What Bâtonnage Forum does

Bâtonnage Forum is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 86-2224364) founded in Northern California in 2018 that supports woman-identifying wine professionals across sectors (winemaking, sommeliers, wine educators, importers, distributors, hospitality) and career stages. Its mission addresses documented gender gaps in the U.S. beverage alcohol industry, including a 16.5% pay gap, fewer than 20% female winemakers globally, and only 38% of women in wine industry leadership roles, despite women driving 59% of U.S. wine purchases.

The organization operates three interconnected core programs: Advocacy (press features, fundraising for aligned organizations such as Race Forward and Southern Smoke, championing women-owned businesses, grants and job placement funding); Community Building Events (the annual Forum plus smaller in-person gatherings and online programming); and a structured Mentorship Program launched in 2021 that pairs women with experienced industry leaders to create pathways to jobs, leadership, and professional networks. In 2026 it launched The Bâtonnage Sessions, a paid three-part virtual series ($45/session or $99 bundle) covering networking, an industry conversation with sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier, and a peer mastermind. Both the Forum and Mentorship Program are paused in 2026 for strategic planning, with relaunch scheduled for 2027.

The organization is funded primarily through tax-deductible donations (one-time and recurring at tiers of $20, $50, $100, $250, $500, or custom), ticketed virtual programming, and cause-marketing partnerships such as the Maker Wine Women-Owned Wine pack (15% proceeds donated during Women's History Month 2026). Its leadership comprises Executive Director Elaine Chukan Brown (appointed 2026), Program Manager Tina Boyle, Social Media Manager Tahlia Suggs, and a 13-member board chaired by Katie Canfield, with directors drawn from organizations including Schramsberg Vineyards, RAEN Winery, Washington State Wine Commission, Constellation Brands, and Wilson Daniels. There is no proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or app product; distribution is via the Squarespace website, Zoom-based virtual events, Instagram, and email newsletter.

Name

Bâtonnage Forum

Legal name

Bâtonnage Forum

Website

https://batonnageforum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bâtonnage Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 in Northern California that supports woman-identifying wine professionals across sectors and career stages through advocacy, community-building events, a structured mentorship program, and paid virtual programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Services (Wine Industry)

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adult/Public Speaking Clubs & Community Organizations (EDAMAOAI), Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB)

Keywords

• Wine industry advocacy
• Professional mentorship programs
• Community building events
• Nonprofit wine education
• Women in wine

Headquarters

HQ city

Northern California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations supporting mentorships, inclusive events, and constructive conversations about women in the wine industry. Accepts one-time and recurring donations (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) with custom amounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bâtonnage Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports woman-identifying wine professionals through three core programs: Advocacy (systemic change work through press features, fundraising for like-minded organizations, and championing women-owned wine businesses), Community Building Events (including the annual Forum and The Bâtonnage Sessions virtual series), and a structured Mentorship Program that pairs women with experienced industry leaders. The organization is funded through tax-deductible donations, ticketed session revenue, and partner fundraising.

Product overview

Bâtonnage Forum is a not-for-profit organization supporting woman-identifying wine professionals. It operates three interconnected core programs: Advocacy (systemic change work through press, fundraising, and championing women-owned businesses), Community Building Events (including the Annual Forum and online gatherings like The Bâtonnage Sessions virtual series), and a structured Mentorship Program (pairing women with industry leaders, being relaunched in 2027). The organization functions as a forum and community hub rather than a commercial technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Program Advocacy program that works for systemic change in the wine industry through press features, annual Forum, and fundraising for like-minded organizations fighting for diversity and equity. Champions women-owned wine businesses and provides grants and job placement funding.
• Community Building Events Forums, events, and online gatherings connecting hundreds of individuals to a network built for and by women in wine. Includes the annual Forum and The Bâtonnage Sessions virtual series dedicated to building connections and career building skills.
• The Bâtonnage Sessions A three-part online virtual series bringing the Bâtonnage community together for conversation, connection, and mentorship. Includes a networking session, a conversation with a decorated sommelier, and a peer-driven mastermind session. Priced at $45 per individual session or $99 for the 3-session bundle (saving over 25%).
• Mentorship Program Structured mentorship program pairing women with experienced industry leaders to create direct pathways to jobs, leadership, and lasting professional networks. Currently being rebuilt and relaunched in 2027.
• Annual Forum The organization's flagship annual gathering that brings together women in wine for education, networking, and community building.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of individuals connected through Forums, events, and online gatherings
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Maker WineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2026Maker Wine is donating 15% of proceeds from their Women-Owned Wine (WOW) pack to Bâtonnage during Women's History Month 2026. The pack includes six wines from four independent winemakers, including Terah Bajjalieh who has been part of the Bâtonnage Mentorship Program since the start.
• Race ForwardminorOthersBâtonnage fundraises for Race Forward, a like-minded organization fighting for diversity and equity across industries.
• Southern SmokeminorOthersBâtonnage fundraises for Southern Smoke, supporting their efforts in the hospitality and wine industry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Guild of Sommeliers: A leading wine professional association focused on sommelier education, certification, and community. Comparable to Bâtonnage in serving wine professionals and offering structured advancement pathways, though broader in audience (not women-only) and focused on credentialing rather than advocacy.
• American Wine Society: A consumer-and-professional wine education nonprofit offering tastings, certification, and local chapter programming. Relevant peer as a wine-focused nonprofit community, though broader in audience and older in orientation than Bâtonnage.
• Court of Master Sommeliers: The international examining body for the Master Sommelier qualification. Relevant peer as a professional development organization serving wine professionals, though it focuses on certification rather than gender-focused advocacy or community programming.
• Les Dames d'Escoffier International: An international philanthropic society of women leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality professions. Comparable as a women-in-hospitality/wine nonprofit, but broader in scope (food + wine + hospitality) and more established, with chapters and scholarship programs analogous to Bâtonnage's mentorship model.

Emerging players

• SommFoundation: A nonprofit supporting beverage professionals through scholarships, education, and wellness initiatives. Comparable in structure and target demographic to Bâtonnage, with overlapping mentorship and grantmaking functions.
• Diversify Wine: A community and platform focused on increasing representation and inclusion across the wine industry through events, education, and storytelling. Highly comparable to Bâtonnage in mission and grassroots community-building approach, with overlapping advocacy and DEI positioning.

Others

• A Balanced Glass (Rebecca Hopkins): A community and resource platform founded by Bâtonnage board member Rebecca Hopkins focused on health, safety, and well-being for hospitality professionals. Thematically adjacent to Bâtonnage's industry-support mission and directly connected through board overlap.
• Own Rooted Hospitality (Alexandria Sarovich): A boutique wine and hospitality agency founded by Bâtonnage board member Alexandria Sarovich, supporting small, family-owned, and women-led wine producers. Closely aligned with Bâtonnage's championing of women-owned wine businesses, and a natural ecosystem partner.

Direct peers

• Women for WineSense: A long-running wine industry women's organization offering tastings, scholarships, and networking events. Directly comparable to Bâtonnage in target audience (women in wine) and programming model (events, scholarships, community), making it one of the closest functional peers.
• Women of the Vine & Spirits: Industry organization dedicated to empowering women in the wine and spirits sector through mentorship, education, scholarships, and networking — directly comparable to Bâtonnage in target audience and mission, though operating at a larger, more corporate-sponsor-funded scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/batonnage_forum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b%C3%A2tonnage-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Bâtonnage Forum