Wine Country Marines

What Wine Country Marines does

Wine Country Marines is a 501(c)(3) California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation that supports active-duty Marines, veterans, and their families through charitable programs, commemorative events, and community outreach across the West Coast, with particular emphasis on the Pacific Northwest. Its core activities center on signature annual events including the Marine Corps Birthday Ball (now in its 250th year) and a 108-year-running Memorial Day ceremony in partnership with Marine Corps League detachments and Gold Star Mothers, alongside newer programs such as Shop with a Hero and Stolen Valor investigations conducted with law enforcement partners.

The organization's program surface spans direct veteran and family support, youth services through law enforcement partnerships (e.g., the San Mateo County Sheriff's Activity League), and honor-ceremony work that has included a San Francisco Giants first-pitch tribute to a fallen Navy Corpsman. Outreach is amplified through media partnerships, notably ABC News coverage of Stolen Valor cases, and ties to the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Its business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating: contributions, event sponsorships, and grants underwrite operations, with no disclosed pricing, product, or fee-for-service revenue streams. Headcount is reported at 11-50, consistent with a small, volunteer-driven nonprofit. No financial figures are publicly disclosed, which limits assessment of operational scale.

Name

Wine Country Marines

Legal name

Wine Country Marines

Website

https://winecountrymarines.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wine Country Marines is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports Marines, veterans, and their families through commemorative events, charitable programs, and community partnerships across the West Coast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Veterans Charity Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAHAL

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Defense & National Security

Keywords

• Veterans charity services
• Military family support
• Commemorative event fundraising
• Community outreach programs
• Nonprofit veterans organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Sonoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Wine Country Marines is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers charitable and educational programs benefiting active duty service members, veterans, and their families. Its offerings include financial and crisis support for wounded service members, youth mentorship through the Shop with a Hero program, and commemorative fundraising events such as the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball, Gold Star Mother's Day Brunch, and Memorial Day Ceremony.

Product overview

Wine Country Marines is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation recognized under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), dedicated to supporting active duty service members, veterans, and their families. The organization operates charitable programs including the Shop with a Hero mentorship initiative, the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball charity fundraiser at venues like Jacuzzi Vineyards in Sonoma, the Gold Star Mother's Day Brunch, and Memorial Day ceremonies at Oak Hill Memorial Park. The organization also conducts school partnership programs and community outreach to build bridges between military, law enforcement, and youth. Revenue is generated through donations, ticket sales to events, and charitable fundraising activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League (SAL)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint partnership on the Shop with a Hero program that pairs deserving children with law enforcement and military service members for mentorship, connection, and holiday joy. Chairman James Brown serves as Chair of both organizations.
• El Prado HotelminorOthersVenue partner for the Gold Star Mothers Day Brunch, providing discounted venue and catering services and donating desserts. Staff embraced the patriotic spirit of the event.
• See's CandiesminorOthersDonated one-pound boxes of See's Candies premier product 'Gold Gift of Excellence' to all event attendees. Known for supporting military communities, including transporting products to deployed troops during COVID-19.
• Cittis FloristminorOthersDonated beautiful floral centerpieces for the Gold Star Mothers Day Brunch raffle.
• Dignity Memorial / Oak Hill Funeral Home and Memorial ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of annual Memorial Day ceremony at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose. Partnership has continued for 108 consecutive years of Memorial Day observation.
• 129th Air Rescue WingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides ceremonial flyover by Captain Timothy Thomas in H-60 aircraft for Memorial Day ceremony.
• 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Color Guard and ceremonial rifle volley for Memorial Day ceremony and Gold Star Mothers Day events.
• Recruiting Station San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive partnership on multiple events including Shop with a Hero, Memorial Day ceremony, and Gold Star Mothers events. Marines from RS San Francisco participate in color guard and recognition ceremonies.
• United States Air Force Band of the Golden WestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforms Taps and service branch melodies at Memorial Day ceremony, providing veterans opportunity for recognition when their branch song is played.
• United States Congress / California State Senate / County of Santa Clara / City of San JosecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partners providing proclamations and commendations for Memorial Day ceremony.
• Jacuzzi Vineyards / Jacuzzi Family VineyardscoreOthersVenue host for the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball at their historic winery in Sonoma, California. Iconic venue that has hosted distinguished military leaders including two Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs, Commandants, and former Sergeant Major of Marine Corps.
• San Francisco GiantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHonored CWO3 AJ Pasciuti by having him throw the first pitch at Oracle Park on Fourth of July, celebrating his military service and lifelong fandom.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)coreOthersWine Country Marines provided all evidence from stolen valor investigation to FBI, who assigned two agents to the case.
• Marine Corps League of ArizonaminorOthersConducted independent investigation based on Wine Country Marines evidence and expelled Mr. Zinnerman from their organization.
• Almond Elementary SchoolminorOthersEducational partnership hosting Shop with a Hero program visit, with students learning about law enforcement, US Marine Corps, and community service.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Travis Manion Foundation: A 501(c)(3) that empowers veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. Comparable in mission (veterans, Gold Star families, youth character development) and community-building programs.
• Homes for Our Troops: A 501(c)(3) that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. Comparable in providing direct material assistance to wounded service members and families.
• Operation Homefront: A national 501(c)(3) providing critical financial assistance, housing, and family support to military families. Directly comparable in providing financial aid for medical expenses and crisis relief for service member families.
• Team Rubicon: A veteran-led disaster response nonprofit that engages veterans in humanitarian service, including wildfire response - directly comparable to Wine Country Marines' disaster relief work for veterans and families during California wildfires.
• Semper Fi Fund: A 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting critically wounded, ill, and injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Closely comparable in target beneficiary (military families in crisis) and direct-service support model.

Broad incumbents

• USO (United Service Organizations): A 501(c)(3) that supports active-duty service members and military families, especially through events and morale programs. Comparable in mission (active-duty and family support) and event-driven engagement model.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): One of the largest U.S. wartime veterans service organizations, with a comparable mission of supporting veterans, active-duty service members, and military families through community programs and advocacy.
• Wounded Warrior Project: A leading national 501(c)(3) serving wounded veterans, active duty, and families. Direct comparable in mission (veteran support, family programs, mental/physical wellness) but at vastly larger scale; competes for the same donor dollar pool.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): A major congressionally chartered veterans service organization providing benefits assistance and support to disabled veterans and their families. Comparable in mission focus on veterans in need and family support services.
• Marine Corps League: The national veterans service organization for U.S. Marines, directly comparable to Wine Country Marines in mission and beneficiary base. Marine Corps League operates detachments nationwide and was even a partner (Arizona detachment) in Wine Country Marines' stolen valor investigation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wcmarines
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkGYqdxe_rPt9Rvxg2HpytQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/WineCountryMarines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wcmarines
• Instagraminstagram.com/wcmarines

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wine Country Marines