Friends Of The Vineyards

What Friends Of The Vineyards does

Friends of the Vineyards (FOV), legally known as Friends of Open Space and Vineyards, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1981 (originally as "Save the Vineyards") and based in Livermore, California. The organization is entirely volunteer-run with no paid staff, governed by a board of directors led by President Tammy Reus. FOV's mission is the permanent protection of open spaces, agricultural lands, and the sustainability of the wine industry in the Livermore Valley and Tri-Valley region of Alameda County. Its primary "products" are advocacy campaigns (Tesla Park preservation, opposition to the Aramis and Sunwalker Solar projects, defense of Measure D), fundraising events (the annual Twilight Tasting at Page Mill Winery), scholarship support for Las Positas College's Viticulture and Winery Technology Program, and the educational "Behind the Barrel" blog.

FOV was an active participant in founding the South Livermore Valley Area Plan and County Measure D (effective around 2000), which legally limit development outside city boundaries and protect the vineyard/winery area. The organization holds a board seat on the Tri-Valley Conservancy, which holds conservation easements on vineyard land in perpetuity. FOV generates all revenue through individual donations (by mail and PayPal to a P.O. Box) and event-based fundraising; no commercial products, services, applications, or APIs are offered. Marquee achievements include securing a 2021 agreement preserving Tesla Park (3,100 acres) as non-motorized open space with $18.5 million in state funding, and the withdrawal of the Sunwalker Solar Project. The organization partners with Las Positas College, Page Mill Winery, Friends of Tesla Park, Save North Livermore Valley, the Ohlone Audubon Society, and multiple regional chambers of commerce.

Name

Friends Of The Vineyards

Legal name

Friends of Open Space and Vineyards

Website

https://fov.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Friends of the Vineyards is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1981 that advocates for preservation of open space, agricultural lands, and the wine industry in the Livermore Valley region of California, supporting scholarships and regulatory protections for local viticulture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Land and Viticulture Preservation Advocacy

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAGAJAL

Vineyard Certification & Sustainability Programs (Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative, GAP)

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Viticulture & Vineyard Operations (Grapes for Wine/Table)

SECONDARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Viticulture preservation
• Open space advocacy
• Agricultural land conservation
• Wine industry advocacy
• Nonprofit land trust

Headquarters

HQ city

Livermore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership Contributions: FOV raises funds through voluntary donations from individuals and members. The organization states that all donated money is used to support its mission of preserving and protecting viticulture, wineries, agricultural land uses, and open space in the Livermore Valley area. Donation levels are described as increasing the organization's ability to perform its mission.
2. Event-Based Fundraising: FOV holds fundraising events including an annual Twilight Tasting at Page Mill Winery (tasting fee $15 per person), raffles, wine blending parties, and holiday parties. Proceeds support the Viticulture and Winery Technology Program at Las Positas College and the organization's general mission. Page Mill Winery donates $10 per tasting plus 10% of additional sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FOV is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for the permanent preservation of vineyards, wineries, agricultural lands, and open space in the Livermore Valley region of California. It raises funds through individual donations and ticketed events such as the annual Twilight Tasting at Page Mill Winery, and channels those funds into scholarships for the Las Positas College Viticulture and Winery Technology Program and into ongoing preservation and advocacy campaigns.

