opening Night Reception of Gay Wine WeekendFor the second year in a row, Russian River Valley Winegrowers brought 15 wineries to support the opening night of Gay Wine Weekend (organized by Out in the Vineyard) which brings over 200+ consumers for a weekend of events to the Russian River Valley area, culminating in an auction to raise money for, Face to Face, a non-profit focused on providing comprehensive community healthcare resources. August 2-4-Russian River Valley Wine WeekendTo turn the annual Paule into a three-day event to draw more tourism to the area over a full weekend, RRVW created Russian River Valley Wine Weekend, combining elements of previous Russian River Valley events such as Grape to Glass. RRVW secured Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country as its partner hotel, San Francisco Magazine as its media partner, multiple large brand winery sponsors throughout the weekend, and worked with the experiential event agency Secret Supper to host the 10th annual Paule.RRVW formed an event task force of members that met quarterly from July 2023 till the event date to assist in planning efforts. The three-day event schedule consisted of: Sunset Soire @ Paradise Ridge Winery (August 2) Opening night mixer with food trucks and live music 28 participating wineries Two winery-sponsored lounges Vineyard art walk Ticketed

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 84%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $0.61 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -31.4%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.4; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.21; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 35%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.8% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -2.8% per year; rating input score 0; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -3.9% per year; rating input score 0; 12th percentile among comparable filings