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Nonprofiteer
← CHARLESTON WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CHARLESTON WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL.

Totals

Total revenue
$4,568,113
Total expenses
$5,964,468
Contributions and grants received
$2,109,609
Grants paid
$16,000
Program service revenue
$2,433,152
Investment income
$168
Other revenue
$25,184
Total assets, end of year
$976,866
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,858,426
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
-$881,560
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,135,474
Management and general expenses
$426,819
Fundraising expenses
$402,175
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,135,474

Program services were 86.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $520,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,589,609

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $305,464

  • 2a · Program service revenue: TICKET SALES

    total $2,433,152 · related or exempt $2,433,152

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $168 · excluded $168

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $22,828

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $14,454

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $8,374 · related or exempt $8,374

  • 11a · Other revenue: FEE INCOME

    total $16,810 · excluded $16,810

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $16,810

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $16,000 · program services $16,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $146,250 · program services $73,124 · management and general $36,563 · fundraising $36,563

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,049,439 · program services $665,312 · management and general $114,321 · fundraising $269,806

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $14,416 · program services $8,904 · management and general $1,819 · fundraising $3,693

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $130,931 · program services $80,863 · management and general $16,523 · fundraising $33,545

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $89,322 · program services $54,342 · management and general $11,543 · fundraising $23,437

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $108,013 · program services $35,392 · management and general $68,338 · fundraising $4,283

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $59,427 · management and general $59,427

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $163,055 · program services $131,165 · management and general $29,137 · fundraising $2,753

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $329,939 · program services $329,939

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $65,699 · program services $46,781 · management and general $11,934 · fundraising $6,984

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $110,297 · program services $93,588 · management and general $4,509 · fundraising $12,200

  • 17 · Travel

    total $1,744 · program services $1,395 · management and general $262 · fundraising $87

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $11,247 · program services $7,311 · management and general $1,687 · fundraising $2,249

  • 20 · Interest

    total $1,228 · program services $1,228

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $19,044 · program services $16,045 · management and general $809 · fundraising $2,190

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $5,599 · program services $1,185 · management and general $4,090 · fundraising $324

  • 24a · Other expenses: DIRECT FESTIVAL EXPENSES

    total $3,543,500 · program services $3,543,500

  • 24b · Other expenses: CHARGEBACKS

    total $58,708 · management and general $58,708

  • 24c · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $35,746 · program services $25,022 · management and general $7,149 · fundraising $3,575

  • 24d · Other expenses: TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

    total $4,864 · program services $4,378 · fundraising $486

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $538,075 · end of year $272,517

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $35,027 · end of year $24,153

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $75,000 · end of year $60,000

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $80,913 · end of year $295,082

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $6,677 · end of year $17,227

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $26,006 · end of year $30,217

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $152,364

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $132,040

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $34,368 · end of year $20,324

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $343,177 · end of year $257,346

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $83,166 · end of year $754,268

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $123,762 · end of year $839,105

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $353,690 · end of year $265,053

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $503,625 · end of year -$941,560

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $75,000 · end of year $60,000

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

CHARLESTON WINE + FOOD IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS CHARLESTON AND THE LOWCOUNTRY'S DIVERSE CULINARY + HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION CHAMPIONS THE REGION'S UNIQUE FOODWAYS 365 DAYS A YEAR THROUGH WORLD-RENOWNED CULINARY EXPERIENCES THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SHARE STORIES, CREATE CONNECTIONS, AND INSPIRE CURIOSITY. OUR MISSION IS TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMMUNITY OF THE GREATER CHARLESTON AREA ON A NATIONAL STAGE; AND WE CREATE PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A SUSTAINABLE, VIBRANT AND CONNECTED CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

WE EXIST TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE FOOD + BEVERAGE COMMUNITY OF THE GREATER CHARLESTON AREA ON A NATIONAL STAGE; AND WE CREATE PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A SUSTAINABLE, VIBRANT, AND CONNECTED CULINARY + HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY.

  • THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN JULY 2005 BY A GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH A VISION OF CREATING AN EVENT TO PROMOTE + ELEVATE CHARLESTON'S CULINARY BRAND. THE GOAL WAS TO PUT CHARLESTON ON THE MAP AS A CULINARY DESTINATION, WITH A REPUTATION RIVALING OTHER WELL-KNOWN FOOD + DINING DESTINATIONS, AND TO BRING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE CITY. TO DO SO, THE ORGANIZATION WOULD CREATE A WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL THAT WOULD ATTRACT AFFLUENT VISITORS TO THE CITY WHO WOULD RETURN TO CHARLESTON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO HELP DRIVE THE CITY'S ECONOMIC ENGINE BY STAYING IN OUR HOTELS, DINING IN OUR RESTAURANTS, AND OTHERWISE SPENDING MONEY LOCALLY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

    Expenses $5,135,474 · Grants $16,000 · Revenue $2,433,152

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Mamie Bush

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Tommy Preston Jr

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Rashaunda Grant

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jennifer Murray

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jacques Larson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Carrie Morey

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jason G Brown

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tim Davis

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kevin Mitchell

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Caitlin Champ

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Keith Benjamin

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tracey Richardson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Darterian Moore

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Robin Griffith

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Charles Carmody

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Alyssa Maute Smith

    EXECUTIVE DI

    Total calculated
    $162,851
    From this org
    $154,563
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,288
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,563
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $5,583
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,705
    Filer's total
    $162,851

  • Laura Kate Whitney

    DIR OF EXPER

    Total calculated
    $125,914
    From this org
    $112,069
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,845
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202501359349301825

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