Product overview

Friends of Open Space and Vineyards (FOV) is a non-profit advocacy organization, not a commercial product company. Founded in 1981 as 'Save the Vineyards,' the organization operates a website to support its mission of preserving Livermore Valley's open spaces, agricultural lands, and wine industry sustainability. The organization offers no commercial software products; its primary 'offerings' are educational content (Behind the Barrel blog), advocacy programs (Tesla Park preservation, solar project opposition), fundraising events (Twilight Tasting), and scholarship support for Las Positas College's Viticulture and Winery Technology Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Twilight Tasting Fundraiser Annual ticketed fundraising event hosted at Page Mill Winery featuring wine tasting, light snacks, raffles, and general merriment. Proceeds support the Viticulture and Winery Technology Program at Las Positas College. Tasting fee is $15 per person, with Page Mill Winery donating $10 per tasting plus 10% of additional sales.
• Behind the Barrel Educational content series published on fov.org providing in-depth articles on wine-related topics, including wine faults (corked wine, oxidation, heat damage, Brettanomyces, volatile acidity, reduction, and over-the-hill wine), winemaking processes, and tasting education. Aimed at Livermore Valley wine country visitors and supporters.
• Las Positas College Viticulture & Enology Scholarship Program Scholarship program supporting students in the Viticulture and Winery Technology Program at Las Positas College. FOV has awarded scholarships for both Enology and Viticulture studies, with past recipients including Elizabeth Refsnider (Enology) and Ryan Hunt (Viticulture) in 2017, and two $750 scholarships planned for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,000 raised for Las Positas College scholarships at the 2015 Twilight Tasting event
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Tri-Valley Conservancy (TVC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOV was a key participant in founding the Tri-Valley Conservancy under the South Livermore Valley Area Plan. FOV appoints one of TVC's board members. TVC holds conservation easements on vineyard land, preserving them against future development in perpetuity — one of FOV's major goals. FOV is a proud supporter and partner of TVC's Valley Trail Connections initiative.
• Las Positas College Viticulture and Winery Technology ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOV supports the Viticulture and Winery Technology Program (VWT) at Las Positas College in Livermore through annual scholarship fundraising events such as the Twilight Tasting at Page Mill Winery. FOV also supports the Las Positas College COVID-19 Giving Initiative during the pandemic.
• Friends of Tesla ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOV worked closely with Friends of Tesla Park for many years to protect Tesla Park (3,100 acres) from being turned into an off-road vehicle park. FOV participated in legislative hearings, submitted letters, made calls, and sent emails urging passage of preservation legislation. This partnership successfully led to a 2021 agreement to preserve Tesla as a non-motorized vehicle park.
• Save North Livermore ValleymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOV partnered with Save North Livermore Valley and the Ohlone Audubon Society in a lawsuit challenging the Alameda County Board of Supervisors' approval of the Aramis Solar Project, which FOV argued violated Measure D and the East County Area Plan. FOV also partnered with Save North Livermore Valley and Friends of Livermore in appeals against the Sunwalker Solar Project.
• Ohlone Audubon SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOV joined with Ohlone Audubon Society and Save North Livermore Valley in a lawsuit to challenge the Supervisors' approval of the Aramis Solar Project, based on environmental and habitat protection concerns.
• Livermore Valley Winegrowers AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner link on FOV's website. The association organizes events in Livermore Wine Country that FOV promotes and participates in.
• California Association of Winegrape GrowersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner link on FOV's website.
• Visit Tri-Valley CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner link on FOV's website. Visit Tri-Valley provides the winery map for FOV's Livermore Wineries page and organizes events that FOV promotes.
• Bay Area Open Space CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner link on FOV's website.
• Livermore Valley Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner link on FOV's website. FOV participates in Chamber-sponsored events including the Livermore Downtown Street Festival.
• Pleasanton Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner link on FOV's website.
• Dublin Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner link on FOV's website.
• Livermore Valley Olive GrowersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner link on FOV's website.
• Page Mill WinerymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPage Mill Winery (1960 S. Livermore Ave.) hosts FOV's annual Twilight Tasting fundraiser, donating $10 per tasting plus 10% of additional sales to FOV's scholarship fund. This is FOV's major annual fundraiser for the Las Positas College viticulture program.
• Rodrigue Molyneaux WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinery owned by former FOV board member Nancy Rodrigue. Hosted FOV's 2019 Walk to Wine event and provided wines for FOV holiday parties. Nancy Rodrigue was a key leader in the Tesla Park preservation effort.
• Villa Per Due Winery / Ruby Hill WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNorm Petermeier, FOV Vice President, is the enologist at Ruby Hill and Rubino Estates Wineries and winemaker for Villa Per Due Winery. These wineries have provided wines for FOV holiday parties and Norm has led FOV wine blending workshops.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Save North Livermore Valley: Coalition partner that co-filed the Aramis Solar Project lawsuit with FOV and Save Livermore. Directly comparable regional advocacy group opposing Measure D violations and inappropriate development in North Livermore.
• Tri-Valley Conservancy: Founding land trust partner of FOV that holds perpetual conservation easements on Livermore Valley vineyard land. Directly comparable as a regional land conservation organization focused on the same geography, agricultural lands, and stewardship mission.
• Friends of Tesla Park: Close partner organization that worked alongside FOV for years to preserve Tesla Park as non-motorized open space. Directly comparable as a regional volunteer-driven advocacy group focused on a specific land preservation outcome.

Regional players

• Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association: Industry association representing Livermore Valley wineries and growers — FOV's primary beneficiary constituency. Comparable as a regional nonprofit/association promoting the same Livermore wine region, though focused on industry promotion rather than land preservation.
• Visit Tri-Valley: Regional tourism organization that provides the winery map for FOV's Livermore Wineries page and co-promotes Livermore wine events. Comparable regional nonprofit promoting Livermore Valley tourism, with overlapping stakeholder network.

Broad incumbents

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership organization for land trusts. Comparable as a capacity-building and advocacy organization for the same land-conservation movement in which FOV and Tri-Valley Conservancy operate, though functioning as an umbrella rather than a direct operator.
• Bay Area Open Space Council: Regional conservation organization partnering with FOV. Comparable as a Bay Area nonprofit focused on permanent land conservation, though operating at a larger multi-county scale with significantly greater resources.
• Sierra Club (SF Bay Chapter): Environmental advocacy organization active in Bay Area land-use battles, including the SaveTeslaPark campaign. Comparable as a volunteer-supported advocacy nonprofit fighting to preserve open space, though operating at much broader scale.
• California Association of Winegrape Growers: Statewide advocacy organization for California winegrape growers; FOV lists it as a partner. Comparable as a nonprofit policy advocate for the winegrape industry, but operating at the state rather than regional level.

Emerging players

• Ohlone Audubon Society: Co-litigant with FOV on the Aramis Solar Project lawsuit on habitat and environmental grounds. Comparable as a regional nonprofit advocacy organization using litigation to protect open space and ecological resources in the Bay Area.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/193461250689289

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Friends Of The Vineyards